Evening star., 1920-04-05
CLERKS QUESTION
RIGHT TO ASSURE
w. R. E. DIVIDEND

| W. n. e. OIvIOCNO
Continued from First Page)
| avenues is such that there would be
no material effect on the traffic of
the Wisconsin avenue cars if the zone
fare was not applied to Connecticut
avenue.
| As to 14th street and Georgia ave-
nue.. Mr. Ham said. he believes the ef-
feet would be mark ked. He pointed out
| that the section between Georgia ave
nue. and 14th street is rapidly building
| up and that it would make traffic con-
| ditions worse on the 14th street line if
| zone system is applied OH Georgia
avenue only.
! Mr.. Ham again told the commission
| he feels thetwo-cent intercompany
transfer at Wisconsin avenue and NJ
street is unfair to the W. X. Il +. sys
tenn
Commi ssioner Brownlow made the
statement that If zone system is
decided on this transfer point would
naturally he abolished
Mr.. Hanna of the Capital Traction
suggested that the commission in
veStlgate the entire intcrcompany
! transfer situation to determine
whether it is true that these trans
fer points are unfair 10 the Wash
ington Railway and Electric. In any
event. he said, the difference in rev
enue derived nom 2-ce!.; intcrcom-
pany transfers IS small
MIR. Ham Explains Statement.
Commi ssioner kutz asked Mr.. Ham
II he made the statement before the
House District COMMITTEES recently
| that in the city proper the Washing
ton Railway and Electric lines are
as well off as the Capita. Traction
city lines.
Mr.. Pam said that statement was
not technically correct. He told the
could take a stated number of miles
of Washington Railway and Electric
! trackaee in the city and compare ii
with an equal amount of trackage
of the Capital Traction.
What l should have said the wit
ness continued. lis that some of our
lines are AS we'll of AS the Capital
Traction
so. then. a precise form of meas
ured service would not give the same
revenue to both systems" Commits
Sioner kutZ asked.
Mr.. Ham replied that an exact form
of measured service on both systems
could not be worked out in practice.
The difference in earning power be
tween the companies he continued.
was less pronounced before the war.
and will again become less pro-
turn TO normal.
In other words Commissioner
kutz continued. traffic on the urban
lines of the w. II. L. is not as dense
as on the urban lines of the Capital
Traction
Densest in United states.
The Capital Traction Company"
replied Mr.. Ham. has the densest
traffic of any street railway in the
United States"
William Nick. Clayton, representing
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tlons. asked Mr.. Ham if the w. r. E.
would buy new cars If the commission
gives 1t rate of fare that would en-
able 1t to earn per cent return on
the systems valuation.
Mr.. Ham replied that per cent
return would not restore the credit of
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company. But with that rate of re-
turn assured, he said, the company
might be able to add new cars as con-
ditions require.
Mr.. Clayton asked Mr.. Ham how
much additional revenue would be
available for the Washington Railway
and Electric Company if the Potomac
Electric Power Company was permit
ted to continue the rate of 10 cents
per kilowatt hour for current
Mr.. Ham estimated about $45O.0 900:
Earlier In the hearing Mr.. Ham pre-
III
the company is to give it's carmen the
same wage paid by the Capital Trac-
tlon Company il must have 1918 600
in additional revenue
Then followed discussion between
Mr.. Ham and Commissioner Kutz over
the question Of whether the commits
sion should consider the failure of the
Washington Railway and Electric
lines in Maryland to earn operating
expenses in fixing the rate of fare in
the District.
Mr.. Ham said that with the Mary-
land lines of the company not earning
expenses there is no incentive to hold
them.
Hints Service CurtaIlment.
Frankly speaking" he continued.
ment of service"
Commissioner Kutz asked Mr.. Ham
II ne meant that the people of the
District should contribute to the sup
port OF the company's lines in Mary
land.
Mr.. Ham said he did not see how
me nnes In MARYLAND could be con-
sidered in any other way than as a
part OF the w. X. and. +. system.
Commissioner Kutz asked the wit
ness II il is not a fact that the COM
pany Is selling power to other compa-
MES in Maryland. such as the W.. b.
tends To offset the loss in operation
of some OF its own lines in Maryland.
$4,000 Per Day Earnings.
Mr.. Ham said the W. Il. and E. is
deriving about $4,000 a day from the
sale of current to other companies in
Maryland. but that this is part of a
sum of 100000 which the commits
sion has figured in the earnings of
the electric light company.
what could prevent the company from
making further extensions in Mary
land if the commission considered the
condition of the Maryland lines in
fixing the rate of fare in the District.
Mr.. Ham said the commission could
the Interstate Commerce Comm ssion
and the Maryland commission.
Expects Fare Collection Boxes.
Washington may see the inaugura..
tion of fare collection boxes on all
roads except those running into
Maryland by the first of next month,
President Ham announced.
Following a statement by President
Ham that the increased fares would
decrease traffic, jeremiah Connolly,
who represented the Federal EN-
ployes' Union, presented the hearing
with a mild form of diverting thun-
derbolt.
Until Mr.. Connolly made his state
ment the hearing apparently took the
decreased traffic situation for granted,
Mr.. Connolly said:
Don't you know, Mr.. Ham, that
more than half of the employees of the
War Department are walking to work
today because they cannot find seats
upo,l the cars of your company and
the Capital Traction Company. and
that the decrease from certain classes
in case Of an increased fare will be