The Washington times., 1918-12-27

in Washington, will put into effect a
genuinely beneficial transfer system.
1t may not be as comprehensive or
AZ perfect to start with as the public
demands. but the commission will At
least be in position to perfect 1t as
its operations develop.
Representatives OF the railways, IL
became apparent today, viii no lon
ger oppose the public demand for
transfers, but they will unquestion-
ably put forward in most serious
manner the contention that II the
Beeler recommendations are adopted
they stand to lose heavily In finances
and that 1t will be up to the COM
mission to take steps to insure them
their obtaining q reasonable return
upon the valuations Of the properties
Realise Public FEELING.
Under the leadership OF the Times
public sentiment was never so strong
ly crystalized In its views, and this
Is thoroughly recognized by the Util-
titles Commission and the railroads.
which will yield all that Is demanded.
probably without recourse to the
courts, as in the past. but after fas-
tening upon the commission the re-
sponsibility for financial consequences
IL they should be serious.
There is q wide difference between
Beeler and the railroads as to the
financial losses that will follow the
issuance OF free transfers St the six
teen points which Beeler recon-
mends and some OF which are ac-
cepted by the companies, four being
now In operation Beeler's estimate
Is that the Capital Traction would
not lose more than $50, 900 annually
and the W. r. 4 z. $4,000 annually,
this including the losses Of revenues
already derived from pay transfers
or communication tickets at ave points
long required BY law.
The companies are prepared to sub
NIT figures claiming that the losses
will many times exceed these figures
and will be really grave In their
consequences, especially In the case Of
the W. n. and 2.
ConmlssiOa Must Judge.
1t Is fer, the commission to Judge
as between the two claims. Beeler,
who is concluding his work In wash
ington, has had years OF experience
as q railroad engineer and general
doctor for CRIPPLED railways. He 10
not q radical. He seeks to do right
as between the public and the rail-
roads in Washington. The losses esti-
mated BY him would amount to COM
parativeiy little to the companies.
Recognizing the possibility Of mis-
take, however, Beeler proposes that
the transfers he recommends should
be put on trial and II the. develop-
ments of q few months showed heavy
xry0FrIA ~ IN the
commission to grant relief In some
form
IMPOSITION Of q 1-cent or 2-cent
charge for transfers would be the pro-
posed measure OF relief II that Is ever
necessary.
There. is unalterable purpose on the
part OF all three utilities commission
ers not to increase the fare in Wash.
ington above cents, and IL the COM
papIes must have more money as =
result of losses from issuance OF free
transfers the proposition Is TO In
crease revenues by charge for trans
tsrs.
A study Of street railway condi-
tIons In other cities where fares
have been raised above s cents - not
encouraging to the railways. When
the fare gets above that figure people
begin walking, especially those who
reside short distances. These are the
profit passengers OF all railway lines.
A high fare causes immediate losses
from this class OF passengers and II
cannot be said that scent and 1-cent
fares in other cities have brought the
full relief sought by crippled rail-
ways. !
Free Transfers View.
lnH, TAA nafaai0n
must decide, therefore, Is whether 70
try free transfers first. and give H.
nancial relief afterward, ~ necessary;
or impose q charge now and take II
off later, IL developments warrant.
The situation looks today as II the
majority Of the commission will favor
what the people ask-FREE TRANS
FERS NOW.
This Is beyond doubt the vital CUES.
tion before the commission, and
everything done by that body will
hinge upon this. The point 10 wheth-
er the PUBLIC il TO have the benefit
of the alleged doubt first or the
RAILWAY COMPANIES. Present
prospects are that the PUBLIC will
win the first round.
The suggestion Of a zone system OF
fares here-the long haul suburban
passenger to pay increased fares
meets with practically no favor
among railway men or the connie
sion. II will probably never be
broached in the deliberations OF the
commission. which recognises II - too
full Of trouble to bother with II
would upset every calculation as TO
the revenues OF the companies. Un-
der the existing system there IL a
definite basis for calculation
There are msmbers OF the commits
sion who feel that any attempt to
burden the suburbanites with penal