The Washington times., 1919-05-16
CONE.|NEQ UIZZ
Of v. R. & T.
TO FINANCES
Public Utility Commissioners
Speed Hearing by Barring
) Irrelevant Discussion.
BY BILL PRICE.

The Public Utilities Commission to-
day FASTENED its work in connection
with the application Of the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company
Tor financial relief. by conhning the
queries directed by numerous citizens
Rt President Ham, of the company, to
the direct matters involved. There
was a disposition on the part OF many
representatives of civic organization S
20 dig into past history of the COM
psny and to continue a policy Of gem
eral criticism, but Colonel Kutz
asked that all questions be pertinent
60 the issues involved.
The w. r. and E. having passed its
common dividend yesterday, for the
first time in years, there was an at
mosphere OF satisfaction about the
hearing. and the prospect was To-Day
more definite that m some form the
commission will accord what it be-
lieves TO be adequate relief. The in
dications multiplied that the COM
mission is now satisfied that the com
Qany has proved that il needs more
money but probably not nearly so
much as il pictures itself as reQuir-
ing. So the commission will seek to
find a way to grant relief up to a
certain amount.
Severe Opposition.
Severe opposition was again shown
to anything like a zone system, and
it was so pronounced as probably to
eliminate a two-Zone system from
serious consideration by the commits
sion The questions asked were in
The line of information as to whether
2-cent transfer charge on both
dntercompany and company transfers
would be sufficient to meet the needs
of the company. Mr.. Ham did not
think. il would.
W. Mex. Clayton, from the Fedora
fion Of Citizens Associations, asked
Mr. Ham whether the restoration Of
electric light rates by the Potomac
Electric Light Company would assist
the company to the necessary amount.
Mr.. Ham did not think it would. He
then said that he had the figures OF
the business OF that company for the
first four months of this. year.
Those figures indicated that the
company would fall short this year by
1887, zoe of paying the usual IL per
cent dividend TO the W. r. and E.
which would be a heavy loss to the
latter. The P. Z. P. Company is now
setting aside S3S0,O0O a year to re-
pay electric light users if the courts
decide against it as TO the reduced
Iates ordered two years ago. He
treaty doubted il a restoration OF
the old rate would accomplish all ii
should. 1t certainly would not be
Fufficient, if the surplus were distri-
buted ia dividends to the w. r. and
l., TO meet the deficit in the opera
tions OF that company
Discuss 6-Cent Fare.
Charles Ca1dan
asked questions as TO whether scent
fat fare for Washington, applicable
10 both companies, with the Capital
Traction required 10 use any sur
pIus for construction OF extensions to
IeIieve downtown congestion. would
meet the situation. Mr.. Selden de-
cIared that he did not believe the
suburbanite, now subject to many
fncOnveniences and to a lack OF ad-
Rantages enjoyed by the city dweller,
should be burdened with additional
charges. He thought that whatever
relief is granted should be spread over
the entire population Of Washington
for the general good Of the city.
W. l. Swanton, OF the Columbia
Heights Citizens Association, and 4.
g. Armstrong, Of the Rhode Island
Avenue Association, both asked nu-
nerous questions. Mr.. Swanton di-
rected some of these to the idea OF
compelling merger OF the two COM
panies, but Colonel Kutz declared that
The commission had no power to ccm-
pei merger and that this question
was not now before the Commission.
Many questions were asked con-
corning the large number Of acci-
dents on the railway lines and the
big cost to the company for these.
Mr.. Ham said that the company Is
not to blame for these accidents an
more than others. certainly not be-
cause Of inexperienced motormen and
ronduc- prs. The truth. he said, is
that Washington has developed into
a great and congested city. with m
snense numbers Of machines. and that
traffic accidents will inevitably in
crease.
Says Fares arc Too Lew.
Mr., Ham said that District people
arc not paying any more proportion
ately to service than Maryland people
who use the suburban lines. He be-
,ievcd that both District and Mary
and people were paying too little; in
TACT, knew it
Mr.. Ham persisted, in reply to qUes-
.ions, in the view that the lonE-hau
passenger should pay for the length
Of haul, despite statements made by
chose present that the city passenger
t,ets quick service for his money
while the suburbanite must wait long
.'or his cars and put up with all sorts
81 Inconvenience before getting TO
and from his homo.
Mr.. Ham said. however, that he was
merely answering questions and THAI
he did not care how the relief cam.
All he knew was that it was badly
needed.
The company's PRECEDENT was press
ed as TO whether IL Mas car facilities,
-IT. Clayton bringing out that while
.ac company did order fifty new :Irs,
come OF these are not yet in opera
Gin 1t lost thirty other cars iu The
IRE in the lexington barns. lie Ivisg a
net gain Of only twenty cars or its
entire system. Mr.. Ham admitted
this was not sufficient. but dscl:rcd
the company did not have money 10 !