Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-12
Uncertainty Regarding Some
lntercompany Points Is
Due to Congestion.
w. R. & E. TO ASK FOR =
RIGHT TO HIGHER FARES
Chairman of Directors Declares Re.
lief by This Means Is
Necessary.

Announcement OF the decision ef
the Public Utilities Commission on IN
tercompany transfer points Is expect
ed to be made about the middle OF
this week.
This was indicated yesterday, waen
members of the commission stated
they were re-reading the transcript
of proceedings at the hearings held
the past week. ard felt there was
no reason why the matter might not
be determined and an order issued
this week.
Points on which the commission re-
mains in doubt, it was intimated. are
18th and 6 streets. I4th street ana
Pennsylvania avenue and possibly
18th street and New York avenue.
Uncertainty as to these points. 1t was
learned. was based on questions OF
congestion, as it was felt that con-
ditions, already bad at these points,
might be seriously aggravated by
institution there Of intercompSly
transfers. ts
1t was stated that the commissiou
may in the near future consider inter
company transfers at points other
than those recommended in the
Beeler report and supplementary rs-
port. What if any. specific points
the commission has in mind could nor
be learned.
Further Increase Of Fares. Il
That the Washington Railway AN
Electric Company will In the immeA
diate future ask for a further increase
of fares in the District of ColumAla
was the statement yesterday Of NM
ton e. Allies. chairman of the boffd
Of directors of the company. un}ees
the relief that would be afforded ~
permission to collect an increas61
rate of fare is allowed, Mr.. AilSG
stated. the company cannot long -
cape a receivership.
The question of intercompany tfans-
fers, Mr.. Allies said. has little to do
with the financial condition Of the
company. Even without such trans
fers at points recommended by Mr..
Beeler. Mr. Allies said. the relief at
forded by the straight f1ve-cent fare or
der was not sufficient to Offset the
rapidly rising cost of operation.
The public falls to realize" he
said, that wages have been raised
to the highest level Of any city In
the United States. Three months ago
the company had about 730 platform
rnen-motormen and conductors-In
it's employ. Today it has more than
1,100. all paid at the greatly in
creased scale of wages. This Item
alone accounts for a very large pro-
portion of the increase in revenue
It,a 70 hA Gx-n zI, &c.
Increases in the cost OF materials,
of all forms of equipment, and Of
everything entering into the opera
ton and maintenance of a street
railway system have accounted Tor
and are accounting for all that re-
mains of the increase after the wages
of the men are paid, and more.
Cannot Reduce Wages. @
1.-The Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company is not alone in this
unfortunate position: 1t affects every
street railway in the country. We
cannot take the position of reducing
expenses by reducing wages. Our
employees have to face the same
proposition that confronts us-in-
creasing cost of everything they have
to buy.
"As a matter of fact" said MI
Allies, the dollar today has only the
purchasing power Of the ffty-cent
piece of few years ago. This is
the condition that .confronts not only
our company but every company, ~
well as every individual in the coun-
try"
Mr.. Allies stated that the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company
has ordered cash fare boxes of the
latest improved type. to be installed
IN it's cars for the collection Of farek
These boxes, to cost about $22. 2.00o.
were to have been delivered some
time ago, but delivery has been de-
layed and the boxes are not in sight
yet. With the installation of the
fare boxes, he said, possibility oI
serious leaks of revenue. suggested
several times during the hearings the
past week should be obviated.
The Washington Railway and Elee.
trio Company, Mr.. Allies said, with
delivery of the rest of the fifty new
cars ordered several months ago. win
have a total of 42S cars for full serv-
ice on it's various lines. Easing OF
labor conditions, he said, has made
it possible to provide crews for al,
of the company's cars. as well as 10
obtain labor for track, barn and shop
work.
Accumulated Effects.
1.-THE company, he said, lis making
every effort humanity possible to
maintain efficient service and to OBJ
viate delays, breakdowns and deten-
tions which are the source of In
Vulnerable just coInpla ints on the
part of the public. We are now e.
periencing the accumulated effects
Of a long period when 1t has been tu1.
possible for US to make repairs, mat1l-
tain cars and tracks in proper con-
dition, and keep the entire syete8
in shape to furnish the kind of seS6tK
ice to which the people of WashinDsS
ton are properly entitled.
I'VE are doing our best to operGte
our lines for the convenience and ccfn-
fort Of the public. and we shall con-
tinue to exert every effort along that
line, no matter what 1t may cost.sU
we can obtain increased revenues
an increase Of fares we shaIf
have no trouble. II we do not obtain
such relief. however. a receiverthip II
Commissioner Gardiner. when In
formed of Mr.. Allies statement, said
that in his opinion recefyership for
either Of the street railway systema
Of Washington would be q far greater
calamity than a six-cent fare.
"For my part" said Commissioner Z
81 shall do anything po60k
BILE to avoid creation Of condft144es y
that would make . receiyerBhtp nec(
sary. believe that the Street-eax-111r
ing public Of Washington. u fully m
frankly advised - to ac1uAl ec4 & j
tions, Win agree With No Il thia S14<k