The Washington times., 1920-12-16
LOWER
FARES IN D. c.
William Mex. Clayton, for Citi-
zens, Favors Decrease on
Capital Traction Lines.

william NICK. Clayton, represent
ing the Federation OF Citizens AS
sociations. today asked the Public
Utilities Commission to reduce fares
on the Capital Traction Company to
7 cents, four tokens for 25 cents. He
also requested that the present fare
on the Washington Railway and
Electric Company be continued.
SEEKS HIGHER FARE.
Immediately after his statement.
william f.. Ham. president OF the
Washington Railway and Electric.
declared that his company would
need a fare even. higher than
cents straight as now sought. II the
commission established different
rates of fare in this city.
George f. Hamilton, president OF
the Capital Traction Company, will
take the stand sometime this after
noon. He said this morning he
would tell the commission his COM
pany did not need a higher fare.
I'VE hope there will be no in
would mean decrease in our
commission we oppose any higher
fare"
will your company make
formal protest against higher fareT'
Mr.. Hamilton WAS asked.
THAT will depend entirely on
conditions" he replied. Il. cannot
answer this question at this time"
Mr.. Clayton also asked the ccmmis
sion to abolish the two-cent charge
for inter.company transfers. Special
street car rates, six tickets for 20
cents for school children we're also
sought by Mr.. Clayton.
While Mr.. Clayton only spoke direct.
| ly for the citizens federation his
views represented the voice IF 100000
men and women. members of labor
organizations, clubs and women's as
sociations.
The greater part of today's hearing
on higher fare was consumed in the
taking of testimony regarding con
ditions in the w. r. and T..
MOTION IS DENIED.
Just before President Ham took the
stand, Mr.. Clayton registered an OBJ
lection to the Capital Traction and
other railway companies remaining n
part of the hearing. Chairman kdtz
overruled his objection.
George A. Ward, representing the
Columbia Heights Citizens Associa-
ton, presented a motion. which mo-
ton called upon the Capital Traction
Company to show cause why II should
not comply with its charter and
charge a fare OF cents with six
/ tickets for 25 cents. His motion was
denied.
In his testimony. President Ham
first took up the matter of Maryland
fares. He declared these lines were
\ =, IL LA
he declared, should be made up by
the people Of Washington.
do you mean to say that you IA
vor q quarter of cent Increase in
fare to District people to make up
s1sO, 900 lost in the yearly operations
Of Maryland roads," Chairman kutz
asked.
President Ham replied. Yes" add
ing that the people OF the District
will benefit in the future, and that
this extra burden is only temporary.
Mr.. Ham told the commission unless
some relief was provided for these
Maryland lines 1t would be necessary
to either abandon them or curtail
service to such an extent as to MAKE
them unattractive. All Washington
would suffer IL this was done. he said
why not increase fare in Mary
and to make up this dehcit?' kutz
suggested.
This could be DONE" said Mr.. Ham.
but the increase would have to be
20 large that we would lose practt-
ally all our traffic on these lines
common business sense tells us we
annot do this, IL we expect to con-
inue these lnes"
Mr.. Ham suggested that the subur-
)an lines be considered a part OF the
District lines and that relief be given
o the company on this basis.