Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-24
GENERAL TRANSFERS
CONSIDERED LIKELY
May Be First Public Benefit
Derived From Public UtiIi-
ties Valuation. :

Universal transfers on Washington's S
street railway lines may be the first
public benefit to be derived from the
valuation now being made of the capi-
tails public utility corporations.
That this question will be taken up
in advance of rate problems following
completion of the valuation this fall
is extremely probable. Members of the
utilities commission. it is understood,
are of the opinion that this is one Of the
city's most urgent needs, and should be
given first consideration.
But whether the commission will be
in a position to take up the matter
before Christmas is problematical; The
valuation bureau Of the commission ex-
poets to complete its work in Novem-
Der. but there will be volumes of data
to be read and digested by the COM
mission before 1T can conduct hear
ing to establish valuations on the
properties of the several railway COM
panieS.
Traction Companies First.
It is understood to be the purpose of
the commission to adopt valuations for
the traction companies first, SO that it
will be in position to proceed at once
to consideration of the universal
transfer question and, later. rate ques-
tions. Afterward valuations will be
established for the city's other public
utility corporations. including the gas.
electric light and telephone companies
and the rates for service maintained
by these corporations investigated.
The report Of the valuation bureau
placing value upon the properties OF
all the citys public service corpora
tions will comprise a large number of
1r01,,y = ha ths haf0
the commission will have digested the
report and held hearings for the pur-
pose of adopting the several valua-
tions. Just how much time the task
will consume will depend in large
measure, too. upon the extent to which
the companies disagree with the find
ings of the valuation bureau.
AS a matter Of fact. the problem is
such big one and fraught with so
many possibilities involving delay of
one kind or another, that the commits
sion Is not in a position to forecast
with any degree of accuracy just what
its procedure will be and how long it
may be engaged in establishing valua-
take up rate questions
Universal Transfers.
About all that stands out with any
degree of certainty is that it will get
the railway valuations established first,
If possible, so that it can give early
consideration to the universal transfer
question. The question of cheaper
rate of fare may be taken up, though
it is not considered probable that the
companies will be directed to carry
passengers for less than the present
rates.
Following yesterdays conference be-
tween members Of the utilities commits
sion and the valuation bureau, it was
learned today that Congress probably
will not be asked to appropriate addi-
tional money for prosecuting the valua-
tion work Under the law it is possi-
BILE to assign employees of the District
government to the work Of the utilities
commission. and several transfers of
this character may be ordered IL the
bureau should require additional as
sistance. The bureau will make every
effort to complete its work by Novem-
ber, but there is a possibility that it
may not conclude its labors before the
first of the year