Evening star., 1920-07-14
STREET CAR FARES,
| STUDY IN NC|TY CLUB
Creation of Separate Public
! Utilities Commission Also
Likely Problem.

A more equitable adjustment of
street car fares in Washington and the
creation of separate Public Utilities
Commission will probably be two of
the problems taken up by the public
utilities group of the Washington City
Club, according to sentiment expressed
last night at the first meeting of this
newly organized group.
While the groups program of action
was not definitely decided upon, F. r.
Weller, chairman of the organization
committee of the group, indicated that
these two matters deserve immediate
attention. Regarding the street car
fare rate. Mr.. Weller said:
Car Service Fairly Good.
This group should try to find an
equitable solution of the street railway
situation here. AS to the car service
itself. 1 think that it is fairly good.
j have just returned from Pittsburgh
and ST Louis, and both cities have
dirty, dingy cars. The fares in those
cities are about the same as here. L
think that, as rule, the cars here are
fairly clean and respectable looking.
but there is not much equity in our
fare system here as applied to our dual
car system. The Capital Traction Com
pany makes money and the Washington
Railway and Electric has a hard time
keeping from losing money.
Suggests Way to Lower Fare.
az don't know what the solution is,
but j think it might be equitable to al
low the Potomac Electric Power Com
pany. which is really a part of the
Washington Railway and Electric Com
pany. to turn part of its funds in to the
car company and thus protect the CON-
pany against actual loss. making it pos
sibIe for both street car companies to
reduce fare"
Speaking of a separate Public Utilities
commission, Mr.. Weller said:
Public utilities questions frequently
are very technical and require the at
should be decided by men qualified for
the work. who can give their full at
tention to the various problems. The
District Commissioners have their hands
full without having to apportion part
of their time OF the consideration of
public utilities questions"
A committee consisting of f. E. Will
hanson, chairman; f. r. Weller. w. H.
Cravens, w. c. Poteet, E. G.. Sggers.
and f. A Beard. was appointed to draft
a charter and bylaws and report to the
next meeting of the group, to be held
in about two or three weeks. At this
meeting a permanent chairman, vice
chairman and secretary-treasurer of the
group will be elected.
Sixty-Nfne Charter Members.
The sixty-nine charter members of
the group are: F. R. Weller, w. w.
Price. w. c. Poteet; A. schulteis. E.
Davis, L. P: Steele. G. D. Farquhar, H.
T. Knapp. G. W. Rue. F. H Ellis, H.
L. Jenkins. H. E. Hanes, o. R. Evans,
A. L. Newmyer. A. w. Suelzer, F. P.
Howard, H. P. Foley. A. ]. Thon, A. H.
Brewood, w. NJ. Smith, J. A. Keliher
A. A. Fisher, c. H. Warrington, S. E.
Adler. r. l.. Neuhauser. W. H Cravens.
NJ. w. Cookerow. T. B. Hopper, H. 5.
Plankinton, W. Ballinger. H. F. All
mond, J. H. Fishback, D. n. Burnham,
G. P. Moran. o. ]. Ricketts,, L. H.
Warner, c. F. Sudwarth. c. C. Lacey,
c. E. Richards. E. E. Williamson, J.
X. Jones. r. r. Perry. jr.; ]. O'Connell.
G. L. Todd. E. Kerschner, H. Carroll.
c. C. Eckloft, w. Brayshaw, r. e.
Heater. W. N. Butt. F. T: Shuil. A. H.
McGhan, c. P. Hill, w. A Mellen, G.
c. Ober. G. A. Jones, G. F. johnson. W.
j. Dow, o. J. Moore, w. N Burr, G. C.
Taylor. w. H Grovermann, s. D. Glib
son, c. c. Caywood and P. Herman.