Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-08
INSISTS TRANSFERS
WILL RAISE FARES
'Urgent and Unavoidable"
+, Under Proposed System,
Mr.. Ham Says.
PROMISES TO OBEY ORDER

mission on tho r"ooosed system of in
tcrcompany transfers TsE
II increases are not granted, William
+. Ham, president of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company, stated
two alternatives would confront street
car patrons. One of these was estab-
lishment of some sort of general pay
transfer system. The other was inaus-
ration of zone system. whereby pas
sengers would pay a fare dependent
upon the length of the ride,
Mr.. Ham, however. joined with OFF,
Gals of the Capital Traction Company
in declaring that if the Public Utilities
Commission directs the establishment
of intercompany transfer points, as rec
commended in the report of John A.
Beeler traffic expert employed by the
commission. his company Will not take
the matter into the courts. but Will
obey the commissions order, at least
for a trial period.
Recess Is Ordered.
Yesterdays hearing continued I'M
til Sis o'clock last evening, when it
was adjourned to II o'clock tomor-
row. President Hamilton of the Capt.
tai Traction Company stated the an
nual meeting of stockholders and d.
rectors and annual election of OFF
GERS of his company was fixed for
today4 which would make it impossi-
bic for officials to be present if the
hearing were continued today.
President Ham and Mr. Beeler oc-
cupied the stand yesterday afternoon,
adjournment coming before Mr.. Beel
er had completed his testiomny.
The afternoon session was enliven-
ed by number of pointed questions.
most of which were parted by Mr..
Ham. William Henry Smith, rep
resenting the Mount Pleasant Citizens
Association. referring to statement
made by Mr. Hamilton to the effect
that should the earning power of his
company be further impaired by es-
Establishment of a number of inter-
company transfer points or by further
reduction in operating income, the
company would be unable to sell a
single bond or borrow single dollar,
asked:
isn't your inability to borrow due
to the fact that you have put your
solf in the position of resisting the
commission in the matter of a fair
valuation of your property. $3,5O0,000
of your s6,000,00 of stock being nothing
in the world but water?'
Denies Resisting Commission.
Mr.. Ham denied that his company has
resisted the commission in the matter of
valuation, in any manner other than
provided by law, the law giving the
companies the right to go into court if
they believed themselves adversely af-
fected by a commission valuation of
their properties. To the references to
water in the company's stock Mr.. Ham
made no reply.
interfering into the proceedings a
statement directed to representatives of
citizens associations and others at the
hearing. and to the general public, Mr..
Ham declared with some warmth that
his company was doing the best it could
to furnish service.
Mr.. Hams Statement.
1--WE know we are not furnishing the
people of Washington the kind of Serv-
ice to which they are entitled. but we
are doing the best we can under exist
ing conditions. We have not spared ex-
pense in trying to do better. We have
not withheld the spending of a single
dollar where spending it would improve
conditions.
I'VE realize that the people of
Washington have just cause for COM
plant as regards service. and we are
doing all we can to remove the cause
We want the support and the good
will of the public and we are trying
conscientiousiy to deserve and earn
ii. realizing that it is the company's
most valuable asset.
InG company IS 10 De uSpT1Neu,
however. of the right to earn enough
money to pay operating expenses and
fair return on the money invested
it will be only a short time until we
will be unable to sell single bond
or borrow single dollar"
Forecasts Delay in Development.
Direct intimations were made by
Mr.. Ham that extension of intercom-
pany transfer privileges to suburban
passengers would inevitably result in
immediate curtailment or abandon
ment of suburban development prof.
ects-in other words, that if suburban
patrons of the company's lines are to
be permitted to transfer to cars of
the other company no further i'm
provement or extension of suburban
traffic facilities or service will be un-
dertaken by his company.
Much of Mr.. Hams statement was
devoted to a showing of losses in sub
urban traffic and extensions. Sub
urban lines, of which the washington
Railway and Electric Company has a
far greater mileage than has the other
company. Mr.. Ham said in his state
ment, were simply feeders to city
lines, the traffic on such suburban lines
being handled at a loss. Extension to
patrons of such lines, Mr.. Ham said
of fntercompany transfer privileges
would increase this already existing
loss.
John A. Beeler on Witness Stand.
John A. Bee1er, traffic expert. was
called late in the afternoon, his testi-
mony being to the effect that he saw
no reason to alter or amend his recon
mendauons as to proper intercom
pany transfer points. Mr. Beeler was
on the stand when the hearing ad-
Journed, to be resumed tomorrow
morning.
Representatives of the Central La
Dor Union. of the employees of the
government printing office and the
bureau of engraving and printing. as
well as of other labor unions. Ioca'
organizations, citizens associations
"tc.. were present at the hearing and
interJected running fire of questions
during the proceedings.
Suggests United Protest.
John A. McGrath of the Park Wow
Citizens Association today suggested
the advisability of calling a mass
meeting of residents OF the Distrjc,
of COLUMBIA to protest against an,
increase OF fares and to demand i'm
mediate establishment of intercom.
pany transfer points as recommended
IN Mr. Eeelers report. Such a meet
ing. MI. McGrath suggested. could bt
hcid IN Convention Hall, and would
BE a means of enabling residents OF
The District of Columbia to make
piain and unmistakable their opposi
ton to fare increases and their de.
hitnd for intercompany transfers.
II called. Mr.. McGrath said, such
mass meeting should be held withou
""lay. so as to bring the views of tn,
people of Washington to the attention
Of the Public Utilities Commission
and the officials of the street railWa,
companies before any order. eithe,
mr. inst int