Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-18
HEADS OF COAL WORKERS AND COAL OPERATORS IN CON-
FERENCE WITH SECRETARY OF LABOR WILSON,.

|
Thoma. T. Brewster. president OF
acting
creas Sc in wages of cents per hour
! is fairly comparable to the Increase
| in the cost of living since March.
1919. and is. therefore. Just alike to
Public, upon whom the added burden
must lie. 1t Is estimated that this
Increase in wages will add sl65000
| year to the operating expenses OF
THE companies financial state
| ments are based on actual opera
lions for seven months. during Ave
months of which there was no charge
for transfers, and on estimates for the
remaining Ave months OF the year. as
suming a continuation Of present
rates of fare. If allowance be made
for the notifications outlined above.
and il 1t be assumed that the compa-
MES had collected charge Of
five months Of actual operations. the
companies would fall short Of earning
per cent return (namely $977,760
on the fair value of the property as
fixed by the commission, amounting to
$16,2S6.000) by. approximately. $780,
900. There are several ways in which
this needed revenue can be raised.
Il. By an increase in the fiat rate
of fare with no change in the present
charge for transfers.
20. By an increase in the fiat rate
of fare and charge Of only / cent for
transfers.
IS. BY a greater increase in the fiat
rate Of fare and no charge for trans
fers.
Favors Car Recruiting.
1.-THE commission is Of the opinion
that material economies in operation
can be effected through rerouting of
| cars. but as 1t is difficult to make such
Is effective the commission believes
that until such rerouting can be in
augurated no charge should be made
| for intracompany transfers.
The Commission also believes that
the present charge Of cents for in
tercompany transfers should be con-
tinued. and on the question of divi-
sion of the receipts from these trans
rates should be apportioned between
| the companies in manner equitable
to each.
reconsideration has been given to the
conflicting testimony submitted by the
representatives. OF the petitioners and
in the absence of further data the
commission is unable to reach a con-
clusion at this time. It will. how
ever, take this matter up and an
nounce a decision at an early date,
the decision to take effect on Novem-
Der l. 1919.
The estimated yearly revenues
from intracompany transfers are APP
proximately $280.000, which, added to
the estimated deficit of $s50.0o0 under
gate $1.130,000 as the sum to be raised
through an increase In the fiat rate of
fare.
Assuming 1880, 900 pay passengers
per year, the sum required can be
obtained approximately by a charge
for ticket fares. 80 "=. -
/ When the rate of fare was cents
cash or six tickets for 25 cents. cash
fares were thirteen and three-tenths
per cent of the total. Assuming that
this proportion Will hold If cash fares
are made cents and ticket fares 6A
cents, the estimated increase in reve-
nues will be $1,13S,000, or $4,000 in
Items Not Considered.
mo allowance in the above esti-
mates has been made for gross in
come tax on the increased revenue,
nor any allowance for the cost in
| CURED in printing and handling
tickets. but it is believed that the
amount by which these additional
charges exceed the difference of
operating economies to be effected
through rerouting.
Having reached conclusion as to
the extent to which additional rev.
enues are needed by the Washington
Railway and Electric Company and
ITO aY1hoidi9 rtaa and tn the hest
means Of raising such increased
revenues. 1t is Of Importance to deter
mine whether these increased rates
of fare shall Apply only to the Wash
I or whether they shall apply alike
! to all street railway companies with
in the District of Columbia.
| There would be but one answer to
| this question II the two companies
were not competitive, but with prac-
| tically every line of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company within
| the city proper. paralleled by line of
the Capital Traction Company. the ap-
plication of discriminating rates to
the two companies would, in the
| opinion of the commission. result in
such a disarrangement of the arteries
of city transportation as to make 1t
! utterly impossible for the Capital
Traction Company to render adequate
service. while, at the same time, the
TcuuCtlOH IN Ine nuHlDeF OI pd6SSn.
gers on the Washington Railway and
Electric system would. to a large ex-
| tent, Offset the effect on the gross
revenues of the increased fares.
Uniform Rate Imperative.
The two systems are so related
that If the present character of serv-
| ice is to be maintained. much less i'm
proved, 1t il deemed imperative th8t
uniform rates be maintained on the
J two systems. For similar reasons the
| increased rates should also apply to
! the Washington Virginia Railway
Company. AS no charge is made for
| transfers between the Capital Trac-
| ton Company and the East Washing
| ton Heights Traction Railroad Com
! pany, the new rates will also apply to
! that line even though it Is not a COM
| peting line.
ITO equalize the existing disparity
| in the net earnings of the two prin-
| cipal street railway systems. it has
| been suggested that the increased
| revenues needed by the Washington
| Railway and Electric Company he
provided by increasing the existing
| rates for electric light and power,
| thus throwing upon the electric light
1 and power consumers the burden of
! making good the deficit on street rail-
| way operation. This the commi ssion
/ believes to be not only negotiable
and unjust. but illegal In the opin
| ion of the commission, IL the problem
I ri,