Evening star., 1920-02-05
v. R. &E. EARNINGS
FELL IN January
TO $13,651 A DAY
Drop Emphasizes Need Of
Straight 7-Cent Fare, Of
ficiaIs Say.

The earnings of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company during
January averaged $13.651 day, which
is even less than the daily average Of
the road during November and De-
cember, with the present rate of fare.
William F. Ham. president of the
company, announced today.
In November, the first month of the
present fare, the company averaged
$13.95s a day. In December the daily
average was $14.255. The total earn
ings Of the company for these three
November. s41s.74o; December. s441.-
914. and last month, $423,1s7
Straight 'seven-Cent Urged.
In <he opinion of officials Of the
company, this falling off in revenue
sential that the Public Utilities Com
mission give immediate considera-
tion to the plea Of the company for
a straight seven-cent fare, with a
two-cent charge for transfers.
Although it Is a month since the
seven-cent fare and renewal of the
charge for transfers. the utilities
commission has not set a date for
hearing. Members of the commission
say they have not decided what ac-
ton to take.
ans Per Cent Return.
Mr.. Ham said today that the revenue
which the company has derived from
the rate of four tickets for a quarter
during the past three months means
a return OF only 1928 per cent to the
security holders on the fair value of
the road as fixed by the utilities COM
mission.
'"rhe commission itself concluded
that 6 per cent is a fair return on the
Ham, land it is inconceivable to US
that the commission will fail to heed
our petition"
May BE waiting on Congress.
The belief prevails in some quar-
ters that the commission is delaying
action on the petition of the WASH
ington Railway and Electric Com
pany to see what the chances are of
having Congress enact the bin. now
Washington Railway and Electric
Company of taxation and also of the
duty Of paying salaries of crossing
policemen.
Mr. Ham said today that while the
company is in favor of this legislation.
he does not. believe it will enable the
company to pay the per cent to stock
holders which the commission recog-
nizes as fair return.
while we do not agree with the COM
mission that 6 per cent is fair re-
turn" said Mr.. Ham, ''our position now
is that since the commission has fixed
that as a fair return on its own valua-
ton it is the duty Of the commission
under the law to grant a fare that will
give US that return"
Relief Need IL Emphasized.
Mr. Ham said he would not like to
predict now what the City and Subur-
ban line, which runs to Laurel and
meet its interest on outstanding bonds
if an increased fare is not granted
This interest was due February 1, but
the company has three months in which
to pay it.
1t is certain. Mr.. Ham said, that the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company cannot go on indefinitely
operating under present conditions.
The problem before the utilities
commission is perplexing. The Capt.
tai Traction Is not seeking another
fare increase. And since theCom-
missioners established a precedent in
November by giving this company an
increase it did not ask for in order
to relieve the Washington Railway and
Electric, it could not logically grant
the plea Of the Washington Railway
and Electric for further relief now
without applying it again to the Capt.
tai Traction.
The only way out for the commits
sion seems to lie in the passage OF
legislation by Congress that will make
a merger possible.