Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-03
LOW FARES, GOOD SERVICE,
HIGHER WAGES NOT SURE
Every Reason to Anticipate Finan-
cial Disaster if Project Is
Adopted for D. c.
COMMISSIONERS ARE SCORED
Failure to Adequately Analyze oper-
ations of Proposed Legislation Crit
icised-Universal Transfers
Desirable if Feasible.

"In our opinion there is no
aroused public demand for pub
lie ownership of the District
street railways: there is no gen
eral dissatisfaction with fares or
services; there is no assurance of
either lower fares. better service
or higher wages for the employees,
and there is every reason for
anticipating financial disaster if
the plan is attempted.
SO says the minority report on
the Crosser bill providing Tor
municipal ownership OF street
RAILWAYS in the District of Co
lum5ia. The document was drop
ped in the hopper by the
Speakers desk i'll the House
today, signed by Representatives
Winslow, Reed, Walton, keister.
Prouty. Caraway and Johnson.
Representatives Prouty and
Caraway added a postscript to
the report in which they declared
themselves in favor of municipal
ownership"where local conditions
make it practicable" They con-
slider, however, that in Washing
ton ''it is unfair to the inhabi-
tants of the District of Columbia
to have so large an Indebtedness
imposed upon them by the Fed
eral government without their
consent or expressed wish
The report is the work OF Rep
resentative Samuel E. Winslow
Of Massachusetts. He led opposi-
ton to the bill all through the
hearings and has applied the re-
suits OF his cross-examination all
throughout the minority report.
Every Angle Considered.
The Winslow report takes up the sub
ject of municipal ownership of the roads
in the District of Columbia from all pos
sible angles. detailing the objections OF
the minority TO the general proposition
as well as pointing out conclusively that.
in financing the plan. the golden dream
of municipal ownership would prove to be
an expensive bubble. 1t also analyZes
the testimony of the sixteen men-the
only advocates the bill had in the hear
ings-and shows the wide lack of unani-
nous opinion on the subject even among
its supporters.
Recommendation for universal transfers
IS made BY. the minority. That recon-
mendation is modified by the statement
that the public utilities commission
should not order that change if the roads
cannot afford it.
Report Reviews Situation.
i, The report says. in part:
"Only two real points We're made in
support of the contention that munich
pal ownership is needed in the District
of Columbia: that the citizens would be
given universal transfers: that the COM
panies are now overcapitalized. and, in
consequence. the travelling public is be-
ing cheated out of proper rights which
II would obtain under public ownership
Universal transfers are urgently
needed in the District Of Columbia. we
believe the quickest and surest way to
obtain universal transfers is for the pub
lie utilities commission, with single pur-
bose TO press energetically a demonstra.
tion that the two companies can afford
to provide this service. for with such
demonstration it cannot be denied legally
Congress Shares Responsibility.
with all the references to over capital
aZation, there was not presented to the
committee by any one any facts whatso-
ever to sustain the charge. If the stree,
railway securities have been watered
we not only have no sympathy with such
pra actices. but most heartily condemn
them. This Congress has appropriated
$10.ooo TO have a physical valuation
made of these properties and this work
is now being done. The question Of over
valuation. if any, can be intelligentl,
dealt with when the report is made ant
not until them.
MANY of the witnesses who favored
the bill were asked IL they would have
the District of Columbia take over the
lines regardless OF cost. Some were dis
posed To advise "a little care, but others
urged taking the lines anyway regard
less Of financial consequence. with the
single purpose in mind Of establishing &
| public ownership.
There is no data on the probable
amount of the award other than the
claim of Washington street railway
official that 1t would exceed $4,000. 900
the fact that the market value of the
outstanding securities is about $45, 900.
900. the belief of the corporation coun-
sci that the award ought to be under
$50, 900 900. and the statement of the
proposer of the bill that In his opinion
the physical valuation Of the propertie.
is about $25 100000
"As a matter of fact the public utili.
ties commission. which is comprised
WHOLLY OF the Commissioners Of tn,
District. has under way physica
valuation of the properties, and find.