The Washington times., 1921-06-29
FAVORs c.
CONTROL Of
RAIL LINES
Forced Merger and Manage
ment by Municipality Affords
Only Answer, Says Expert.

Major Oliver p. Newman, former
president of the Board os District
Commissioners, today joined hancs
with members of Congress who, are
seeking to have the street railways
here owned and controlled by the
United States Government
NEWMAN FILES Ait MENTs.
The efforts OF opponents OF munici-
pal ownership to put through a sub
stitute for the Keller municipal own
ership bill forced a delay in the House
District Committee today. Major
Newman fled with the committee his
written arguments. and at tomorrow's
hearing win discuss the two bills. be-
fore the full COMMITTEES. Ss
Congressman Woods bill to permit
voluntary merger of the two rail-
way lines was urged at todGy's meet
ing of the committee as a substitute
for the Keller bill.
The Woods bill would reduce taxa
tion on the Washington Railway and
Electric Company, release the COM
pany from having to pay the salaries
of crossing policemen and make
other provisions that the author OF
the bill claims would make a merger
more satisfactory to both lines
Snoulu Iuc companies IAN " iutE
sfter the passage of this legislation.
Mr. Woods says that Congress may
then take steps to force a merger
and provide for cheaper fares
No vote by the full committee will
be taken, Chairman Focht said today,
Until the Anal hearing next Wednes-
day.
Major Newman's statement follows;
"I advocate public ownership of the
street railways of the District of Co.
lumbia because. in my opinion, IL In
the only practical solution of the pres
ent street railway problem here.
"And wish to emphasize that wor,
practical II is for pr tactical reasons.
applying, with especial force tod.,y
and in this particular locality that r
make this Recommendation. i believe
In public ownership as an economic
and social theory, but you gentlemen
are face to face with a condition. not
a theory. and II Is the condition that
I wish to talk about, and not the
theory.
The condition Is simply this;
THE COMPARISON.
There are In Washington two
large street railway systems. One
runs through thickly settled sections
of town, broadly speaking, The other
runs through thiniy settled sections
relatively.
some makes a great deal OF money.
The other makes much less.
"The one that makes great deal
of money Is the Capital Traction
Company. The one that makes muCn
less money is the Washington Rail-
way and Electric. The Capital Trac-
tion has not got one foot OF un-
profitable line. The Washington
Railway and Electric has a great
deal of Improbable line. The Capital
Traction has a heavy business OF
passengers that ride comparatively
short distances. The Washington
Railway and Electric has heavy
business of passengers that ride com
parstively long distances. But eacn
company receives the same amount
OF money for each passenger carried.
This means that the cost OF operation
of the Capital Traction Company PER
passenger per mile Is much less than
the same cost to the Washington
Railway and Electric Company. In
other words. it's net profits are
greater In proportion to it's opera;-
Ing costs than the net profts OF the
washington Railway and Electric.
"But this Is not the only difference
between the two companies. The
Capital Traction Company is much
more valuable. mile for mile cf
track. than the WASHINGTON RAILWAY
and Electric, because " has always
put in better and more costly rack
construction. It's rolling stock eauip-
ment is also better--the cars ore
larger. better built and more cos ".
There ts also a marked difference
tconsinued on Page II. Column a.