The Washington times., 1920-03-31
ZONE SYSTEM
.HEAR|NGBECUN
Representatives of $4,000 DC.
Residents Protest Plan Be-
fore Utilities Body.


with nearly 200 citizens, represent
.ing-through their organizations-
more than $4,000 washingtonians.
protesting against a zone fare system,
Prof. Albert 8. Richey, railway ex-
pert, today presented to the Public
Utilities sCommission,' at public
hearing In the District building. seven
methods. three of them zone fare
plans, which would grant financial
relief to the Washington Railway and
Electric Company.
Prof. Richcy supplemented his pre-
sentation of zone plans with the
statement that, in his opinion, this
method of fare collection would not
retard the development of the suburbs.
He referred to Springfield, Mass. as
an example. to sustain his contention.
Prof. Richey, brought to Washing
ton from Worcester. Mass, by the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company, made no specific recommen-
dations. He presented, along with
the seven plans, a detailed statement
of the effect of service and estimated
additional revenue that would be de-
rived.
Professor Richey declared the zon-
ing system was the only way that the
earnings of the Washington Railway
and Electric Company and Capital
Traction Company could be equalized.
He did not, however, go on record as
favoring a zone system for Washing
ton.
Capital Traction Silent.
The Capital Traction Company. up
to a late hour in the hearing, had not
presented the effects Of a zone system
on its company. nor any figures tend
ing to show the estimated revenue to
be derived.
william r. Ham, president of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company. submitted figures showing
that 69,S56 passengers rode in the
outer zone during a count taken one
day last week. He presented other
figures showing that more than $780,
600 yearly would be needed to meet
the increase in wages for employees
of his company, such as was recently
granted employees OF the Capital Trac-
ton Company.
To make this increase, the COM
pany would need more revenue than
would be derived from straight
7-cent fare, with a 2-cent charge for
transfers, ne uSSlaitu.
Seven Cents First Zone.
From Prof. Richey's figures 1t ap-
pears that an Scent fare, or a zone
system, Z cents first zone and cents
pany in order to provide the neces-
sary increase in revenue, to enable
II to pay increased wages.
r-N ,nA
company to earn a 8 per cent return
and to pay Increased wages totals
SOL ,4g6 90, more than the present
revenue of s554eT1.47.
Prof. Richey declared 7-cent fare,
with a 2 cents charge for transfers,
will net s572,oo0 although he stated
he did not believe the transfer charge
was a proper means OF raising reve
nue..
He outlined an Scent fare wit
four tickets for 30 cents, declarinj
this would net s617,5o0 extra. }
straight Scent fare would ne
1925 900 extra, he stated.
He stated that an outer zone sys
tenn, 2-cent charge, would net t2l1,50,
extra: 3.cent charge, S313,0OO extra
and cents second zone. S46b, 900
This would be added to the extra
amount derived from nat rate in
the inner zone.
Says Cersmissiop Is PowerIe.s.
Attacking the power OF the Public
Utilities Commission TO consider q
zone system OF fare collection for
Washington, william Mex. Clayton.
representing the Federation OF Citi-
rens' Association, today led the fight
to kill the zone fare proposal.
Mr.. clayton, who was assisted by
many representatives of citizens as
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