Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-21
Primary Street Railway Needs.

W. SsAscS ~ " eenssA6SSAs - -
Primary Street Railway Needs.
The first need in respect to the street
railways h better service, for the bene-
fit Of the travelling public, who are still
packed, jsmmed, delayed, inconven-
ieaced, injured In body and in pocket
book. The second need in this eonnec-
ton b that the cost burden of the alb
soluteay essential betterment of street
railway service shall be equitably dis
tributed, being SO imposed u to do to
every one minimum of injustice.
The Public Utilities Commission, with
all the parties in interest cooperating,
10 steadily working out equity in solu-
tiaa Of the street railway problem.
Fun Justice has been done the street
Esilway employees. The highest scale Of
wages is now paid. This high wage
scale ought soon to substitute skilled
workmen for the green and inexperi-
eneed The accidents, the collisions,
the breakdowns, the delays in street
railway operation, due to incompetency
or disloyalty of employees will thus be
reduced to a minimum. The stockhold-
ers will save in repairs expense account
and viii gain in the fares from the in
creased number Of passengers the cars
caa carry when they run without these
6rsakdowns and delays Competent
employees also bless the travelling pub
lie With better service, moro rapid
trsnsit and greater freedom from the
losses and inconvenienee from irregu-
lar transit operation and occasional
failures to operate ct all
Tho street railway owners have been
favored with a 30 per cent increase in
fare, substantial benefit, even though
] the adequacy Of the increase is in ques-
! &ion.
=, The travelling public Is from Febru-
Rry to have the benefit Of liberal
schedule Of free intercompany trans
fcfs. These transfers mean . saving
Of money and time, and increase Of
convs1ience 70 all car users and partie-
uhriy to the iong-haul passengers, the
snburbanites. The travelling public
win also, it has already been sug-
geseed, enjoy the benefit Of better
sssvios from we'll paid and skilled OPP
crstioa Of the railways. The promised
nev and modern cars when fully in
operation win materially better the
ssrvics. SO Will the general overhaul
ing and bracing up Of plant and equip
meat, which are due. So win the
necessary track extensions in the pub
is interest.
Thus the equities Of all the parties in
interest are recognized and in part sat.
isfed The next two or three months
wiz b q season Of experiment and OBJ
ssrva&ion to test whether in this dis
t1ibution Of exaetions and benefits any
81 IL parties suffers unfairly. II any
insq9ikies develop, the Public Utilities
Cssnnnission exists for the purpose Of
: essTss&ing them, and viii not fail to
: Ane8ien.
In this connection the Washington
S5 Railway and Electric Company pleads
;. Ehat the fare increase already made does
: not suffice to Offset the heavy expendi-
8 lures compelled by the higher wage
6 scala, and required for new cars and
Improved equipment; and to meet the
Toss Of revenue from the elimination OF
paid transfers and the substitution Of
Q free transfer system, which impose.
upon it alone the burden of operating
) many miles Of improbable suburban
I road and then compels it to share the
= benefit of these lines as feeders (but
n hot the cost of their operation) will
3 Tie Capital Traction Company.
This plea of the men and women
mostiy Washingtonians, who have il
good faith invested their money il
Washington Railway and Electric stool
Will be considered on its merits ant
accepted or rejected by the Pubii
"a Utilities Commission as court o
! equity in exact accordance with tn
dictates of justice and fair play.
Washington is hopeful that in tn
- near future, as a result of the bette
service which must be rendered, witt
the ears running full and continuousl.
s1asnd quickly and with the company re
!. ceiving 100 per cent Of the fares paid
the revenues will suffice to meet all e1
sal peases and to pay small dividend a
NJ earnings to the stockholders.
2 II it is absolutely demonstrated tina
~ Euch reyenue cannot be obtained undo