Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-15
Higher Car Fares Sought.

way and Electric Company for an In
creased fare, formally made to the
Public Utilities Commission yesterday,
puts up to that body question that
has been impending for some time. 1t
has been inevitable that the street rail
way corporations of Washington
should seek a readjustment of fares,
the sole source of revenue, in view of
the increasing cost of operation and
maintenance of the lines, and this APP
plication now enables the utilities COM
mission to take the matter in hand
directly.
In deciding this question the util-
tiles commission will be governed
doubtless by circumstances incident to
the war like those affecting the steam
railways of the country, which have
been given government guarantee
through regulation as a war measure.
In two particulars the street railway
cost has been greatly increased, wages
and equipment. Already deficient at the
outbreak of the war, the street rail-
way equipment has become totally in
adequate since our entrance into the
conflict and the resulting great in
crease of the population of Washing
ton. Owing to difficulties with the OPP
eratives the Washington Railway and
Electric Company has found itself
hampered in maintaining a sufficient
and adequate force for the runningDof
the cars. Now wage adjustments have
been made, amounting, it is said, to an
increase of 100000 annually in the
pay roll. Additional cars have been or
dered at an unprecedentedly high cost
due to general war conditions.
In computing the rate allowed the
company the commissioners will doubt
less take these factors into account
and also will consider the increase in
gross earnings during the period of
congestion on the ears. Whether this
increased gross earning works out to a
material increase of net earnings can
be easily ascertained by an examina-
ton of the company's books. In any
case, the company should be permitted
to charge a rate which will pay the
cost of maintenance and the overhead
expenses and yield reasonable profit
upon operation
1t is undesirable that the public
utilities of Washington should be
taken over by the government for di-
rect operation or for regulation in the
same degree that has been necessary
in the case of the steam railroads.
If the same result of assured satisfac-
tory operation without loss to owners
that has been effected through govern
ment regulation in the ease of the rail
roads can be reached by rate adjust
ment through the utilities commission
the public will undoubtedly acquiesce
cordially in any changes that assure
satisfactory operation with adequate
service.
The first consideration is for the
public, But the companies cannot be
expected to grant service at loss to
themselves. Nor, on the other hand,
will the public acquiesee in a higher
rate that is not accompanied by an
efficient service, which will assure
daily transport without danger or I'M
due discomfort or loss of time.
The Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company has ordered new cars
and has established new wage scale.
It has thus complied with the first re-
Quirements. 1t now asks for a new
scale for itself to enable it to meet
the costs of these betterments. 1t re-
mains for the utilities commission to
determine, as promptly as possible,
whether the rate proposed, a fiat Scent
fare, is reasonable in these circum-
stances.