The Washington times., 1917-03-13
Estimate Takes Into Account
Loss of Patronage and
Extra Expense.
$500 DROP IN REVENUE
Unionists AIIege Strike Break
: ers knock Down" so Per
Cent of Fares.

How much is the strike costing the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company?
Although no information could be
obtained from officials of the COM
lpany today, it is estimated that the
cost is more than $4,000 a day.
According to the figures. of earn
ings of the company filed with the
Public Utilities Commission for the
year 1916, the total passenger reve-
nue. of the company. including the
City and Suburban, the Georgetown
and Ten1eytown railroad. and the In
terurban railroad was S2,S43,Sl1.lO.
which gives an average daily revenue
for the year of $7.77O.
Officials OF the car mems union esti-
mate that a least so per cent of the
company's patronage has been lost
mean a daily loss of about $500 at
the source.
Question of Fares Lost.
To this must be added the fares col
Iected by the strike breakers which
are not turned in to the company, ac-
cording to officials OF the union. Al
though no definite information can be
procured on this item. it is known to
be large. Fifty per cent is believed to
be a conservative estimate, unionists
saws. OFFICIALS of the union say IN
other cities strike breakers have not
fares collscted.
What percentage of the fares eel
lected are being turned in to the com
pany's treasury" President King was
asked today.
Il cannot answer that question:
said Mr.. King, for l. do not know.
That is not the big question just now.
The big question is to keep the cars
moving. This must be the first con-
siderstion. II a man were Il lw:th
cancer and an operation were required
to save his life, would he figure out
the cost before sending for a physi-
cian?"
Although no official OF the company
would answer the direct question as
to the percentage of fares being turn
ed in, 1t was tacitly admitted that it
is small, all representatives of the
company intimating that the company
is willing to make temporary sacri-
fees in revenue to keep the cars run
ming.
1t is known that a large number of
clerks from the offices of the rail
way company and from the oPtomac
Electric Power Company have been
sent out to serve as conductors while
the strike is on to look after the
fares
With the loss for fares knocked
down." alleged by unionists to be at
so per cent. this would add approx
mately $1,000 to the $500 named
above, bringing the total daily reve-
nue. loss to around $500.
Cost of Strike Breakers.
Another important item of expense
is the cost of the 900 or more strike
breakers which are estimated to be in
the city. According to the best infor-
nation obtainabIe these men are re
a flat salary OF 81 a day,
plus 81 a day hotel expenses. whether
they work or not.
Those who actually operate cars are
said to receive SIS a day. plus expen
ses. Assuming that 400 OF the 800 are
actually working, this would makA
the cost, for these $500 daily, and
-
81 900 daily, bring the total cost up to
So 800 daily.
From this figure must de deducted
the amount usually paid by the com
pany to the men who are now strik
ing. Turning again to the records of
the Public Utilities Commission. II is
learned that the average daily cost OF
salaries paid conductors, mOtormen.
and trainmen, for the year 1916 was
81 ,64l.91.
A certain percentage OF the old EN-
ployes are still working for the com
pany,, so that a portion OF the above
amount still is being expended.
Allowing $500 a day for these, 1t
would leave S1,341 to be deducted
from the estimated cost of $500 fer
the strike breakers. This would bring
the net payroll cost down to S2,4
Adding this item to the $500 esti-
mated as loss from decreased patron
age and alleged knock ed down"
fares, the total estimated cost is
ys,259.