Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-26
Six Tickets for a Quarter
Plan Is Abolished by Public
Utilities Commission.
QUESTION OF TRANSFERS
WILL COME UP LATER
Both Companies Claimed That They
Were Operating at a Loss Under
the Old System.


Washington this morning.
The Public Utilities Commis-
sion issued an order, operative
at once, abolishing street car
tickets and granting the petition
of the street railway companies
for a straight flve-cent fare.
The order was issued upon an un-
derstanding between the Public IT'LL
tiles Commission and the arrangements
of the street car lines that transfers
between cars Of the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company and the
Capital Traction Company. and vice
versa, shall be issued at certain points
to be determined upon later by the
Public Utilities Commission.
A hearing Of the petition Of the
navy yard employees to consider In
tercompany transfers in the navy
yard section has been fixed by the
commission for November Z.
MI. Brown1ow's Statement.
Commissioner Louis Brownlow.
chairman of the District Board Of
Commissioners and chairman of the
Public Utilities Commission, made the
announcement this morning. He is
sued the following statement in con-
nection with the deciSion:
The Public Utilities Commission to-
day issued an order, effective at once.
abolishing the present street car fare
of six tickets for a quarter and estab-
fishing the straight five-cent fare.
This order.is issued upon the con-
dition that iptercompany transfers
shall be given at such peinta tn tia
Washington Railway and Electric
: I, : u ss ssies 4s -
hereafter by the commission. -.
transfers for the navy yard section
was fixed. for November T.
Companies Claimed Losses.
For a long period this matter has
been under consideration by the Pub
lie Utilities Commission. having been
brough. to them by the arrangements
of the street car companies. They
alleged that the street car companies
were operating at a loss and that un-
less relief was granted by advancing
the fares to q straight S cents the
lines would have to be operated at q
loss and face bankruptcy.
1t was pointed out through figures
taken from the operating accounts of
a large number of traction companies
in the large cities that these concerns
were being operated at a loss, in sub
sanitation of their claim that it was
necessary for the proper and success
full operation Of the lines in Wash
ington that tho six tickets for . quar-
ter be discontinued and the ftve-cent
fare substituted therefor.
The Public Utilities Commission made
q thorough investigation into the
claims OF tho traction companies, COW
ering a. wide scope of territory, in
cluding all Of the principal cities Of
the claim of advances in cost of labor
and in all classes of material used in
the operation of street car lines.
Several public hearings on the SUBJ
ject were held by the Commission
ers, and a wide correspondence has
individuals. corporations and citi-
zens' associations protesting against
such policy on the part of the COM
mission. Several of the citizens as
Soclation and other civic bodies ia
vored abolition of the six tickets
for a quarter, with the provision for
universal transfers at all junction
points. Arguments pro and con were
passed up to the Public Utilities Com
mission from many sources. most of
the arguments being against the
proposition.
Argument Against Change.
Ono Of the strong arguments made
against the proposed granting of the
petition was that during q period Of
more than three years neither of the
street car companies operating in the
Ditsfiot had expended much for new
equipment. and that the service in
the city was inefficient and away be-
low the requirements to transport
the population Of tho city.
Commissioner Brown1ow said that
the matter Of fixing the points for the
intercompany transfers was still
being discussed and would be de-
eided at an early date. It has been
intimated that transfers between the
companies at thes downtown points
Of congestion will be considered. One
point that seems decided upon is
transfers between the two companies
at Sth street and Pennsylvania ave.
nue. southeast