The Washington times., 1918-10-28
Public Ownership of Washington
Street Railways Next Step
By BILL PRICE

As you dig down for your nickel for street railway fare
today you are sure to have thoughts You going
the truth of the argument that it only by increasing
rates of fare in Washington that you could expect
improvement at least retention of the sort of service you
have been getting.
This increased fare was given that the railways might
meet heavy increased expenditures from all directions due
to conditions and likewise that they might continue to
pay fair dividends to investors in stocks and bonds.
There is no argument about the man who honestly
invests his savings in street railway unwaered stocks and
bonds being entitled to just interest return. These IN
vestments often made for his family should he die His
wife and children the benefcares and should not be
deprived of his foresight
Yet railways and other public utilities are too often
operated and manipulated for the pockebook Of the big
stockhode at the expense Of the little fellow the public
and the upkeep Of equipment or roadbed or both.
The operation Of all these utilities should be by and
for the public with the dividend SECONDARY and not
a FIRST consideration.
That's why public ownership is such success where
it is removed from politics and the graft political bosses
may get out of it.
Private ownership in Washington has been given every
possible concession that it may be strengthened to
the public The Utilities Commission realizes that without
these concessions service under private ownership may col
lapse. This must be prevented.
Having adopted various plans and expedients that
promised to maintain fair service here the Utilities Com
mission has reached the point where public ownership
Federal operation is plainly IN sight and the final
remedy.
The decision of the commission increasing fares pfao
caly warns the companies that this increase is all they
may expect Future appeal for further increase viii put
Lne commission Wnere IL De cOupeneu
eral Government Congress to act and act promptly
majority of the commission had almost reached the
decision month ago to lay the street car situation before
the President who has power under the housing bill to
take over and operate public utilities. For
the conclusion reached to play the last cards that
might aid the roads to successful operation under
present managements
Commissioner BroBnlow has long favored municipal
ownership not to be obtained, then Federal operation
during the Commissioners Gardiner and Knight want
to exhaust all promising efforts under existing ownership
and management but their decision for cents fare con-
veys significant warning to the roads to put forward all
resources to make good with what they have been given
Under public ownership dividends could be overlooked
great emergency readustment period and taken
of in times of prosperity single management able to
bring about economies that reduce expenses Competitive
ownerships reduce nothing Increase is always In sight
Privately owned car lines in $50 cities have raised
rates In $50 cities that municipality operate railway,
gas electric light plants there has been raise In rates
Seattle, Wash, has taken the entire street car