Evening star., 1920-01-01

and Electric Company protested that
this order would fall short of meeting
their requirements. 1t was estimated
the 2-cent transfer charge would in
crease the revenue of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company by ap-
proXimately s3O6.550 year, whereas
the company contended it needed
100000 more.
A few days after the issuance of
the 2-cent transfer order the Fedora
, tion of Citizens Associations revived
discussion of the plan to solve Wash
ington's street car problems by a
merger of the two companies. Merger
talk continued. to fill the air for the
balance of the year. but no definite
steps toward a consolidation were
taken.
On September IA, a few DAYS after
the utilities commission had announc-
ed the valuations of the two street
car companies, Corporation Counsel
Conrad II. Syme made public a plan
for merger. Under his plan the
consolidated company would be guar
anteed return of or per cent,
with a provision to make up deficits
| which might occur. out of unappro-
priated District funds in the Treas
ury. Mr.. Syme argued that his plan
would restore six tickets for a quar-
ter, make universal transfers possible,
give the public a representative on
the board of directors and relieve the
company of taxation. Under his plan
ownership of the tracks and roadbed
extensions would be vested in the Dis
trict.
Second Car Fare Increase.
On September IS the Washinston
Railway and Electric Company again
appealed to the utilities commission
@ LOT nnancial relief: claiming that even
with the 2-cent charge for transfers
tne company would suffer a deficit of
sl5O,oo0 at the end Of the year unless
1t received additional revenue.
Acting on this application, the COM
mission in October raised the fare on
poth lines from cents to four tickets
Ior quarter or cents cash. At
ene same time the commission restor-
ed Tree intracompany transfers.
Commissioner Gardiner disaYreed
Wlth his colleagues on this decision.
he issued a minority opinion, in which
he argued that the needs of the
WASHINGTON Railway and Electric
| expense to the public by an increase
In the rate for electric current
F1gures made public by the WASH
| ington Railway and Electric Com
pany, showing their earnings during
November and part of December, in
| dlcate that this rate also is failing to
| give that company the revenue it
| needs to pay operating expenses and
| earn 8 per cent return on its valua-
| tion.
Continues 95-Cent Gas Rate.
| The rate for gas was raised in
March from 90 to IS cents per thou
sand cubic feet, effective until Sep
tember 20. On that date the com
! mission ordered continuation of the
ninety-fve-cent rate six months
/ longer.
| The people of the District continued
during 1919 to pay 10 cents a kilo-
! watt hour for electricity. The com
/ mission two years ago ordered the
! rate reduced to s cents, but the COM
pany obtained an injunction prevent
! ing enforcement of the reduced rate
, pending a decision from the court on
| the valuation OF the property of the
Potomac Electric Power Company
By the terms of the injunction.
set aside of every 10 cents COL
| lected. and must refund this money
to the customers If the eight-cent rate
| finally becomes effective.
| On December / the commission is
! sued an order extending for six
! months the increased rates granted
| the Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
| phone Company by the Postmaster
General while he had control of the
| telephone companies.
| AS the year came TO close the
! commission was considering set of
rules to govern the deposits re-
| quired by the Potomac Electric Power
! Company from residents who seek to
| have electric current extended to
| their homes. Similar rules already
! have been applied to the gas COM
| pany.
| Early in the year John A. Beeler
! traffic expert who was employed by
the utilities commission to assist in
| improving the street car service to
meet war conditions. terminated his
! services.
| AS the year came to an end the COM
mission was engaged in rerouting the
lines of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company. with a view to i'm
proving the regularity of service.
Several times during the year the
street car men appealed for higher
pay and on each occasion the wage
Iquestion was settled without strike.