The Washington times., 1918-01-09
". R.&E. SHAKE-UP
MAY FOLLOW PLAN
.TOCHANGE BYLAWS
CONTINUED from First Page.l

lily 10 dispense WIN tne seTNlCes VI
officials without waiting for the
terms of office to expire. The truth
Is that a reorganization OF the of
hcial personnel of the company has
been talked OF for some months, and
has not been lost sight OF by strong
elements in the board Of directors.
Serious consideration has been
given to the subject of bringing in
new executive blood at the meeting
TO be held next week. At this time,
however. the tendency seems to be TO
re-elect Charles p. King as president
and continue the other officers with
him. with a tacit understanding that
there may be thorough overhauling
at any time in the future.
-- Would Eject Pepco.
Inasmuch as the Washington Rail
way and Electric Company owns the
Potomac Electric Power Company a
change In the executive management
OF the former would likewise mean a
change in the latter.
The stockholders and directors are
fully coRniZant of the almost helpless
plight OF the operating department of
the railway company and OF the hos
tile public sentiment that is every
where apparent. with the demands
upon the utilities commission that
early action be taken to better the
service in the interest OF the public.
Inside conditions do not appear to
be just ripe, however, for the change
In officers which many OF those finan-
cially interested In the road privately
admit looks inevitable and predict will
occur within a few months, II not
next week.
Some DIRECTORY Views.
Some OF the directors are inclined
to let the. organization remain as II
is. believing that President King and
his assistants are struggling against
od&s that cannot be successfully
overcome by any other chief execu-
tive.
They also have in mind the proba-
bility that before many months the
street railway lines here must pass
into Federal or municipal control.
thereby shifting the burdens that
now confront the company. These
men point out that Mr.. King entered
upon the big strike last spring by
pursuing policies OF breaking the
stSike that had the approval of the
board OF directors.
Victory ut Heavy Cost.
The misfortunes that have followed
the company since that time were
not OF his creation. The company
won the strike, but at huge financial
loss. II was left with the worst
bunch of irresponsible carmen ever
seen here. The war came on top of
the strike, with the consequent
In, Nv
and his helpers have been fighting
the irresistible current for months
according to this view.
Those wanting a change say that IL
cannot-must not-be postponed
much longer. All personal considers.
lions for present officials must be
put aside. The public, backed by the
Utilities Commission, is demanding
action that means Improvement, and
that action Is coming through some
channel. It will have to be an up.
heaval, too, to accomplish things.
The best thing, these men believe, Is
TO wade right in and put new blood
In charge, so that at least an attempt
may be made to satisfy the public's
demands.
As to Dividends.
Because OF heavy financial losses
during and since the strike, much OF
It through a braZen knocking down"
process, the company some time ago
reduced its dividend on common stock
from to 8 per cent. Whether further
reduction will be necessary is to be
determined.
While the Washington Railway and
Electric has been losing money, the
Capital Traction Company, in spite OF
war conditions, was able to give an
extra dividend to its stockholders. The
latter company has never hauled sc
many passengers-particu in one
car-as during the last nine months
and the fares have been collected and
turned in.
crurN AMI " Enn EIncT