Evening star., 1919-04-15

wnlcn snail exact from the SuDufDan-
ties fair compensation for the supe-
rior benefits which they enjoy in get
ting the long haul for the short haul
price, and in profting more than
others through free and intercompany
transfers. It is not fair to punish ad
ditionally and drastically us holders
of common stock, who have already
suffered severely, by eliminating all
dividend returns whatever on our in
vestments in good faith; and it is not
in the public interest to disintegrate
the railroad merger Of the w. r. & E.
by separating and driving into re-
ceivership any of the nominally inde-
pendent suburban lines which form a
part of the system. The public vel
fare demands merger or unity of opera
ton of the two Washington street rail
way systems and forbids the disinte-
grafton of either"
The suburbanites say: "We protest
against discriminatory extra fares
under the zone system and against re-
newal of charge for any transfers.
Many of us have been lured into the
suburbs and acquired homes there
under the assurance, express or i'm
piled. of the single fare. Relief of
city congestion and wholesome muni-
cipai development depend upon steady
suburban growth created and con-
tinued largely by efficient and reason
ably cheap rapid transit. Some OF us
have contributed to build up feeder
suburban lines which have been trans
ferred to the w. r. & E. in consid-
Grafton of rapid transit over the whole
system for a single fare. Fair play to
lis and the welfare of Washington for
bid that we should be thus penalized
for the mismanagement, the extrava-
gance or the blunders of others"
Municipal ownership is sometimes
suggested as remedy for the evil con-
ditions. But municipal taxpayers pro-
test against incurring heavy bonded
debt, violating or disturbing the half
and half law, in order to buy an un-
profitable plant and losing business.
Either the taxpayers would foolishly
shoulder a burden which they claim
does not belong to them or they would
make the deal profitable by refusing
to compensate for the great potential
value in the future Greater Washing
ton of the extensive suburban trackage
of the W. R. & E., and by confiscating
through an unjust condemnation the
property of the helpless stockholders.
The taxpayers protest against cheating
either themselves or the stockholders.
Until the high cost of living is re-
duced no one anticipates any decrease
in the workers wages, and a reduction
even then is unlikely. Labor has
fought hole-heartedly against Prus-
sianism in war, and is relied upon to
fight with equal vigor and enthusiasm
against bolshevism in peace. High
wages quickly place our workmen in
the bourgeoisie class, and separate
them by an impossible chasm from the
bo1sheviki.
The Utilities Commission, with all
the parties in interest heartily cooper
ating, will work out equity in solution
of the street railway problem, giving
a square deal and undiscriminating
fair play to everybody.
Fridays conference of the parties in
interest under the auspices Of the Fed
Grafton Of Citizens Associations ought
to result in better all-around sympa-
thetic understanding, in helpful CO.
operation and in promotion Of the COM
munity welfare.
The ends Of be attained by the in
telligent and public-spirited eo-opera-
ton of interlocking groups of Wash
are: () Adequate service;
(2) economy and efficiency Of opera
ton; (3) unity or at least full Co
ordination In the public interest OF op-
Grafton of Washington's two street rail-
way systems; az ownership and opera
tion of the unified or co-ordinated sys-
TEN by and for Washingtonians,
through an individual, not govern
mental management, which shall recoS-
nize its full obligations to the public
and shall respond readily and heartily
- s.<>1Ii~>n< lne.l nuh1ir aentiment