Evening star., 1919-04-16
Also a Government Responsibility


The national government is not to be
omitted from consideration as a party
with an interest and an obligation in
cooperating for the solution of our
street railway problem.
The government has recognized that
the wartime congestion evil. which has
dcmoraliZed the street railways, was
largely of its own making and i'll patri
o.;c response to Its own urgent nation
vide invitation. II has also recognized
De obligation of cooperating to re-
duce TO a minimum he evil effects OF
a condition for which if was largely
responsible
During the war it was urged and in
effect conceded by the government that
it ought to help to reduce street rail
way congestion % by continuing to
stagger the hours of government en-
ployes in the manner which fear of in,
fiuenza at first compelled: (2) by Civ
ing priority to the manufacture of the
cars which were to relieve the eonges-
ton; (3) by reducing the number of
through careful survey of the new bu.
reaus or divisions reported to be pal
pably overstocked; a. by expediting
the erection of dormitories within easy
walking distance of the departments
and 90 by authorizing and undertak
ing to finance new belt line track ex-
tension. tending to relieve congestion
Of course, Washington has been com
PEELED to take the will for the deed
i'm respect to the complete fulfillment
of most of these conceded obligations
The main help now to be desired
and perhaps expected from the ma
tional government is the strengthen
ing, through Congress. of the credit
81 The railways, so that they can secure
o.; reasonable terms the money they
seed to equip themselves to render
adequate service.
There is some suggestion of national
government ownership and control of
our street railways. But since the gov
ernment did not take control in war
time when the reasons for this course
were strongest. it is not likely to do
so in peace, when conditions are re.
turning to normal and when it is con
sidering at what date it will surrender
control of the steam railroads.
The public, the users of public utili-
ties. the travellers by rail, the users of
telegraph or telephone are not encour-
aged by war-experience of government
control to cry for it after the war
urgency has passed. Railroad fares
have shot up without improvement of
service. Telegraph rates are raised
against the protest of one of the tele-
graph systems. And now the local tele-
phone rates, increase of which was held
in abeyance by the Public Utilities
Commission, are abruptly and without
discussion raised in the name of the
government.
The public participates in open dis
cussion of street railway conditions
and to a certain extent in determine
tion of equitable rates of fare. 1t has
nothing whatever to say about the ar
bitrarily increased rates of the tele
phone under gc-ernmen. Jntrol.
Washington's plea for sympathetic
cooperation by the national govern
ment in solving the street railway
problem is based not only upon the ma
tons obligation to the National Capi
tai, but also upon the fact that the
government is spending as part of the
national revenue over $4,000 900 con
tributed last year by the District il
national taxes. While Washington
does not participate in national gov
ernment to the extent of having q
voice in that government, it is per
mitted to participate in contributing
men and money for national war and
money for national uses in time OF
peace. Last year its national tax OF
over twelve millions exceeded the tai
of sixteen states; and it gave to the
military service over 900 of its sons
exceeding seven of the states A con
stitutional amendment is pending tt
empower Congress to permit District
residents to participate, like all othel
continental Americans, in this nationa
government without interfering in tn,
slightest with national control of tn,
capital and without disturbing at al
the present municipal government
And some Washingtonians hesitate anG
some ccn.. essmen bubble over thil
eouitable propoSal,