Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-30


BY the commission: By the terms
Of the commissions order No. 373. is
sued April Is. 1890. the rate of fare
on the several street railway lines in
the District of Columbia was in
creased from z cents cash, or four
tickets or tokens for Is cents. to 8
cents cash, OF four tickets or tokens
for 80 cents, to be effective until
January 1, 1891. The order also pro-
vided that ON this latter date the
rate of fare would be restored au-
tomaticaliy to cents cash or four
tickets for IS cents. uAleSs on or be-
fore sid date the commission should
order otherwise. -
.1on November %. 1929. tbp Wash
pany for itself and for Its sub
sldiary street railway companies tthe
1Ezty and Suburban Railway of Wash
Agton. the Georgetown and Ten
Gzfytown Railway Company and
tie Washington on-Interurban Railroad
Company petitioned the commission
for permission to charge and collect.
after January 1, 1921. cash fare Of
- cents. with transfer privileges as
at present. and asking also for a re-
vision of the rates for special or
chartered cars. AS the rate Of fare
prescribed by order No. 373 applies
not only to the petitioners in this
case but to the Capital Traction
Company, the East Washington
3Ieights Traction Railroad Company.
the Washington-Virginia and the
Washington and Maryland Railway
Company, these last named companies
were made parties to the proceed
iHgs by the issuance OF order No.
81. and were represented at the
public hearings held on December
ution.
Petitioners' EvfdeAee.
The evidence presented by the
petitioners at these hearings shows
that in the SIX months period that
has elapsed since the present rate of
fare was fixed by the commission.
beginning May 1, 1920. the net income
of the companies available for return
amounted to $519.4sS.77, which amount
has been verified by the commission 8
accountants. Included in the opera
tons of the companies for this period.
however, are several items of major
renewals and replacements of tracks,
totaling $225, ,696. so, charged to operat-
ing expenses, approximately one-third
! Of which. the companies state, Is later
to be transferred to capital accounts,
representing Improvement and better
ment to track and roadway. For the
purpose of this discussion one-third
of this amount should be added to the
net income of the companies during
THE testimony of representatives
of both the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and the Capital
Traction Company shows that they
4 are attempting to follow the rules
laid down by the Interstate Commerce
Commission in the manner of treating
renewals and requirements of track
and roadway These two companies.
however, place different interpreta-
tions on those rules. the former ap-
parently capitalizing less than the
proper amount, while the latter is
capitalizing more than the proper
amount 1t is the intention of the
commission to formulate definite
rules to govern such cases. but is
not prepared at this time to announce
the proper procedure.
Deductions Made.
"It also appears from the evidence
that deductions have been made by the
petitioners since July 1. 1920, of ap-
proximately $3.50 per month for the
purpose Of paying the federal income
tax. Several of the state public utility