The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-31
~ BILL PRICE.

~ IL selI-eNloenL To-Day 10 near!
every man who has been studying
and understands the street railway
situation in Washington. that unless
Congress soon provides outright mu-
nicipal ownership. or municipality
controlled railways on service-at-
cost plan. such as that in Cleveland,
Ohio. the irritating factors which
Keep the people here aroused will
not cease.
And to this many viii say that
Congress under no circumstances will
authorize municipal ownership oW-
ing TO the strong opposition TO Fed
eral ownership and operation OF steam
railroads. telegraphs and telephones.
This argument, though. is based upon
a question of principle and OF practl-
cal results as applying 10 the entire
nation.
In washington the street railway
problem Is in no wise national ex-
cept in that the Federal Government
is about as vitality interested in good
service here as the municipal govern
ment and the people.
As legislators for this city. as car
riders themselves, members Of Con-
gress arc more or less familiar with
local conditions, and there Is the
strongest sort OF support in that body
for q change in the present methods.
Federal workers Affected.
So long as the street railway sit
aation here continues TO aggrayate
and disturb; so long as the service
cannot be kept at its maximum Of eff
AGENCY, the Federal Government will
suffer in the inability Of its thou
sands of employees to reach then
places Of employment on time and e
depart on time in the afternoon.
1t is so notorious as to be hardly
worth repeating that the granting Of
a 2-cent transfer charge is not going
Ito satisfy the Washington Railway
and Electric Company or settle rail-
way problems for any length Of time.
That company's management in the
past has Impoverished it to a degree
that means that it will be skating
ION thin tee financially all the time
with a steady yell for more revenue.
CspItaI Traction Sensible.
The Capital Traction, on the other
hand, spent its money in past years
IN sensible manner, providing for
depreciation and upkeep. Its divi-
dends were reasonable and no at
tarnpts were made to give the stock
bidders everything and the public as
little a. possible
The situation, therefore. is one
strong street car line serving the
sneople with reasonable satisfaction,
and making reasonable profits for It's
stockhoIders; another that spent its
money enormously, and is conse-
suently run down" and in little
shape to give the public an absolutely
satisfactory service unless its finan-
cial Golfers are filled from the public
nurse, so that Improvements may be
made and new rolling stock pur-
chased
The street car service in Washing
ton. for the benefit of the Federal
Government alone, should be the equal
of that anywhere in the country. II
cannot be this way as things now
stand and will stand for some time
to come
Cannot Compel Merger.
There is nothing in the talk about
Foing to Congress and trying to com.
pei a merger Of the two companies.
Congress has no power TO do that and
will not try It II the companies were
70 get together themselves and agree
upon a merger, that might do the job.
They will not do this. 1t has been
tried frequently. The Utilities Com
mission cannot compel a merger.
Outright municipal ownership j.
what Congress should authorize, in
the opinion OF hundreds Of local men
who do not favor Government owner
ship as a principle. The question is
one Of necessity. II disinclined to go
this far, Congress could at least direct
the District Commissioners to inau
g7Irate q service-at-cost plan here,
paying a reasonable return to the
stockholders q the companies upon
reasonable valuations OF tbeir-proper-
ties.
Under such a plan, or trusteeship,
the Commissioners or the Utilities
Commission would virtually operate
the street railway lines. handling
them as one, so that every economy
Of single operation could be used.
These economies would be sufficient,
In the minds OF many street railway
experts, to save the car-riding pub
lie much money that II will other
wise have to pay in fares, transfer
ebaFReE or otherwise.