The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-28
SEE CHARGE
. Of z CENTS IN
TRANSFERS
That Is Probable Decision of
Utilities Commission, in SeS-
sion Today.
BY BILL PRICE.

A charge for all street railway
transfers in WAshington-probab
of 2 cents-is today believed to be
the relief that will be given the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company in response to their petition
to the Public Utilities Commission.
The commission, the members Of
which have been unable to get to-
gether in a session for some time,
owing to demands upon their time as
District Commissioners by committees
OF Congress, met this morning and be-
gan threshing out the matter.
The commission adjourned until this
afternoon without being able to reach
"a definite decision. It was apparent
from the adjournment that questions
remained to be agreed upon. 1t is the
desire Of the Commission to reach an
agreement that is unanimous, but it
Is by no means improbable that diff
ferences may arise that will bring
about majority and minority opinions.
A 2-cent charge for all transfers
tnter-company and intra-company-
would mean, Of course, that free
transfers will pass by the board for
the present. The principle of free
transfers having been established by
accord Of the companies, the commits
sion would agree upon a charge who'll
developments in the future.
Both Companies To Benefit.
The charge, IL agreed upon, will
apply alike to both companies and
70 all lines IN Washington. The Cap
ital Traction. which is not in immedi-
ate need Of relief, win benefit finan-
cially about as much as the Wash
tngton Railway and Electric The
two companies haul about the same
number Of passengers each year. al
though the total trackage Of the
Capital Traction Is about sixty-five
miles and the ". R and E more
Than. twice as large
Collected transfers are counted
SnIy at intervals by the companies.
On May 10, an average day, the ".
-, R and z. collected 10000 transfers,
A0f which 1900 were intercompany.
Railway officials estimate that with
. 2-cent transfer there would be a
falling off of from 20 to so per cent
- transfers used Experts Of the
Utilities Commission think that IT
would run from 80 to 20 per cent. In
round figures Il is expected that the
". R and z win collect about $780,
700 IN additional revenues a year
from a 2-cent charge and the Capt.
tai Traction the same
The W. R and z. asked for $500, 900
additional revenue. II is evident that
khe commission Will never grant that
E1neh, and that Il will expect the
Pompany to operate, with improve
Rsont In service, on something like
$4,000 more
whether the decision win touch
hpon valuations Of the two com
Panies Is not known The commits
den Is pretty close to having in
hand ell the data that Is available on
valuation. although IT may not have
fully analyzed the facts and figures.
An addition Of $500 900 yearly in
the revenues Of the company would
yield, the commission believes, suf-
ncient net revenue to meet bonded
and other obligations, and pay a divi-
dend on preferred stock, leaving little
OF nothing for common stock divi-
lends.
Company officials have steadfastly
claimed that a transfer charge of .
ceats Will be "just a drop in the
Bucket" to what they need to keep
the organization in financial shape 10
make forward progress in Washing
ton and to avoid continued embarrass-
ment
It is plain that their view is not
that Of the commission by a long
shot
Another Downtown Line.
The commission, II it does grant the
Capital Traction the right to charge
Tor transfers, and the position taken
g that IL cannot discriminate as be-
tween the two companies, will prob
ably take early steps to require the
Capital Traction to build another
downtown line as relief from the con-
s~estion on the Fourteenth street and
other lines. Most favored by the
commission and the Capital Traction
company IL the construction of a new
line down Seventeenth street, from
u street, running into Potomac Park
over existing tracks or new tracks.
The commission is of the opinion
that early relief from congested con-
Hftions in that part Of the city must
ye provided. A careful survey of the
Geld shows no other method than an
other downtown line 20 be built by
The Capital Traction, which is able to
lnance the construction.
Suggestions Of q subway from the
northwest section into the heart Of
the city find no favor, owing to the
sact that the cost would be prohibit
tive. Construction would cost many
times as much as surface line.
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