Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-08-03
RAILWAY sCOMPANY,S TROUBLES
A. SEEM TO BE MORE SERIOUS
R. N. Harper Working Overtime In Search
Of Basis for Merger-The Export Situa-
tion-Mereenthaler Meeting Monday.
By 7. A. FLEMING.

ington Railway and Electric Com.
pany cannot get much worse. Tht
pleas of the company for relief have
not met with any material response
from the utility commission. Operat'
ing costs and costs of coal, and OF
labor, everything that enters into
, the daily expense account, equipment
as we'll and even the accident ac-
count, continues to rise and the reve-
riues to fall below the requirements.
The one cost Of coal alone has ad-
vanced from the very low prices OF
. decade ago to IS ton. soft coal
at that.
Manufacturers formerly bought soft
coal from hand to mouth-tfiat is on
tbs theory that 1t would, not pay to
give soft coal the extra handling re-
auired to store it for future use, and
% carload after carload was dumped
AZ needed into boiler rooms. Now 1t
Is stored. frequently outside Of fac
tories and elsewhere, but it has be-
: come q very expensive part OF opera
ton, and other materials, ETC., have
risen in proportion. -.
The developments of@the week have
but intensified the unsatisfactory COP
dition as evidenced by the delay in
meeting City and suburban interest
due August 1, the failure of the utility
commission to take any action what
ever In regard to conditions and the
action taken by the employees Of the
! company, or at least OF a part of
! the force, seeking additional wages,
with the ever-present threat of a
strike. This to follow any increase
4 in fares, II increase in wages is re-
fused.
In Chicago a strike was followed
by paralysis Of the surface and ele-
waited systems-no effort was made
TO break the strike.
In Boston the same thing resulted
I and it might as well be understood
by the employees of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company that
the corporation will make no effort
TO fight q strike; that no strike
. breakers win be imported. but the
cars will remain in the barn. unless
present employees care to take them
ont. until the matter is settled.
Under the circumstances 1t may
readily be understood that the cor
poration IL not in position to pay
Increased wages, and that any in
crease that it may obtain will be
needed.
b Working for Remedy.
Just at present r. N, Harper. who
came into the situation as chairman
Of the Warrington utilities note
holders protective committee, seems
to be the only one. openly and ac-
lively engaged In trying to do some
thing 10 ind solution OF the prob
lem, s. ..f.esss 1855 $
sOdncers and directors of the wash
tngton Street Railway and Electric
Company are unable to do anything
ity commission that they must have
relief and that only in increased
charges for transportation. They feel
that it would be futile to take fur
ther steps.
saThe Capital Traction Company has
NOT taken interest enough in the
troubles OF Its partial competitor to
draw. its attention away from the
I'm.
Just what the utility commission
e doing 10 not q matter of record,
physical valuation. Citisens' $3.50
Citations are standing pat while Con-
gress has other problems of ma
fional character to wrestie with.
So Il IL that r. N. Harper has the
credit Of being the one worker: for q
determined that the more desperate
the disease the more the need for a
He is searching and deivfng in the
hope of being able to find common
ground on which q merger may be
sagton Railway and Electric Company,
snd the Capital Traction Company.
the latter to control. for the purpose
of giving Washington one great trac-
ation system, and, as secondary
issue: the w .rsi out Of e plan aa ito 70
utilities' company's notes.
He has made q number OF compu-
AHfions as to basis of merger and IL
&fAdually preparing propositions for
&bmission to the Capital Traction
Mlompany, to the utilities commits
Non and. II need be, to Congress-.
Willie holds to the belief that II the
3Silway Is to be operated higher fares
Slnst be granted; does not believe
Mat the Capital Traction could or
bhouid be made to merge. but be-
1ieyes that a basis can be reached.
/, n the commission viii grant fare in
crease, on the basis OF such merger
otherwise not
u New Low Level Made.
s.ssIn the meantime q new low level
has been established for the common
ctock of the railway company, but
whether IL IL really level or not
temains to be seen. sales were made
change was In session, at 81 q
6hare. four twenty fvs-share lots
changing ha nds. It Is an open cues.
zion whether any large amount could
have been sold at that figure, just
as It 10 whether the market would
have absorbed any amount OF the pre-
e These prices are far and away be-
Tow the prices on which q merger OF
the two systems might have been
sw.sa ysar OF utiitie as1 notehold
.srs would be able to get out on their
afoans IL they could sell their col
literal, 1880 shares of railway COM
mon at IS, with a so per cent loss
to do It. Local bankers would not
81 least they so express themselves.
1.-THE general public il vitality inter
ssted IN the betterment OF the street
railway situation. but II fs not wor'
Tying over the liquidations Of the
utilities notes. although It would
Krobably welcome any merger. Mr.
Harper could bring about. even IL tht
notes were in part or wholly provided
for.