The Washington times., 1918-09-10
BOARD
FOR FEDERAL CARS
CONTINUED from First PaseD


enced men. nearly double the wages
paid when the strike of April, 1911,
brought about an increase.
Paying these wages, the two roads
will be compelled to ask the commits
by the public for service. thereby
bringing up one Of the most compli-
Gated street car problems Imaginable
due to one roads financial situation
being different from that OF the other.
With a badly crippled car service
the Governments war work in Wash
ington will suffer as il would no.
where else. Close to 100000 Govern
ment employees must be transported
to work each morning, and to their
homes in the afternoon.
May Go to Preaident.
The logic of the situation points to
Federal operation in this city as an
absolute necessity to the Government
Whether the recommendation OF the
commission will go to the President
or Congress is of Importance. Con
gress would most likely jaw over the
matter for months without doing any
thing, while conditions went from bad
to worse. Logic points to the White
House as the place where reasonably
early action may be had. The Presi-
dent, beyond doubt, has authority to
take over and operate the local roads.
1t is stated in official circles that
this authority does not exist in the
law that enabled the United States
to take over the steam railroads, al
though former President Taft and
other officials say it does.
Perfectly clear authority Is to be
found in the law authorizing the
President to provide housing for war
needs, which appropriated $60,OOO,OOo
to be expended under the housing
provided by the Secretary
of Labor. The law distinctly author.
lies the President ''to purchase, lease,
reQuisition, or acquire by
or gift such houses.
furnishings, improvements,
local transportation and other gen
eral community utilities and parts
thereof as he may determine to be
necessary for the proper conduct Of
the existing war"
More Than Advice Needed.
The next paragraph gives author
ity to acquire lands by the same
processes and again mentions trans
portation and community utilities"
and further on the President Is di-
rected to equip, manage, maintain,
alter. lease" etc, houses, buildings,
lands, local transportation and COM
munity utilities.
II is the policy Of the Government
not to take over electric and street
railway properties generally, but TO
give advice and aid in the fair treat
nent of employees and stockholders
that service may be maintained.
Washington stands alone as the
Federal Capital, the workshop of the
nation, where human bees by the
thousands are toiling each day for
Uncle Sam, whose interests come
first above all others.
Federal control would insure con-
tinuing good service: lessening of eK
penditures of both railway properties
operation as one; possible re-
tention Of the present rate of fare as
against an almost certain increase I'M
der two arrangements, as now.
The Government plan would be TO
take over and operate the two roads
as one; guarantee a reasonable return
to stockholders; improve the condi-
tons of the roads by expenditure Of
for that purpose; reconstruct
Did cars, build or buy new ones and
get men sufficient in number to keep
ears moving on a good schedule.
Senator Jones. whose resolution OF
inquiry was adopted by the Senate,
will ind, when the answer of the
Public Utilities Commission is re-
,eived. that the trouble now and for
he future is not SO much q matter
If cars as OF men Fifty new cars
will be here by November / for the
Railway and Electric
Ind twenty for the Capital Traction.
They are up to date, and one motor
nan can operate two cars at = time.
II all existing equipment were that
modern the need OF men would be
greatly diminished.