Evening star., 1921-07-16
HAM BACKS OYSTER
PLAN TO CLEARUP
TRACTION PROBLEM
Discontinuance of Impound
on Electric Rates Would As
sist W. R. & E. Company.
CLAYTON OBJECTS TO
PRESENT CONSIDERATION
Commissioner Expects His Plan to
Be Taken Up at P. E. P. Co.
Hearing Monday.

Commissioner Oysters plan to dis
continue the requirement upon the
Potomac Electric Power Company to
impound IL cents of the ten-cent-per-
llilomatt hour electric power charge,
which would place additional funds at
the disposal of the Washington Rail-
way & Electric Company. today loom
ed as a possible solution of Washing
toms traffic porblems, although Engi-
neer Commissioner. kutz prevented
consideration of the plan at today's
street railway hearing before the
Public Utilities Commission.
President Ham Of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company urged
the adoption OF the Oyster proposal in
a statement made to the commission
at the conclusion Of his testimony to-
day. He said 1t would make possible
a uniform rate of fare on the traction
lines of cents, and would save Wash
ington street car riders $S92.000
year.
Objection to Consideration.
Objection to consideration of this
plan Immediately was voiced by Will
liam Nick. Calyton. representing the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
power rates is not before the commits
sion at this time. Chairman Kutz sus-
tanned Mr. Clayton's point.
Commissioner Oyster. who had re-
manned silent up to this point. IN
quired of the chairman il his ruling
tomac Electric Power Company earn
ings was to be excluded from the con-
sideration of the street railway rate
problem. Without waiting for an an
swer by the chairman. Mr.. Oyster said
he would certainly expect his plan to
lr1, hn hoo NJ
electric light and power rates.
Power Hearing Monday.
At this point Commissioner Rudolph
hearing is scheduled to start Monday.
Mr. Oyster said that he was convinced
the solution of the traffic problem
which he had suggested Is the proper
one. and will bring about condition
which would be to the best interests
of the public and the companies.
In recommending the Oyster plan.
President Ham told the commission
that the scheme would cause loss to
the general Washington Railway and
revenues of approximately $4s,0O0 per
annum.
under this plan, would pay no more
for electric light and power than
they are paying at present. Under a
court ruling the Potomac Electric
Power Company since last October
has been impounding a cent and
half of every ten cents collected, and
prior to that time for an extended
every ten cents collected. The total
amount of the fund impounded to
date IL in excess of two million dol
lars. Mr.. Ham said there is now
being impounded annually under the
This amount would be available for
street railway needs If the Oyster
plan were adopted.
Mr.. Ham Cross-Examined.
Mr. Ham was cross-examined at
considerable length by Clayton dur
ing the hearing. 1t was developed
by Mr.. Clayton that the Washington
Railway and Electric Company owns
about two-thirds of the street rail-
way trackage in the District of Co
lumbia. the Capital Traction Com
pany owning the other one-third. Mr..
Clayton asked if il did not follow as
a logical result that the Washington
Railway and Electric Company in
is furnished by the Capital Traction
Company would have to operate twice
as many cars.
Mr. Ham replied that II that was
Mr.. Clayton's conception of practical
operating problems. it showed how
sociation representative knew Of the
traction problem generally. Mr.. Ham
maintained that the Washington
Railway and Electric Company serv-
ice is equally as good as that of the
competing line, but that it does not
follow that it would have to operate
twice as many cars because it has
twice as much trackage. He pointed
out that schedules vary according to
community needs. and that the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Company
service, considering the needs that 1t
meets. Is as good, mile for mile. as
that rendered by the Capital Traction
Company.
ZOninE System Discussed.
In the course of his cross-examina-
tion of MIR. Ham 1t was developed by
Mr.. Clayton that the alternative Of q
zoning system suggested by the rail-
way official in the event a sufficient
uniform rate of fare is not promul-
gated by the commission has not been
officially indorsed by the board Of d.
rectors of the Washington Railway