The Washington herald., 1918-09-15
w. F. HAM OUTLINES POLICY
OF IMPROVING w. r. & E. co.
Newly Elected President, with Cooperation
of Public, Will Strive to Overcome Serious
Obstacles Due to War Conditions.

w F Ham. the newly elected presi-
dent of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and subsidiary
conpanies. in an interview yesterday
outlined the policy of the company
as one of earnest endeavor. with the
co-operation of the public and the
ITtilities Commission, to cope with. the
serious problems OF rendering ade-
ouate service and overcome the many
obstacles which have arisen through
war conditions in Washington.
Mr.. Ham has always been a great
believer in the growth of Washington
and has watched the company itself
grow frCm a concern having gross
earnings of a little more than s., ,0O0, 600
a year to one having gross earnings
of 81, 6,5O0,000 a year. This has been
brought about to a considerable eX-
tent by the development OF the sub
urbs and outlying sections of the Dis
trict, largely through the extension
of the company's lines through those
sections, and by reason of this the
company. has in no small way con-
tributed to the growth of the District.
making it possible for people of small
means to own their homes.
hopNs
Mr.. Ham stated yesterday that he
was much gratifed by the confidence
shown by the board of directors in
electing him president of the COM
pany and hopes that he may like
wise have the confidence OF the
Washington public.
The policy of the company under
his administration will be to CO.
operate fully and frankly with the
Public Utilities Commission in con-
sidering the many serious problems
which necessarily will have to be met
from time to time. He has a keen
realization of the difficulties that
are attendant upon operation of pub
lie utilities under present war con-
ditions and the need for special ef-
forts to overcome those difficulties as
far as possible in order not to cause
the public unnecessary annoyance
and inconvenience through Interrupt
tions of service.
The company Is sparing and will
continue to spare neither expense nor
effort to render as good service as
possible under existing conditions,
and he believes that considerable
constructive progress has been made
during the last six months. He be-
lieves that further improvement in
service will soon be shown If there
is no further delay in the delivery
of the fifty new cars ordered last
spring. He states that the main diff
ficulty up to tn present time has been
in the shortage of trainmen, which
he hopes will be overcome by the
greatly increased wage scale the
company has recently put into ef-
feet
With regard to the proposed in
crease in rate of fare. Mr.. Ham be-
heves that the reasonabIeness of the
company's request for a straight five
cent fare will appeal to the sense OF
justice of the public in view of the
enormously increased cost OF labor
and material which the company has
to bear. He hopes the public will
inform itself of the exact condition
of the company and its need, as il
IS only from a thorough understand
ing of the affairs of public utility
companies that one can reasonably
expect to have the cooperation of
the public
Born and reared in Maine, W. r.