Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-18
Valuation, $14.175,O

are Identical. Based on these general
principles and considering only those
elements Of value which were allowed
in the four cases above referred to-
and taking the Washington Railway
and Electric Company's system as a
whole without regard to the fact that
three of its component parts maintain
a separate corporate existence. the
commission estimates that the fair
value of the property of this system.
railway service within the District OF
Columbia on July l. 1914. was approx
imately $14.175.000. The net capital
expenditures for the same purposes
since that date up to and including
April 80. 1919. as shown by the books
Of the three companies, amount to
$744.427.36. The total of these two
amounts (s14.s19.427.3S) will be as
sumed as reasonable rate base for
use in considering the pending appli-
cation for an increase in revenues.
After the receipt of the petitions
sion announced its intention to with
hold action on any further increases
of fare until it could complete its con-
sideration of the testimony and evil
dence before 1t in the valuation cases
These cases were decided on Septem-
Der 4, 1919, and the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company was fur
opinion and findings therein. At the
same time the commission set Septem-
Der Is. 1919. as the date for a public
hearing in the matter Of the pending
petition for increased rates. Hear
ings were held on September IS, %,
"a. 80 and October 3, 1919.
Capital Traction Co. Brought In.
I'm the testimony given at the hear
ings on September Is and 20 it was
stated that there is an inequality in
the division of receipts from the sale
OF fntercompany transfers as between
the petitionfng companies and the
Capital Traction Company; also it ap-
peared that application would be
made to the commission on behalf of
the public for the revocation of COM
missions order number 324, authoriz-
ing charge for transfers on all street
railway lines in the District of CO.
lumbia, which includes the Capital
Traction Company.
These considerations, together with
form of measured service il an in
crease In rates should be found to be
necessary, made 1t essential. in the
opinion Of the commission. that the
Capital Traction Company should be-
come a party to the proceeding. The
commission thereupon issued its order
number 342. making the Capital Trac-
tfon Company a party to this pro-
ceeding and directed 1t to appear be-
fore the commission at the hearings
While asking, in the separate De-
titfcns IN the instant case for definite
measures of relief by the granting
OF an initial cash fare OF seven cents.
the abolition OF transfers between the
separate companies and the aban-
doment of the through routing of
cars. the Washington Railway and
Electric Company also asks that the
record before the commission in the
matter Of fare increases in formal cases
No. Sc and No. 70 be made. part hereof.
"One OF the measures of relief ad-
vocated by Prof. Richey in the latter
case contemplated a two-zone system
with cash fare of. cents in the first
Zone and either an additional scent
cash fare or tickets at the rate of
the request of the commission the
company submitted in the present
case slight modification Of this plan.
with a different rate Of charge than
at first proposed.
Good In Zone Plan Shown.
THE commission has given careful
consideration to the general question
of a zone system as well as to the
particular ones submitted in the pres
ent case. The theory of some form
OF measured service, such as is con-
templated in a zone system, is reason
able and just; 1t is right that the
users Of a pubic service should pay
for that service as far as possible In
proportion to the cost Of furnishing
1t to them.
THE chief advantage of the appli.
cation OF such plan to the loca
situation lies in the fact that 1t at.
fords a means of eQualizing the dis
parity in net operating revenues o.
the Washington Railway and Electri,
Company's system and those of thu
Capitol Traction Company. The Wash
ington Railway and Electric COMPANY
has ten lines operatingf into thu
suburbs of Washington, seven o.
which reach the District line. Will,
the Capital Traction Company has bu
two such lines. Moreover. the formel
miles within the District of Columbia
operates daily $50 cars. carrying ap
proximately 100000 passengers, whil'
the latter company, having only g.
miles of track and operating dali!
$50 cars. carries practically the sam
number of passengers.
Notwithstanding the greater equi
ties of the zone system. the commits
sion appreciates the fact that iron
the purely civic or community stand
point there is great objection TO UP
setting a practice established by Con
eress and in force for many years. ant
under which the numerous suburban
sections Of the District have been de
yeloped. 80
Opposition to Zone System Cited
Decided opposition was made b,
the various representatives of tn
~ ne
form Of zone system. most OF whom
stated that if any increase in fare
were found to be necessary 1t shouh
be IN the form of uniform rate o
fare within the District OF Columbia
After carefully weighing all the ad
vantages and disadvantages of tn
plans before IL, the commission deem
! II inadvisable to adopt any form o
measured service at this time.
The petitions Of the companies asl
for the abolition of the transfer privil
eye now in effect between their respec
| tive lines, with a modification of tn,
charge for transfer from short-end ca
to another going in the same direction
| so that a passenger may continue hi
| journey without an additional charg
over the initial fare.
AT the public hearings on this case
the president of the petitioning compa
MES expressed the desire of the com
panies to maintain the integrity of tn
| system II il is possible to do so, In view
of the great advantage to the public tn
commission will continue to regard tn
petitioning companies as integral part
OF one system. granting the relief four'
necessary to the system as whole.
Some Recruiting Approved.
The companies ask in their petition
| for the abolition of the through rout
| ing of cars. While this Is unpeces
I sary. IL the system is considered a.
! whole. the commission appreciates tn
| desirability of some rerouting, no