The Washington times., 1920-02-12
WOULD HAVE j. s.
TAKE over CARS
CONTINUED from First Page.)

(COntlnueQ ITOm
deficit. 1t would be paid out of Dis
trict revenues.
A scent fare should be the maxi
mum: a 3-cent is is not improbable
under his plan, Mr.. Syme said. 1t
would not mean more than one-tenth
of / per cent additional tax, he
argued.
Chairman Mapes, of the House
committee, asked why not have
free rides?"
There would be many people who
would crowd the cars and ride only
block or two" Mr.. Syme said. THE
idea is not illogical. however"
Sees Enieient Management.
Chairman Mapes asked what guar
antee could be expected for efficient
management If the lines were placed
under the jurisdiction of the Utilities
Commission.
There would be that some incen-
tive to efficient management that is
found in other government activities"
Mr.. Syme said.
"The operating and maintenance
accounts would be open to inspection
at all times, and see no more diff
Guilty in having efficient management
of street railways than is had in Sc
curing efficient management Of navy
yard or other Government institu-
tons"
ITO have the Government take over
the street railways and lease them to
the Capital Traction Company, or
operate them under the direction of
the Utilities Commission" would give
Washington the best street railway
system in the world" Mr.. Syme con-
tended.
Merger Best For w. r. and r.
Congressman Romjue asked IL any
legislation enacted by Congress. shat
does not contemplate a merger. would
put the Washington Railway and
Electric Company on a paying basis.
Mr.. Syme answered positively that
II would not
One good point about tho Public
Utilities Commission bill Mr.. Syme
said, was that It would tend to make
the Capital Traction Company more
acquiescent for a merger.
No court. he contended, would per-
NIT the Washington Railway and
Electric Company to abandon any
of its subsidiary lines in Maryland, or
in the District, merely because they
are not paying profit
Got Lines ReckSessfy.
These short lines were acquired
years ago, every recklessly and in
slip-shod manner" Mr.. Syme said. In
1913 the Utilities Commission saw fit
to investigate them to determine
whether they were paying dividends
on water or on money actually in
vested.
The recent valuations placed on
utilities here, he said, was the most
important work of it's kind ever done
| in the District, because any step to-
| ton problem here would have to be
| predicated on n valuation OF some
kind, whether fixed by the court or
by the commission.
Asked by members OF the committee
IL a 10-cent fare would not help rem
| edy conditions. Mr.. Symc declared II
would defeat the very purpose for
which II was granted.
Io-Cent Fare HsrwfuI.
Each time the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company has ask
cd an increased fare, the result has
been just the opposite OF what was
predicted" he said.
"A 10-cent fare would cut out short
| rides, and the only profit in street
railway is the short haul Long
hauls are made at n loss"
Mr.. Syme said that in his opinion
merger could be effected at this
| time on the basis OF the valuation hx-
| ed by the Utilities Commission, and
that II would work an injustice to no
| one.
Paul v. Myers, shisf clerk ef the