Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-08
WILL JOIN WITH OTHERS
IN RAIL WAY FARE ISSUE
Columbia Heights Citizens Favor
Hiring Lawyer to Secure Man
damus Against Companies.

FUrportinC TO bring the street rail-
way companies ITO time the details
Of the plan, including sale of ear
tickets in the old ''six-for-a quarter
plan, Columbia Heights Citizens As
Sociation took tentative action, at
its monthly meeting last evening.
to join with other citizens associa
tons in the District for the purpose
of "hiring the ablest lawyer in the
District" to 20 before the court TO
secure a mandanus OF the com panies
TO sell six tickets for q quarter.
O. ~ Ward, a member of the bar
and cmploye of the Department Of
the Interior, said at the meeting that
the Public Utilities Commission pos
sesscd no authority to tell the street
railway companies they could raise
fares to a straight fivc-ceut basis.
Legal Right Is Questioned.
THE Pablo Utilities commission
has been very solicitous indeed said
Mr. Ward. 1T has taken care that the
railway companies make 6 per cent
on their investment. 1t has not the
legal right 20 alter the terms Of the
companies charters which say that
tickets shall be sold on q siH-for-a =
quarter plan
fho contention of Mr. Ward, briefly
stated, is that the charter granted
10 the companies by Congress pro
Vi}ea that six tickets shall be sold
for . quarter: that Congress only
has the right to alter or repeal the
charter, which it has not done.
fEs Public Utilities Commission was
given the power 10 fix fares, accord
ing 10 the public utilities ACT. but,
MI. Ward says the public utilities act
fSa-r i.tr Ilas1E Er
that the charter vas granted for the
protection of the people. and so that
the terms of the charter are not
changed by the public utilities act
Move to Join Federation.
Sentiment ran high that a lawyer
should be retained. 1t was pointed out
that one association could not afford
10 retain an attorney, but that, the
several citizens associations, feder-
ated. could carry on an extensive
fight if necessary.
A resolution calling for Colum bia
Heights Citizens Association to be-
come a member of the Federation of
citizens Associations was made by
Clinton Hiatt.
Because Of the late hour. this motion
vas laid Oh the table till the next
meeting.
Recommendations that the teachers
a 100 per cent increase in salaries
We're made by the committee on pub
lie schools. 1t was pointed out that
ono of the teachers coIored washwom-
an and her husband made more money
than the teacher, who had spent time
and money for education necessary to
practice in the teaching profession.
Under the recommendation. salaries
for teachers in the grade schools will
he set between $500 and 1880 q
year. and high school teachers will
receive as high as $1,000 annually.
For Free Intercompany Transfers.
a resolution was adopted in which
the association goes on record for
free intercompany transfers and that
the corporation counsel of the Dis
trjct be asked under what authority
has the Public Utilities Commission
granted a raise in fares from the six
for q quarter plan to straight five
cent fares.
A committee from the association
was instructed to attend all hearings
OF the street railway companies and
IN The next hearing to get permission
TO speak for the purpose of challeng-
ing the Public Utilities Commission to
show where their legal right to
change the fares on the street car
lines is derived.