The Washington times., 1919-07-22
With Street Car Fares Threatening to
Soar, Perhaps We'd Better Think
About a Street Car Policy
By EARL GOODWIN.

The who can look into the future and predict just
what will be done to solve Washington street prob
lem should be cassed with the major prophets He would
be wonder do not believe he exists and the best
can do is to fall back the who predict what
will NOT be done think he would not predict out
fine friend Honey Fitzgerald of Boston, predicts that
unless we have seven-cent fare will soon have ten
cent fare In Honey Fitzs mefuous and badly paved
town OF Boston they have tencent fare and soon
las they got that all the struck for wages
that the next step will be ffeen-cent fare and and
$50 forth.
The main thing to do with our Washington problem is
to find solution that will stick for long time We have
been having bites at the cherry with disconcerng rapidly
and of the bites is anything than nibble We
raised the rates from aquarter to straight five
cent fare and demanded SERVICE; then we granted uni
versa transfers and then made the public pay two cents
apiece for the transfers still demanding that elusive
SERVICE and comes the WRECO and asks for seven
cent fares and NO transfers. making it possible
routes to pay high twentyeght cents for single ride
We can't go forever and ever like that. We must
have good street service at reasonable rate and the
solution of the present problem lies in something than
merely getting return to the oft quoted innocent investors
in street railroad stock. We must have street policy
that will grant SERVICE at a rate of fare that will
stick until it be lowered again. when the day
when costs reduced That day may be year on it
may be twenty years off, but may arrive; and In
no mind to be out limb with recourse toward
cheaper fare when awake and find that day on the
calendar.
This railway problem has more in it than mere theory
We must find solution that will go through Congress
There's the test believe that of the best things Con-
gess do starter is to the positionthe
rect one by the waythat Washington street service is
an important matter to the Government Of the United
States inasmuch as 100000 Government employees are
transported to and from work daily Congress had taken
that attitude In its full during the war, would
have the Government nsurng the transportation of
Government clerks in Washington just it insured the
transportation of and supplies In the camps and In the
field.
Having assumed that attitude, Congress WILL believe
arrive at the conclusion that the important feature the
service to the public There is only way of getting that
any company falls down the ob and that is to repeal
the companys charter and start a deal.
Along with the solution of the immediate railway prob
lens comes the question Of Public Utilities Commission con-
troll It would be better believe if had a separate
Utilities Commission and law with little bite to it
To impose on the District Commissioners the task of follow
ing the utility problems here is unfair 1t is not criticism
of the work of the commission to suggest this change
because all Washington knows the commission composed
of men of the highest rank But it is apparent that the
commission is overburdened with work. and that it has
enough expert and clerical help The PUBLIC is likely to
suffer unless the Utilities Commission is much freer of
burdens than at present.