Evening star., 1919-05-15
". R. f. OFFICIALS
PUT ON THE GRILL
Public Utilities Commission
Hears More Pessimism
From Company.
Mr.. HAM QUERIED DEEPLY

On the eve Of its. directors meet
ing this afternoon at which a decf-
sion probably will be reached re-
garding ths continuation ot tts con-
mon stock dlvidsndSs the SF3sliaAes
sten- Railway and Electric Company
want t.hsfore the Pablo. utilities. Com.
81 6ni today u the. !. :!
rs endsavor to, obtain nnancfal re-
lief.
gems when the proceeddnEs began.
indicating that the public might have
considerable to say when Corpora
tionj Counsel Conrad II. Syme mn
ished cross-examinatione OF the COM
pany's officials and expert witnesses.
Mr.. Ham Even More Pessimistic..
President William F. Ham Of the
company was cross examfned through
out the morning. with members, 1f. the
commission fre4uently s1upplementing
the questions asked by sMrs SymG His
picture of the future faced bt the
railway corporation was, even more
pessimistic than that drawn when the
hearings began several weeks ago.
This was explained by Mr.. Ham on
the ground that the price Of coal has
dications now leave little room for
doubt that there will be no drop in
the cost Of materials in the immediate
future.
He also said the financial outlook Of
the Potomac Electric Power Company
is far less encouraging than 1t was a
few weeks ago. The lighting COM
1918 to meet its dividend charges. and
is $4,000 behind for the flrst quarter
of the current year, indicating a de-
ficiency for the year of $4,000.
Passenger Haul Jumps Million.
Mr.. Syme read into the record the
figures as to pay passengers hauled
by the company last year and this
year. showing an increase of more
than a million.
January, 1918. the number was $685.
800, as compared with 6.s72,230 for
January of the current year. There
was a falling OF in February of last
year to 5.421,53s. For February. this
comparative figures for March of last
year and this year are 6,429.594 and
7,337,459: April. 6.3S4.431 and 1850. $50.
Expenses Jump, Too, Mr.. Ham Says
Mr.. Ham stated that there had been
an increase in car mileage proper
tfonate to the increase in business:
that the additional passengers hauled
n necessitated the furnishing of addi-
tional service, and that increased cost
of operation had kept pace with In
creased revenues.
The traction head said his estimate 9
as to the 1919 deficit, submitted at
BASIS has Of the first four months' opera
ton under the straight scent fare.
had been borne out by the actual
experiences of the past few weeks
and that he was confident it would
hold good for. the year. with condi-
tions more apt 10 grow worse than
Figures submitted by Mr.. sHam
showed that car mileage had increas-
ed from 940.172 in November last year
to 1854 ,999 in March OF this year.
Mr.. Clayton's Capacity.
At the beginning of the hearing
William NICK. Clayton informed the
commission that. in addition to repre-
lamentations, which is not an incor-
norated body, he appeared also in the
cenactty of attorney for William B.
WaatIake. Charles w. Ray and Will
liam 8. Torbert, interested citizens.
This step was taken by Mr.. Clayton
for the purpose of noting an appeal
shorld the decision. to be rendered by
the commission not be acceptable to
the federation and those amltated
~ was regarded as certain today
+ha+ the commission will act in the
Near future on the company's appli-
alton for relief. In the event the
nuhi,c does not require much time for
presentine its case, the commissions
findings may be announced as early as
next week.