The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-13
Rv BILL PRICE.

By BILL PRlCE.
The most serious charges yet
brought against the Washington
Railway and Electric Company are
before the Public Utilities Commits
sion, which proposes to investigate
them fully, even If a formal, open in
vestigation becomes necessary.
They are made by a committee of
employees Of the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing and other Government
establishments in that vicinity num-
bering over 10000 people. and un-
equivocally are that the company has
deliberately reduced the number of
through cars and increased the num-
Der Of short-trip cars to compel
patrons to pay 2-cent transfers.
II this charge is proved before the
Commission, it will be such a serious
violation OF the orders of that body
as TO result in the imposition for the
first time of heavy penalties provided
by the utilities law.
The difficulty about these penalties
IS that the Commission has no direct
way OF collecting them. but would
have to go before the Supreme Court
Of the District Of Columbia, sue for
collection, prove its case, and prob
ably wait three years for the money
while appeals were taken.
Kut1 Wants the Facts
Chairman Kutz, Of the Utilities
Commission, was today determined to
ascertain as quickly as possible the
facts in the charges, which were laid
before him yesterday afternoon by
10 mi a q
had appeared before Chairman Mapes, !
Of the House Committee on the Dis
trict Of Columbia, and laid the same
complaints before him.
E R Williams, chairman Of the !
complaining employees, declared today
that the operation Of cars from the
bureau has been carefully watched |
since the 2-cent transfer order, which
distinctly prohibited the railway com
panies from changing the runs Of
cars on any lines. and has what he !
regards as conclusive proof that large
numbers Of through cars have been |
taken of, compelling the use Of other |
cars from which pay transfers are
eracted.
He declared that before the 2-cent |
transfer order there was a good
through service from the Bureau 10 /
various points in the city, cars wait |
ing in numbers at the hours tn" |
thousands of employees were making |
shifts These have now been reduced |
TO a minimum, and the number Of
Eleventh street and LeDroit park cars |
greatly increased, theeby binSing 1
about the collection of tansfer charges |
from thousands of people who have
heretofore paid one fare only, the |
discrimination being against people |
who live longest distances from the |
center of the city.
Begin Investigation.
Two inspectors from the Public |
Utilities Commission today began in |
Vestigation Of the charges, and upon |
their reports will be determined what
further action the Commission will
take.
Accusations have been made for a /
song time by the car-riding public |
living in outlying portions Of the |
District, including portions well |
within the city proper, that the policy |
~ the railway has been to neglect /
.hem for the revenue to be derived /
rom the short-haul passengers and /
that when there are ue-ups. p8ssen- /
gers having the longest distances TO |
20 must wait long and patiently /
.Thile car are diverted TO the short |
haul lines.
Railway Denies Charges.
superintendent Casey. or the rail |
way company, said today that the |
fame number OF cars. over the same
runs, are now furnished Bureau and
,ther employees as before the 2-cent
order; tina TIFF there have been changes
they were without orders from him.
gnd he Is now investigating to find
ut just what has occurred. Under
10 circumstances would ne tolerate
UGH a diversion Of cars from officially
pproved schedules as is limited at in
ne charges. It would not profit the
company to do anything OF that sort.
The railways have repeatedly
claimed that they do not dictate the
operation Of their own cars; that this
Is done BY the Commission. which
makes orders for SO many cars, un-
der certain headways. over all lines,
dav and night. Failure 10 a comply
with these orders through deliberate
disobedience would subject the COM
pany to penalties that are severe, if
there is any real way OF collection
them when imposed.
Proposed Legality Test.
The KenIIworth Citizens Associa-
lion is preparing. as already told in
these columns. TO bring test Of the
legality of the Z-cent order. II has
received sufficient encouragement TO |
induce members Of the committee 10
EXPRESS the belief that at the next |
r,eeting of the association, Tuesday |
night. the organization will go on |
record for employing an attorney to |
take the case to the courts.