The Washington times., 1921-03-16
CITIZENS OPEN
CARFARE FIGHT
Federation Attacks w. R. & Els
Plan for Continuation of
Present Rates.

Criticislng the Public Utilities
Com mmlssien for its street csrfare
dcoisiens IN recent years, william
ton Railway Ind Electris. ,todxy
pleaded feY@&il No. almost qAc.i.
nande1- -1at the present fare be
continued.
Citizens Of the District today
launched their fight for lower car
fares in Washington. Representa-
tives of the Federation of Citizens
Associations and individual citizens
associations were present at the
street car hearing in the District
building to ask for separate rates of
fare on the two railway lines.
kUTZ QUESTIONS DEPRECIATION
The first clash between. members
Of the Public Utilities Commission
and the Washington Railway and
Electric Company came when Chair
man Charles w. Kutz took issue with
the company on the method of keep
ing depreciation accounts. The COM
pany's depreciation fund was the sub
ject of a most thorough inquiry by
Commissioner Kutzz and counsel for
the public.
company and the argument on the
depreciation fund occupied the entire
morning of the hearing. A. G. Neal,
comptroller of the company. and
Charles s. Kimball, engineer of ways
and structure work, occupied the
stand, and testified as to the condk
ton of the company.
When the hearing first opened Will
liam NICK Clayton. counsel for the
Citizens Federation. protested
against the petition of the Capital
Traction Company. He declared that
1t did not state the position of the
company with regard to rates of
street car fares.
SHOWS 5.2s PER CENT RETURN.
Commissioner Kutz informed Mr..
Clayton that every opportunity
would be given counsel for the pub
lie to develop later the exact posi-
tion Of the company with regard to
street car fares.
Comptroller Neal testified that the
company, during the twelve months.
three months estimated. ending May
1, 1921, expected to earn $500, O,9s4. 80,
which he declared was 5.2S per cent
return on the fair value of the prop
erty. The company wants at least a
8 per cent return.
1t was developed at the hearing that
since last January, when the Public
Utilities Commission rejected the COM
pany's petition for a straight Scent
fare, the company had curtailed the
number OF employees and other ex-
penditures. thereby increasing the
amount OF return.
Mr.. Kimball testified that for the
year 1921 the company has estimated
1t will expend $1,700,4 ,414.94 for ways
and structures.
greater part OF today will be oc-
cupied by accountants and engineers
for both railway companies submit
ting figures outlining the conditions
of the companies.
TO CROSS-EXAMINE OFFICIALS.
Late this afternoon representatives
Of the public are expected 10 cross
examine witnesses for the Capital
Traction Company in an effort to de-
velop a statement from that company
OF the exact rate of fare IL could
charge and still earn a fair return on
the value of this property.
On the basis of the development of
this fact representatives of the public
will ask the commission to reduce the
rates of sstreet car fare charged by
the Capital Traction Company.
The present street car rates ex-
otherwise ordered the fare will re-
vert to Ave cents straight with a two
cent charge for inter and intra com