Evening star., 1921-06-04
. LA
v. R. &E. OFFERS,
74CENT* CAR FARE
ON ONE CONDITION
will Make Reduction if f'Elec.
trio Company Can Have
1O-cent Rate.
PROPOSAL RESTS WITH /.
/ UTILITIES COMMISSION
President Ham Believes Revenue
of Former Could Be Re-Establish-
ed Without Interference.


The Washington Railway and Eaec-
trio Company. stands ready to reduce
its rate of fare to cents II the Pub
lie Utilities Commission will restore
to the Potomac Electric Power Com
pany the rate of 10 cents per kilowatt
hour for electricity.
This announcement was made today
by william F. Ham. joint president
Of the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company and the power company.
This is the same proposal which Com
missioner Oyster made to Congress
last week as . means of giving the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company 4 fair return without con-
tinuing to give the Capital Traction
company more than it needs.
without. . restoration Of the ten
cent electric light rate the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company
could not stand q reduction in the
present car fare in September. Mr..
Ham said. He estimated that a seven.
cent fare without a-raise in the cleo
trio light rate would leave the Wash
ington Railway and ELECTRIC Company
with a return Of only 20 per cent
on the value Of the railway property
a. found by the commission.
Sees No Interference.
Mr.. Ham believes the commission
could restore the ten-cent light rate
without interfering with the suit
pending In the courts to determine
the value Of the power plant. He
also Is Of the opinion that the COM
mission could carry out Capt. Oysters
plan without disturbing the approxi-
mately 81. .oo0, geo now being held by
the District Supreme Court pending q
settlement of the power company's
valuation.
The public has continued to pay
10 cents per kilowatt since 1917. when
the commission ordered the eight-cent
rate. The company. however, has only
been allowed to use scents. the court
fund representing the difference, be-
e%esa sss ssssd ss ssef ea q asas 81
by allowin& the power company. to
keeps3A eSataRer kilowatt and turn
II G;nSsii FL ine fs,ss ss,;st fsRs; sSs; d. COM
mission teeuld aSsin exercise THAT
company % re4gn44 fhaf9tng 70 cents.
If this course WSpa followed he be-
lievee the larg6eamount alreAdy being
held by court order would remain
there untu the united States Supreme
Court has hnelly passed upon the
According to Mr.. Ham. . 7-cent car
fare on both systems with q 10-cent
rate. to the pewer company would
yield the Capltol Traction Company
per oent on its valuation and give the
Wa.hingfon Hallway and Electric
the Washingtoi Railway and Electric
owns all Of tn stock Of the power
company the 1a-oent light rate would
meet the losses of tthe Washington
Railway and H3eetric..
NelAed Relief.
AT the present time" said Mr. Ham.
every time the people give the Wash
inston Railway ana Electric dollar
that II needs they have to give the
need. Under Capt Oysters plan. the
public could give the Washington
Railway and Electric the relief 1t
needs through the power company
without continuing 10 give the Capt.
tai Traction coaapany unsought reve-
nue.
Ar. Ham said that since the electric
light users have never ceased paying
the 1a.kent rate. he does not believe
they would object to the Oyster plan
i1fit W1tld bring with 1t a reduction
in ear rare.
0LSo IcVe1Aoo " ddr. nam today
sheN that during the twelve months
en0e4 Nay 81 the Washington Rail-
WAY and Electric Company lost 4,772,-
159 PAY passengers and the Capital
Ifectton Company suffered q reduc-
tfdn OF s.S37,794 In the number of pay
pAseen8ef1 This made q total fall.
ine Of on both lines during. the year
Reveaue Less.
In revenue, this reduction in traf-
hc smseat z loss to both companies
tn&ten Railway, and Electric lost
$sS4,o00 and the Capital Traction
Co3AS4ny $6S1, 900. :
During the twelve months ended
nay IL OF this year the Washington
E.aiwny and Electric carried "a, ,626,-
SyHe5l for the preceding twelve
During the twelve months ended
May 81 last the Capital Traction Com.
paay hauled 72.2s1.550. as compared
with: Sl.21s.544 for the preceding
Ma Hams figures show that for. the
ye1f ended April: 30 the return to the
WA4Aiheton- Railway and Electric
1heHhted to 3 6-10 per cent.
MtAoagh the Public Utilities Conn
haieecn- has met twice since the Fed.
eiAf!0h Of Cftizens' Associations ap-
Piled Tor hearing to consider a re-
daetien in the Capital Traction fare,
thA eoh4mission has not deemed IL ad-
visible TO order the hearing nov.
WttA Congress still considering Leg
isaatfbh 20 solve the street car prob
lesM II ID not likely the commission
viii efder a fare hearing before
Aaea9ts when Il must consider what the
fare snail be after September /.