The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-07-15
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('ATHOL|ClL. |
HEAD RAPS
HAM SPLAN
churchman Says HomebulIdsrs
Settled With Promise Of
One Fare for All.

One Fare for All.
Bishop Thomas ]. Shahan, rector
Of tia Catholic University, today
added his voice against the intro
duction ON the lines of the Wssh-
ington Railway and Electric Com
pany Of the zone system. In Let
ter to the Public Utilities Commits
sion, he protests, in the name of the
university, against the establishment
Of the zons system, because 1t would
throw Z serious burden upon the
student body.
Injustice 10 Suburbanites.
THE subus pan sections Of our city
were built up with the understanding
by the people that there would be only
one car fare in the District of Column
hia. regardless of distance" Bishop
Shahan said In his letter. II consider
It an Injustice to require the subur'
banttes to pay additional fare for an
inferior service, and believe that the
resident who travels only a short
distance for his money il moro than
compensated by the quality of service
he receives"
There was no hearing by the Public
street car question, the hearing being
resumed tomorrow morning when the
case will b summed up by the street
car companies and the opponents of
higher fares. and the advocates OF
lower fares.
p. U. G. Faces Pursler. 4
Just what action the Commission
WIN take IL puzzling the representa-
lives of the people who have been
Watching the street car situation. The
showing made by President OF the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company y that his company cannot
get along on anything less than
cents, seven tokens for 80 cents fare.
fhe showing made by the Capital
Traction Company 10 that they can get
along on . lower fare; The problem
which the Commission n battling with
Is how to give the Waahington Rail-
way and Electric Company . nrs
that will be reasonable and At the same
time one that will not allow the Capt
tel Traction Company larger return
than it is entitled to.
II is argued that II the Capital
Traction Company Ia given . lower
rate that the loss In patronage 70 the
Washington Railway ana Eisctrao
Company will do the railway cons-
Commissioner James +. Oyster come
TINA ago advocated lower street
car fare on both lines and higher
electric light rate to help out the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company. Many OF the business men
OF the city believe that this Ii the
only solution Of the problem.
Ham Stands For 8 Cents.
william F. Ham. president of the
washinrton Railway and Electric
Company, told the commission at tho
Afternoon session yesterday that the
company could not obtain q tair re-
turn on its valuation under reduc-
ton OF the present fare. or II the
faro Of the Capital Traction should
y cst and the present .sM.a f y ., 2, the
TTne lowest possible fare upon
which the Washington Railway and
Eloctric Company can operate. Ham
claimed. 70 the present etGht-cent
fare. or seven tokens for fifty cents.
This il a sllght reduction In TIE
price Of tokens, which are now four
tor thirty cents.
ON the other hand. J. II. Hanna,
Vice president Of the Capital Trac.
don, said his company could operate
ana receive a fair return IN its
vAluAtl0n OF SeN6n-Cent LAIS.
william Mex. Clayton often OBJ
the Introduction of testimony AMI the
competency Of witnesses. but was
overruled by the commission. HIS
first objection was to the com.
DStency Of Prof. Albert q. Richie,
the traction expert. He asked Prof.
Eitchie several questions ainej to
bring out his experience In traction
matters and In reply rrof. Richie
named several cities In which he had
been employed In an advisory c.
pactty on traction questions.
Altar CLAYTON had finishsd cues.
tionine him. Prof Ritchie submitted
figures showing the loss Of patron.
are that would be suffered by the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company IL the Capital Traction
should he allowed a lower fare. and
also the loss of patronage that would
10 felt by the w. r a II. II a zoninS
system were put into effect.
Richie For Two Zones.
Prof. Richie advocated q two.sone
system In Washington with Eleventh
and q streets northwest as the CEN
Ter of the zone area He admitted on
cross-examination by Clayton that
where the zone system has been tried
in this country II rarely has remained.
the companies going hack to the old
fiat fare. He said the zone system had
been success in European cities for
many years and he believed II the ideal
system. fair both to the public and the
company.
Ham said In answer to a proposition,
laid down earlier in the day by Com
missioner Khtz that II would be un-
fair for the Public Utilities Commits
sion to reduced the fare, II II should
arrive at that conclusion, before Sep
tember I, the date when the present
fare expires Ham said that on tho
strength OF the order that they would
retain the present fare until that time,
the company had entered into con.
tracts for the betterment OF the road.
and is now spending about 100000
for repairs on O and North Capitol
streets He also said the company con.
templates spending more than 81, 600.
600 next year for maintenance and
Appreciation charges.
Ham aid that while some OF the