The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-15
Provide For Public Control of
Street Railways
By BILL PRICE.

In deciding to go into the street railway situation in
Washington, with view to legislation that will compel
the unhcaton of the two companies here Congressman
MAPES chairman of the House District Committee is on
the right track toward solution He the who can
work it out, too
Continuation of existing conditions is not only
slant aggravaton to the people and detrment to the
growth Of Washington, but is stumbling block IN the
way of efficiency in all Government departments and bu
reaus The thousands of employees of the Federal and
District government hindered in the satisfactory per-
Torrance of their duties by difficulties of transportation
The Federal Government is WashingOns largest employer
of and women and is directly concerned In better
ment than any other employer
This irritating problem will continue indefinitely unless
Congress takes hand and does something There Just
two ways it can be done
Probably the best way would be to turn the two systems
to the municipal government to be operated by the
city That could be done through condemnation
Congress may not wish to do it.
The other way is to place these companies in the con-
troll of Public Utilities Commission with the widest sort
of powers to operate them one guaranteeing return
upon the valuations of the properties.
The commission should be separate and distinct body
from the present one and the law should direct the commits
sion to charge such rates will allow returns provide for
maintenance and depreciation and give good service This
would be servceatcost plan and need not be patterned
after any other plan now in existence.
The Public Utilities Commission will shortly complete
its valuations of the properties of the two street car
panies With these valuations basis for legislation,
Congress act.
The legislation could direct that the new commission
operate the roads under whatever methods it deemed
best and to pay to the of the road fixed return
say per een upon the valuations agreed upon by the
commission these returns to be adjusted later In
the event the courts fix valuations at higher figures
The present Public Utilities Commission is endeavorng
do just this thing but it harassed at every turn
by the fact that road in bad shape and the other
prosperous financially.
The commission should be composed of three members
one and the principal one representing the public the
second representing the railroads whose properties
being put under control and the third the conductors
tormen, and other employees.
The public is to pay the bills and in doing should
represented such way that it has every confidence
that its money is being we'll used. Our present public utility
laws do not prevent railroad corporations using their
turns for any purpose they fit Dividends may be
increased restored if there money to do WITH regard
less of valuations The public is willing to pay just
valuations and more.
The proposed law gh present the alternative propo
ston that the of the two roads do not themselves
merge as one within six months after passage then
control will be taken over by the commission.
President WESTLAKE, of the Federation of Citizens
Associations submitted this idea to Congress and will
be called into consultation by Mr.. MAPES He has prop
ery told members of Congress that conditions
nolerabe and that something ought to be done Congress
only do it.