The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-06-17

NOTIFIEDFARES
EXCEED REASON
The Utilities Commission
Sends Copy of Findings
To Car Officials.
HEARING TO DECIDE
NEW RATE PLANNED
Focht Declares Victory
For Public in Fight
Near at Hand.


Lower street car fares for wash
fnston were more assured yestsr-
day when Representative Focht-
chairman Of the House District
Committee. addressing the Hvznts
Club. declared that the day Of VIC
tory In the street car strife was at
hand Almost at the same hour the
Public Utilities Commission IN q
different section OF the city WIS ad-
dressing letters to the street car
companies notifying them thAt- a.
q result Of an Investigation based
upon the earnings Of the two com
panies for a period Of one year. the
present fare was found TO be IN az
cess Of the amount considered rea-
sonable-
Ceptes of FIstfn<~
The street railways compxrteA
as a whole, II was found have been
earning an unrezsonAbly exresstve
return on their combined fair VAL
ues since May 1. 1890. and copies Of
the findings were Immediately sent
TO the traction companies
on June ss the commission VII
designate time and place for for
NAL public hearing upon the ques-
ton Of establishing = new rate OF
fare based upon the combined v1Io-
-, =, the nroperties of the two
roads. Consideration VIII eise oe
given to the petition OF tne
-
ton OF Citizens AssoelANio -
with the commissionc c-.a,
pettioning the utllles @ -. a.,
20 establish reAson~o " o1-si. -
lines OF the C&pitAi o..
pany. charging tnAt ~ 80 .souis
charged ts uhre~so"~e
be reduced
w Text ef Letter. 49,.
rne letter TO the railway com
nantes saws in part: Notice is hereby
styen that the Public Utilittes Com
r,t..ton ~. the District has MADE an
;,ye.tir,tIon Of the earnings Of the
an the fDstrict OF the present rates
companies for year oesln lnntne
- 1870
u. a. ,.,-..,y,,,to, shows that the
s, -orsi6ered as a whole,
~ r.,nr, or the COM
49, 90 y.iu. 81 their properties,
..rsr,.t,eS nv the commission
2S ~ Iesa IN excess Of the
., ..,siaer.d reasonable BY the
uaS
0oiiiiiiiSe'"
suh HtFher
Further Investigation BY the
commission OF the earnings Of the
companies for the first four months
OF the year 1921. shows that the re-
turn for that period is al a suu
higher rate than obtained during
the year beginning May l, 1870
"In view Of these Increased earn
ings and Of the decrease in the cost
Of materials and the price OF labor
that have obtained since the present
rates Of fares became effective, the
commission is Of the opinion that
revision Of the rates should be con-
sidered in advance OF the expira-
uoh OF tns peri"o Lor ''-
s,on,. orSsr "a Nrarch % rs.I-
Sent II" Al
The commission sent this letter
to the Washington Railway ana
Electric Co, Washington 1nterurban
Raialway Co. East Washington
Heights Traction Railway Co, City
and Suburban Railway Co., George
town and Tennallytown Railway Co.
and the Washington Virginia Rail
way CO.
The method Of considering the
street car companies as a whole.
when brought to the attention OF
members OF the House District
Committee last night was de-
nounced as stupid" and decidedly
unfaiar TO the vatrons OF the street
- ~ hA' many mem
O0,h ,.o ot NoneIea
e as OF ps sSsem
e oe OF She "a
sohs ,,, TOT oraSe ac''oh oy Sohere
a O ge n Introosceo
IN tne rouse OF hepresehtatiNes
oSIns Ior tne repeai OF the act
wHich Createo the fuoiic Ctllties
commission
Promise ny Focht.
Chairman Reniarin Focb, =, 81.
House District cornr,it,ee sser,tn.
to rather his theme for an addres.
20 the Kivanians ,ror, ~. 49,,
town stnosnhs-n sn,nh @ ooIn ~
activitIes for rnd,c,Jon a.
fares. nronnIsed that Io,v.r 80.
with the ext.nxiop ~ Iino. 60
better service, were soon 10 he ~.
result Of the consoIidatJon - -.
washington Railway and EIectr,c
Co. and the Capital TractIor- g.
Chairman Focht told the Kiv.
mans that the time of fruition wa,
at hand for relief in the street-car