The Washington times., 1919-10-21

light rate, so that the Washington
Railway and Electric Company could
MAINTAIN and operate it's system with
out an increase in car fare.
The public, through its representa-
tives, stated to the commission that
they would prefer to have the increase
come as result of an increase in the
rate for electricity than through a
general increase in street car fares
because such plan would result In a
saving to the general public
"A very different situation would
arise if the ownership of the oPtomac
rover Company was not-ih the Wash
inston Railway and Electric Conn
pany, but we must take the record as
We, find 1t and consider the things as
they are and not what we would like
them to be-
MY learned associates propose as
remedy readjustment of the tax
rates paid by these companies at the
present time.
II agree with them in their express
ed desire to have Congress change
the present law requiring these COM
panies to pay. taxes on gross receipts.
I'VE cannot, however, consider that
at this time as a part of this case.
What we might recommend to
In the future is one thing.
Must Face Issue Squarely.
What this record shows us as
condition now existing, and what the
result OF the opinion Of the commits
sion upon the car riding public is a
thing which we must meet as it is,
and not what it might be IL certain
things were done which may or may
not be done.
If the user OF electricity or a cit
izen of the District of Columbia or
any other person having the right to
interfere could enjoin the Commission
from. increasing the electric light rate
from the present rate to 13.43 cents,
then surely any person having the
right to. interfere could enjoin the
Public Utilities Commission from in
creasing the fare of the Capital Trac-
ton Company so that the rate of re-
turn to that company would be 14.22
per cent instead of 6 per cent-the
return allowed by the Commission to
the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company in it's order of October
Is, 1919, while the Potomac Electric
POWER Company is not allowed by the
Commissions order to earn in excess
OF per cent of it's value
Il feel that it is very unfortunate e
that these Railway properties are not
managed, controlled and operated as
one property. 1 feel that such a con-
solidation would result in, lasting
beneft to the citizens of the, District
of Columbia as we'll as to the owners
or the stock of the respective COM
panies.
No Power for Merger.
'The Public Utilities Commission,
however. has not the power to re-
qulre the two companies to merge.
The Commission can, however, by
the manner in which it treats the
question before 1.-THE manner of re-
lief given-by equalizing the benefits
and advantages of both roads, bring
about condition that would tend
stronger than anything else to COM
pei the owners of these two proper
ties to merge them
IF the Public Utilities Commission
in this order had reduced the fare of
the Capital Traction Company so that
the net earnings of the Capital Trac-
ton Company amounted to only 6
per cent on the fair value of that
company as found by this Commits
sion, which is the same rate of re-
turn they propose, by this order. to
allow the Washington Railway and
Electric Company, and which would
entitle the Capital Traction Company