Evening star., 1921-05-25
LOWER FARE ASKED
. ON SINGLE CAR LINE
Citizen Federation Wants
Reduction to Apply to
Capital Traction.

Utilities Commission for an imme-
diate reduction from the rate of 3
cents cash or four tokens for 80
cents on the lines OF the Capital
Traction Company.
The application was filed by w. B.
Westlake. president. and William
NICK. Clayton. counsel for the asso
citation. The petition asserts that the
Capital Traction Company has earned
as high as II per cent on the value
Of it's property with the present rate
terized as unreasonable. unjust and
discriminatory"
Undecided m TO Hearing.
The commission probably will de-
eide at its next meeting whether to
eration's plea.
In its application the federation
quotes the statement Of the Capital
after the companies had failed to
agree to q voluntary merger. Re-
ferring to the several merger plans
submitted. the two representatives of
the Capital Traction Company said:
We fail to find in the plans sub
any considerable reduction in fare.
The Capital Traction Company, as
now directed. and under existing con-
ditions. will continue to give good
service. and is able and willing to do
SO on a reduced fare"
Company's Revenue.
Discussing this statement Of the
company. the federation petition con-
tinues:
Meaning thereby, your petitioner
AYERS that said company was not
only able, but was. and is now, will
ing to substantially reduce it's pres
ent rate Of fare. and that said re-
duced fare would then yield to the
company a rate of return reasonably
fair and acceptable to said company,
and all that it could or should claim
or expect under the law.
That 1T reasonably appears from the
context of said quoted statement that
said Capital Traction Company recog-
nizes and protests its present rate of
rare as being unjust and inequitable
to its patrons and stands ready and
willing to reduce the same.
That the conditions affecting and
surrounding the situation of March,
1871. and that then Influenced, induced
and brought about the issuance of the
commissions order fixing the present
rate OF fare have radically changed in
many respects. as your petitioner can
and expects to show to the commits
sion when permitted an opportunity to
present evidence and argument bearing
on the same.
That the only rates OF fare over the
Capital Traction Company permitted
or al!oWed under the law are reason
ableable Just and non n-discriminatory
rates. That the present rates of fare
now charged over the lines of the Capi-
tai Traction Company your petitioner
says are unreasonable. unjust and dis
criminatory.' and the same must. there
N tn hS;~
the purview of the law.
Charge Of Connscation.
That said fare now allowed on the
lines of the Capital Traction Com
pany Is confiscatory in so far as the
patrons of said company are concern
ed, in that it is fixed at the present
high and abnormal rate to permit the
patrons OF the Washington Railway
and Electric Company to use and en-,
JOY the service rendered on that com
panys lines at lower rate than
might equitably be expected or Re-
quired. and that the same is contrary
to law.
That said present fare on the Can
ital Traction Company was, YOUR
petitioner AYERS. so fixed and estab-
lished to stifle and prevent competi-
tlon between the several lines of the
capital traction Company and Wash
Ington Railway and Electric Company.
both or said companies were chartered
by Congress to operate as competitive
companies and have always been SO
recognized under the law and so
claimed to be by the companies them
selves, so that, therefore, the fixing of
a uniform rate Of fare to prevent com
petition between rival systems Of rail-
ways chartered to compete for patron
age is beyond the Jurisdiction and
risht OF the commission and contrary
THE premises considered, your petit
toner, therefore. prays that the hon
orable commission give a hearing as
provided under the law, and not only
grant the relief prayed for, but such
other and necessary relief as in the
nature OF the ease the honorable COM /
mission may deem reasonable and
wise