Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-15
12-CENT LIGHTS
ASKEDBY CLAYTON
Pepco Increase ''WouId Car
ry W. R. & E. Co. Through
Financial Crisis"

flndnClal CrlSlS.
The Public Utilities Commission can
relieve the Washington Railway and
Electric Company from it's present
financial difficulties without handing
unsought revenue to the Capital
Traction Company, by small increase
in the electric light rate, in the be-
lief of William NICK. Clayton of the
Federation of Citizens Associations.
Mr.. Clayton, as chairman OF the
federation's utilities committee, nled
a lengthy brief with the commission
today. supporting his contention IN
detail. He calls attention to the fact
that the Washington Railway and
Electric Company controls the Poto-
mac Electric Power Company lie
contends that Congress. by the ena-
bling act of 1900. sanctioned the re
lations between these companies.
Although the people are now paying
10 cents per kilowatt hour for elec-
tricity. the company is required py
the District Supreme Court 70 SET
aside cents out Of every 10 collecteo.
to be returned in the event the scent
rate is finally upheld by the court.
This fund has grown until u no"
amounts to about million dollars.
Raise Rate to IL Cents.
Mr.. Clayton estimated that II the
Commission would raise the rate TO
12 cents a kilowatt hour the power
company could carry it's weaker reia
tive through the present nnanciai a.
crisis. Mr. Clayton calls attention "
the fact that the power cornpanS i,s
the only public service corporation IN
the city that has not had an increase
in rates under existing abnormal con-
ditions. ,.. IN
the light rate would amount 10 sis4.ooo
a year for the 27.ooo prlVa;; ,.n,,id
using electricity. whereas II "oen eno
amount to 1866 900 year for the DOW
business places using current.
Wr. Clayton reminds the commission
that If they follow the course TAKEN Ss.
October and increase the stralgnt lale
on both car companies. tney WIN . ~
q pift Of unasked for revenue TO tne
Capital Traction.
Sums Up Argument.
Summing up his argument MT. Gay
ton states:
IF the policy of a uniform rate on
all street cars is Of such paramount
nuh,ic importance as to justify dlsre-
s-ardinp the cost of the service as a
whole in fixing rates. then the entire
nublic must be made to bear It's que
of the cost OF MAINTAINING
fhaf policy. The only question ls now
can the additional revenue De raiseo
With the least burden to the general
cd Of distributing that burden to the
general public and at the same time
keeping the gross contributor III
minimum can be devised than py
using under present conditions Ine
electric ight rate as & the nnra msa'I," !" coi.
iected from the public as wno!e
than 10 essential 70 maintain tne
noiicy Of uniformity OF street car
fares. There Is no discriminatton pc
tween different users OF the identlcai
to any investor IN any
nuhiic utility, and. through the wlde
snread Of light and power consump-
tion. through all shades ana grades
Of society and business. hcluoing
the street car companies themselves.
there is probably not citizen VINO
does not, directly or indirectly. con-
tribute his due proportion to electric
light revenues.
sThe result is the burden, If it may
he 40 considered. Of the extra cost OF
the nat uniform street
the aeneral body of the Inhabitants
~ the District. according to their re
sources and use Of all the facilities
in a manner more equitable ana pro-
to their interests IN the
than is possible unoer any
other plan that can be adopted Dy
the commission at present. and Con-
rress evidently had this In mind When
It authorized the present intimate re-
lations between the power company
and the least favorably situated, OF
the street car systems.
Fail to Appreciate Grounds.
I'VE fail to appreciate the grounds
of the objection Of the commission to
this form OF relief or its consistency
in regard thereto in view of their ap-
parent willingness In the present case
to permit the Capital Traction Com
yestment than 1t needs or desires as
a mere incident to granting to the
Warrington Railway and Electric
Company the right to earn the return
Il is entitled to. although such course
results in doubling the cost OF the re-
lief granted. when to permit the Po-
tomac Electric Power Company to
maintain its old rate or to raise 1t If
necessary will ipso facto relieve the
entire situation, maintain the fiat rate
unimpaired with universal free trans
fers, enable the Washington Railway
and Electric Company through Its
increased income from the Potomac to
get the financial relief it in justice is
entitled to without q cent more and
avoid any interference with the street
car rate-all at just one-half of the
extra cost to the public which the
method adopted entails and Will at
the same time distribute the cost OF
this policy much more evenly. gently
and uniformly than the method adopt