Evening star., 1919-04-05
The Traction Problem.

Representatives of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company have
appealed to the Public Utilities Com
mission for . further increase in fare
on the ground that the present income
Of the company, despite the recent ad-
vance to q straight fve-cent rate, is
not sufficient to meet expenses and pay
any dividends on stock. They declare
that a receivership may become neces-
sary within q short time if relief is
not had. It is stated that the change
from six tickets for quarter to five
cent fare has resulted in the addition
Of only IS per cent to the company's
revenues. This statement should be
explained with detailed figures, as it
does not impress the public strongly
in its bare assertion. The fare in
crease from 1-6 cents to S cents made
q gross addition of 1874 Of cent for
every former ticket passenger, or
fraction over 20 per cent. To put
forth IS per cent as the amount Of in
crease due to the advance to straight
five-cent fare implies that large per-
eentage Of the passengers before the
change paid cash fares at five cents
each. A detailed account on this score
should be presented.
A zone system has been proposed as
a means Of meeting the situation,
rather than a further addition to the
fares throughout the city. It is to be
borne in mind that the Capital Trac-
tion Company is not now joining in
the request for an additional fare in
crease, but if one were ordered it
would apply to that company as we'll
as to the Washington Railway and
Electric Company. There could not be
two different rates Of fare in the city
without seriously injuTing the COM
pany charging the higher, through d.
version Of traffic. If the Capital Trac-
tion Company can carry its passen-
gers proftably for five cents straight,
to establish q six.cent fare throughout
the District would greatly increase the
profits Of that company.
In these circumstances the zone sys-
tenn has been suggested As the most
equitable way Of meeting the difficulty.
The Washington Railway and Electric
Company is today suffering from too
much trackage in the suburbs. A large
part Of this trackage is unremunerative,
partly owing to the comparative sparse
ness of traffic and also in part due to
the heavy overhead charges borne by
the lines, resulting from unwise 6nanc-
ing in the past. The zone xy item CON
templates a series Of concentrie areas
within each Of which the sar,e fare is
charged, with additions on the way ov.
from the center or in from the boun-
dary to the center, within zones. gaere
are obvious injustices in the zone sys-
tenn. It is operated now on lines that
run from Washington into Maryland
and Virginia. Whether the additional
zone fare should be q full fare ,r q
portion is . question 70 5s considered
For many passengers the niekei-per'
zone rate would treble the present ear
fare and would seriously add to theil
daily expenses. A communication rate
would be required in justice for the
benefit Of those regularly using the
lines and who were induced to estab
lish themselves in the suburbs by tht
assurance of low transportation rates
If . receivership is rs imminent al
those who spoke yesterday before th'
commission declare sone remedy Icus
be adopted promptly. Washington doe
not want its railway system throwl
into bankruptcy in any pari. A re
ceivership always means loss, pco
service and suffering for stockl oder
and for the public. The commission i
confronted with a difficult question t.
be met in a spirit of justice to hot
the people and the corporation.