The Washington times., 1919-10-07
ONEFARE SYSTEM
MERELY SCOTCHED

RContinued from Page Thirteen)
ae put In arguments favorable to a
zone at the request Of the commits
sion. which had made up its mind TO
consider this measure. Mr.. Ham had
folt the deep opposition TO Eone
eharEes At q previous hearing, and
had no desire to antagonize public
sentiment By requesting its consiuera-
Gon.
ne commission originally had an
ldea that a second zone charge OF 5
cents would give the company all the
revenue 60 would require That idea
uTas completely exploded when the
testimony showed that estimates on
aecond zone charge would bring In
1ess than $4,000 a year, falling short
nearly a million dollars og what the
uompany claims it must have and Is
entitled to under the recent valua-
zion Of its properties made by the
semmission.
The CommiuaIou'H Problema.
II is no violation Of confidence 20
state that al members OF the Com
mission are not personally smitten
with the zone idea. They realize
that washington has gone on foF
nifty years, developing along sane
and satisfactory lines, on one-tare
nlan They admit that this new
fanTled idea may have some draw
hacks. but they are confronted, they
admit. with the one question OF
whether they shah give 70 one com
nany, not needing revenues, virtually
tie same amount OF money yearly
that the other company. badly need
fnr revenues. must have. So they
- "a q
a zone fare as increasing the reVe-
uues OF the ". r. & E, while hold
fnr down the revenues OF the Capital
Traction.
tits a foregone conclusiOn that the
Commission, unless Il is ablt to de-
wise some scheme not yet heard OF,
must increase the straight fares on
both car lines. whether it adds a
zone charge or not That is. IL must
act upon several propositions;
That OF a 6-eeu, stre-isnt fare
for both lines, and a zone charge for
beth: with probable continuation OF
g-cent transfers, which all citizens OBJ
sect TO.
"a T-oent fare, with or without
1one charges, and probably 1-cent
transfer charge.
IsO.O0O.OOO Each Year.
The facts and figures show that
both the W. r. and Z. and Capital
traction viii each haul this year be-
tween SoO00.O00 and 10000 900 pas
rengers. II the same number OF pas
renrers continue 10 ride in the. fu-
ture. that would mean an increase in
revenues for each company Of piracy
tically $780, 900 a year, il one more
cent is added 70 the flat fare If %
thfs is added 100000 q year for one
line. on an additional zone charge, and
about 500 900 20 the other, the ". r.
and Z. would be getting $l,4OOOOO
more q year, ard the Capital Traction
about 81 900 600 more annually. II
2-cent transfers are continued, this
would give each company about the
same Il % now receiving from this
source.
The ". r and z. states that il
must have Sl.5O0.OOO more a year.
That was before e was faced by the
necessity OF meeting the Capital
Traction ComDanyB increases in
wages to it8 employees. This viii add
$4,000 more a year 70 the expenses
. 81 the W r. and =.
Therefore. the ". r. and =. today
Il asking for additional annual reve-
zues Of $l,6s0,OOO a year
Hirh Fures Make walkers.
A straight T-cent fare, giving
more cents on each passenger, would
presumably add 81 100000 more TO
the revenues Of each road a year;
but the experts are Of the opinion
that this viii be impossible, as exc
perienceg have shown that in all
cities where fares are raised the pub
lie takes TO walking, where possible,