The Washington times., 1917-12-08

ter or the city. and between Lincoln park
and the center.
The letters received indicate that on
the II street route the operators make
fair money on cents. but they ask
! that where they run beyond Fifteenth
and II streets they be allowed increased
fares-lO cents. for Instance, between
the city and the District line on the
Bladensburg road, and Is cents between
the city and and Chesapeake Junction.
The Brookland operators are disposed
to want 10 cents for their runs to and
from the center OF the city.
Some citizens have written the COM
mission that IL jitney service to dis
! tant points can be encouraged sur
hciently to compete with the lines OF
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company they are willing to pay 10
cents. What they want is a chance
to get TO their work and their homes
under better and quicker conditions
than the car company now gives.
One trouble with the jitleys Is that
they have nothing like q schedule.
They run or fail TO run along certain
streets just as they please and the
public can not depend upon them with
certainty. These and other phases Of
the jitney question will be considered
at the hearing.
Telephone Rates Stir People.
Information IL that the hearings
over increased gas and telephone
rates will develop Considerable on the
part of the people. The gas hearing
is to be held December is and the
telephone hearing on December 20.
In analyzing the telephone situa-
ton in Washington the general public
/ T. that
the Federal Government should be
willing to bear whatever increase may
be necessary, owing to the fact that
the heavy Increased costs the COM
pany alleges, have been almost wholly
due to Government necessities and ac-
tivtties. The publie's share Of the in
creased cost of operation has been
practically nothing compared to
the expenses incurred in rushing
preparation for the Government. The
public has, in fact, suffered patiently
because IL understood the strain on
the company in serving The Govern
ment
The Utilities Commission has SUI
pervision Of the telephone company
ronly % far a. the service to the pub
lie is concerned. 1t IS possible that
the hearing may develop q desire on
the part OF the commission to take
no action toward Increasing rates to
the public pending the efforts the
telephone company is making to have
the Government grant increases. II
| the Government should show q will
| ingness to compensate the company
for Its losses there would be little
reason why the public should have
to pass the hat for a large contribu-
tion. AS urged by the telephone
company the people OF Washington
are asked to contribute e. minimum
of S25o.O00 additional mohey each
year, half OF that being In pay sta
lions, and the bulk OF the other half
| falling on people who now have I'M
| limited service, but will have to take
an unlimited service at a probable
large increase in payments.
As to gas, the demands OF the Gov
eminent have been comparatively
small, although 1t 10 q considerable
item in the business OF the company,
and this feature IL likely TO be
brought out on the 18th.
Railway IsvestiEatIon.
Complete investigation Of Washing
toms street railway system 10 held up
because John A. Beeler, OF New York.
and his stan OF experts have been
unhDlo 10 ODLaln Office ana motel &C
commodations here. Mr.. Beeler was
to have started his Investigation this
week, but when he undertook to ind
accommodation for his assistants,
many OF whom are to be with him, he
struck a snlg. The Utilities Commits
sion hopes the delay will not be long,
the exigencies Of conditions here de-
mRnding prompt investigation and re-
port Of conciuRionR
The opinion among local utility ex-
perts crystAlliEeB each day toward the
conclusion that varying working
hours in the Government departments
promises the speediest relief from the
street car congestion IN the morning
and afternoon hours. Mr.. Beelsr IL
expected TO have other recommends
lions that will contribute somewhat
toward lettering the car service, but
the belief grown that the eo-oberGtIon
OF the Federal executive departments
IN rearranginE their working hours
20 that all will not close and open at
the same time will be vitality neces-