Evening star., 1919-08-18
SEES 1GCENT FARE
TO meet DEMAND
W.R. & q offjoiat Discusses
Request Of Employees for
Increased Wages.

Faced with the prospects Of de-
mand for a Is per cent increase in
trainmen's wages during this week.
Vice President s. r. Bowen of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company today issued a statement
setting forth the impossibility of the
company acceding to the demands for
such scale without relief from the
Public Utilities Commission.
Several months ago omcials Of the
company went before the utilities
commission with a petition for relief.
The commission is awaiting the val
taking any steps further than the
two-cent transfer.
Mr.. Bowen's Statement.
Such an increase in wages would
amount to at least ~ per cent In
crease in running expenses. Mr.
Bowen declared.
AT present the company is in
strait: to continue operation on its
greater difficulty daily in securing
suncient revenue to keep tho road
on a running basis. Without relief
tt will be impossible to accede to the
demands Of the men,. If rs per cent
increase ts granted the burden viii
lic."
The City and Suburban railway will
go into the hands Of receivers within
two months unless relief Is obtained,
he stated, He declared 1t to be his
opinion that 1o-cent fare with no
transfer privileges loomed on the To-
cal financial horizon il such action
were taken.
Early Report Expected.
Valuations of both companies should
be completed and made public within
the next two weeks. public utilities
officials stated today. Hearings on the
valuations were. concluded during the
latter part of spring and experts have
plicatad and intricate statistics sub
mitted showing both the historical
and reproductive values Of the Capital
Traction, and Washington Railway
and Electric companies. The valua-
ton reports In the main are COM
up before the conclusion Of the work
and submission OF the reports.
Merger Possibilities Topic.
Possibilities Of a merger between
the City and Suburban lines and the
Capital Traction company are now
being discussed In certain circles.
Such Q merger, 1t is declared, would
give that company practical control
Of all eastern suburban trade. includ-
ing Brookland. Hyattsville. Mount
Rainier, Laurel and intervening sta
tions. 'si
The matter Of calling for a receiver
for the City and Suburban road fs in
the hands Of bondholders, according
to Mr.. Bowen. Tho Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company does not
own any considerable amount Of
bonds In the company. which are
being held in the most part by the
public. The interest on these bonds
has defaulted. he said. and the holders
t7are At liberty to petition for q re-
caiver.
., Wage Committee at Work.
The wage committee of the WASH
ington Railway and Electric branch
Of the street car mems union has been
working several weeks on plans for
the increases in wages. They point out
that while street car workers in many
cities Of the United States are receive
ing higher rates OF pay than in Wash
ington the living costs in this city
arc much higher. The War Labor
Board, to which have been referred
disputes between the company and its
employees. win go out OF existence
Octobsr /. The company has declared
for thu "open. shop" and as yet has
not signed any collective bargaining
agreement with the men. From all
Indications, however. the company
viii meet with representatives Of the
employees to decide upon steps to be