The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-11-12
v. R. F. TOASK
|NCREASESOON
Commission Likely to O. K
Boost as Christmas Present
For Capital.
CONGRESS ONLY CAN STOP IT
Present Rate Bringing in $75,.
900 Less Than
Estimated.

Washington, on and after January
/, probably Will be paying 10-cent
street car fare. This was forecast
today when officials of the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company
said the increase from to cents
allowed them by the Utilities Com
mission was falling about $4,000
short of the estimates upon which
the commission based its decision!
WILL ASK FOR RAISE.
The Scent fare is not sufficient to
pay the reasonable return on the in
vestment." they said. They intend to
nie a petition with the Public .Utili-
ties Commission In . few weeks ask
Ing for a 10-cent fare. with the state
ment that Scent fare is the lowest
possible rate upon which they can
do business.
The decision sf the Utllities Com
naissaoa II expected shortly before
ChristsnaA ana judging fren the for
ner aeeisions Of the Comnissioa, tt
is saiA. hJ those who have fsllewsA
the street car situation carefully, the
utilities companies and not the people
Will receive q Chr1stnas present.
The order Of the Public Utilities
Commission some months ago by
which the street car companies are
now receiving 8 cents as fare. with
the four tokens for 80 cents. will
expire on December 81, and unless the
Commission orders otherwise. the fare
will revert to a 7-cent one with four
tokens for a quarter.
ONE COMPANY SATISFIED.
AS far as the Capital Traction Com
pany is concerned. 7-cent fare would
be ample, and more than enough to,
pay expenses, with a large surplus
left over.
With the Washington Railway and
Electric Company, however. 1t is q
different situation. Officials Of the
company said today that even with
the present fare Of cents they were
nd able to get along and about De-
cember 1 they intend to petition Tx
Public Utilities Commission for At
least q Scent fare. but preferably .
10-cent fare.
1T Is out OF the question to think
OF going back to q 7-cent fare" an
official Of the Washington Railway
and Electric Company said today,
unless the method of taxation Is
changed"
HOPE IN CONGRESS-.
The only loophole left to the people
OF Washington to escape q ten cent
| street car fare is legislation by Con-
gress which will eliminate the tax on
the gross receipts of street car COM
panies and substitute in its stead tho
proposed tax on net incomes
If this Is done officials OF the WASH
ington Railway and Electric Company
say. 1t will at least stop any raise IN
! street car fares, and there 10 q prob
ability that 1t might lower them.
The Capital Traction Company could
make money on q six cent fare. This
is admitted by nearly every one Inter-
ested In the street railway problem
in this city. and there are some that
believe II could make expenses on .
! Ave cent fare. II the Commissiou
would allow the Washington Railway
and Electric Company an increase and
hold tho Capital Traction down to its
requirements. the District officials say
IT would mean the ruination of the
people would rather walk q few
blocks than pay the extra two cents.
and the loss OF passengers would
mean the bankruptcy Of the WASH
ington Railway and Electric Com
pany.
MERGER REAL SOLUTION.
The real solution OF the street rail-
way problem, is admitted on all sides
to be the amalgamation OF the two
companies operating in the District
OF Columbia. To this plan there Is no
| serious objection upon the part Of tho
officials of either company. but the
plan upon which they would be will
ing TO amalgamate Is as far apart az
the North and South were In the
early COS. The amalgamation idea In
also considered feasible by the Public
Utilities Commission. but they fear
that any attempt to put this plan
through would result In the floating
OF large Issues of bonds which they
say IL not necessary at all.
The hearing on the proposed in
crease will he held early In Do
cember. IL is thought, and will be ono
OF the hardest problems the Util-
lties Commission has ever tackled
II is also supposed that the public
will take a greater Interest in the
proposed Increase than ever before,
because OF the gradual increase In
street car fares In the city for the
past two years. Officials OF citizens'
associations said today they Intended
to fnd out Just where the demands
OF the street car companies were -
stop &C., ---.-----.