Evening star., 1920-02-10
W.R.&E.PRES|DENT
TALKS Of MERGER
TO D. c. COMMITTEE
Thinks Utilities Commission
Is Influenced by Belief in
Public Ownership.
ASSERTS ROAD WORKED
FOR DISTRICTS GROWTH
Declares Relief Must Be Given or
Company Will Stop Serv-
ing Public.

William S. Ham, president of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company, testifying on the street
railway merger bill before the House
District committee today. expressed
the belief that the Public Utilities
Commission has been Influenced in its
treatment of public utilities in the
District by the opinion entertained by
it's members regarding the advantages
of public ownership of utilities.
Mr.. Ham Expound. His Views.
Mr.. Ham said that it is his idea that
the Public Utilities Commission feels
some great crime was committed in
the organization of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company. and
that. in consequence of this attitude
of mind. the Washington Railway and
ELECTRIC Company has been unable to
get the relief that it proved to the
commission it must have to continue
to serve the public.
Mr.. Ham quoted from a statement
issued by the Public Utilities Commits
sion. which he said was a bitter indct-
ment and showed belief that the en-
ablng act Of 1900. which authorized
the organization of the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company. was vicious
legislation
''If this is an arraignment. an accusa-
ton against the Washington Railway
and Electric Company, it is also a criti-
cism of the probity of Congress that sat
in 1900" he said
Maintaining that the Washington
Railway and Electric has in the last
twenty years worked for the growth
and upbuilding of Washington. Mr.
Ham. who said that he had been with
the company all that time. momentarify
lost control of his emotions and showed
the District committee how intensely he
feels the present situation with regard
to the street railway company
Enphasixes Need OF Relief.
He emphasized that for a year and
a half the Washington Railway and
Electric Company has been pounding
at the doors of the Public Utilities
Commission for relief: has proved the
justice of it; the commission admits
the need for relief. but is not giving
, it to us. We must have this relief or
we must discontinue to serve the
public"
Questioned by members of the COM
mittee regarding the probability of
the road going into the hands of re-
ceiver with considerable feeling, Mr..
Ham replied:
II do not think the Washington
Railway and Electric Company will
go into the hands of receiver and
one OF the means to prevent the
PdltHi from going on the
rocks will be to allow the Improbable
lines running into the suburban ter
ritory to appeal for their rights in the
courts
Mr.. Ham said he did not wish to be
in the attitude of making any threats
but wanted to impress upon the com
mittee that relief must be granted
in the interest of the public.
Corrected Earlier Statement.
At the opening of the hearing today
Mr.. Ham corrected statement made
earlier in the hearings by saying that
the Washington and Rockville linz
had paid a dividend for IA short time
amounting to three-fourthS of one PEE
cent for the entire period IT has beer
held by the Washington Railway anI
Electric Company. Substantiating his
statement in a former colloquy with
former Commissioner Gardiner. in re
gard to the Boston elevated railway.
Mir. Ham put into the record a letter
from the treasurer of that company
showing that ii WAS gaining in traffic
on a Decent fare.
He also made Il statement to set the
record clear in regard to the relative
mileage of the Washington Railway
and Electric and the Capital Traction.
The aggregate mileage of the Wash
ington Railway and Electric in the
District is 1914 and in Maryland Al.
making a total of ] 16.5. OF this mile
age in the District 6i1 is underground
and 6f-3 overhead The Capital Trac-
ton in the District has iS.5 under
ground and u overhead. making a
total for the Capital Traction of 5a6.
Mr.. Ham called the attention Of the
committee to Il map showing the lines
Of tn. rwo systems. with the density
of population illustrated This made
il clear thai the Capital Traction runs
through densely populated territory
except on the ChevY Chase lines and
"a tb,. far end of the | ~ IN limo
The Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company has ten suburban lines
running ont into spars"lE settled dis
tricts in all directions. H. emphasized
that the Washington Railway and
Electric Company operates more ear
lines and besides OWES i51 cars
equipped for operation against 239 by
the Capital Traction Company. 1t
hauis per annum PEI mile 1.2lo0C"
pa id passengers as against 501 900 per
car mile by the Capital Traction Com
pany. II" pointed out to the commit
tee that on account Of this weight Of
expens. due TO the cost of carrying
the suburban traffic the Washington
Railway and Electric Company is az
a distinct disadvantage as compared
with the Capital Traction Company.
Discussed Traffic situation.
Mr.. Ham also discussed at length
the peculiar situation in Washington.
where the burden Of handling traffic
during rush hours is greater than in
amy other city in The country. This
is due to the hours on which the
government departments open and
close. He gave statistics of actual
counts made on the various lines
showing that this is one of the great
problems that the District companies
a nd especially the w. K. and l.. has
had to meet. He pointed out the dif-
ficultieS in maintaining equipment TO
take care of this short period OF heavy
traffic, and showed how ii brought
about another problem of providing
satisfactory working conditions for
its employees.
Quoting from the Comms ssioners
testimony Mr.. Ham agreed that the
principal difference between the COM
nies is fundamentally one of loca-
tion but he said that he does not
Doubt that as the city grows the Wash
natou Railway and Electric Company
vii benefit more than the Capital Trac-
f;on ('ompany because the latter AL
.aady has. by virtue of its location in
h., conpested districts, about all il can
IA ndle
He referred also to the Commissions
orc, statement that the Capital Trac-
t%on Company was more popular in
nart as the result of the employees
strike in 1917. He said that condition
s disappearing and that in 1919 the
" r. & T.. gained Is per cent in pay
within the District, where
.he Capital Traction Company gained
about Z per cent. He said he believed