The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-08-16
KUTz PLANS
. D. c. ROADBED
OWNERSHIP
Engineer Commissioner Sees
Fare Kept Within 5 Cents on
Proposed Leasing Scheme.
D BILL PRICE.

Gel c. w. Kuta. chairman Of the
Pubic Utilities Commission, Is pre-
Pared 70 present to Congregational com
mittees, X asked to do 80. plan for
the municipal ownership OF the road.
beda Of washington street railways
and their leasihe to operating COM
ptniss on conditions which the army
engineer officer Of acknowledged at
talnments Believes would make the
Hystem Of railways here the best in the
country.
Conrad Syme, counsel Of the Utilities
Commission, who has followed the
traction situation here ever since the
Commission was created, believes the
kutx plan 70 be by far the best that
has been proposed from any direction.
Colonel KntE does not 80 as far as
ccmplete municipal oWnership OF all
the properties ct this time. His plan
u one OF roadbed ownership only.
thereby making e possible to main
tain splendid roadbeds, maze Eeces-
sary repairs 20 streets in betw cen
the trachs. and lay extensions OF
tracks int growing communities
that need car service.
BY leasing the municipally-owned
roadbeds tc private companies under
etrict conditions the District and her
psobIe would have matters well in
hand at all tines.
Keea Fare Vlthln Coats.
The Kutz plan, the author believes.
would keep car fares within cents
and later on enable q reduction. Evil
eenee before the National Electric
Railway Commission appointed BY
IT, DWaNfEna4a. knn 49, aTranaf afe4n ri
nous that when car fares 80 above
8 cents the operating companies suf-
FER reductions IN net reVunes and
their financial condition grows worse
&c the. fare grows higher.
The view 81 Colonel Kuts and Con-
rad nTms e alike that as matters
stand IN Washington It viii be many
years before the privately owned
companies are able 70 make extern
sions and additiohs TO their tracks
that are essential 10 the development
of WnshfArtoh. The funotinneof
street. ear eompany. a. they see IL, IL
noa ohly - serve the public In trans
p6Ftation bzt 70 develops 20 the high
est point the healthy growth Of q
RunieipaIlty. This growth e almost
Impossible, except in congested man
uer, Il opportunities FOR extension OF
tracks are shut Oh, - is now the case
With at least one Of the Washington
companioa
Net only this point as regarding
the development OF Washington is
important, but the maintenahce Of
streets and county roads comes in
Under present laws the street rail-
way conibanies are required to DO
tie paving between tracks and for
two feet on each side The Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company
has rescued . point where IL has
practically refused TO DO this because
Of depleted finances. All over Wash
InTton there are streets and roads
in terrible condition IN the center
where ear tracks are laid.
caEy sVESuId Make Repairs.
The Kuts plan would enable the
Municipality 20 make all street re-
pairs. to keep its railway roadbeds IN
splendid order and to make extensions
% tracks from taxes.
Leasing its roadbeds to responsible
cSmpanles or to one company the
municipality would be able to enforce
whateVer contracts were entered into,
with right to cancellation Of leases
where service was not maintained for
the good Of the public.
The Kutz plan would involve con-
demnation Of the roadbeds and pay
ment TO the existing companies OF
their value as nxed by q commission
authorized by Congress.
within ten days the Utilities Com
mission O. expected TO be ready TO
make itb announcement OF the valua-
tions Of street railway properties in
WASHINGTON. These valuations would
serve aa . basis for condemnations
Of car tracks.
Congress- would have to authorize
the Kutz plan or any other plan.
Chairman Napes. of the House Dis
trict Committee, has been consider
ing traction affairs here for some
time. He does not believe Congress
would authorize outright municipal
ownerehIp. He has not heard Of the
Kutx 1lAn, but is expected to ask
Colonel Kutz to explain II.
nFr. Hayes has been delaying con-
uidSfation pending the decisions Of
the ceumfSsiOn on valuations. He has
Tor some time realized the serious
ness Of railway matters in the Dis.
friei and desires to bring about leg
islation that will furnish relief, IL il
a possfble TO do 50.