The Washington times., 1921-03-18
7-CENT FARES
DUE IN MONTH
C. T. Co.'S Admission That
Present Rate Is Big Means
Certain Drop in Tokens.

Insistent demands by representa-
tiyes of the public for a lower fare
on the lines of the Capital Trac-
tion Company, coupled with the
statement that that company can
reduce fares to seven cents, four
tokens for a quarter, and still earn
more than 6 per cent return, is
expected to figure materially in the
next street car fare decision Of the
Public Utilities Commission.
SEE Equal 7-CENT FARE.
The opposition to the continuation
of the present high fares on the
Capital Traction lines is more ap-
parent today and IL - predicted that
members of the commission VIII next
month see their way clear TO make
some reduction in fares.
However. ii is not believed the com
mission will make separate fares on
the two railway lines. but II is ex-
pected the commission Will reduce
fares on both lines to : cents, -FOUR
tickets for a quarter, and VIII restore
the two-cent charge on inter and mira
company transfers.
such action by the commission. all
though it would cut the revenues or
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company, would bring the Capital
Traction Company down from I'D TO
about per cent. To what extent
IL would reduce the return OF the w.
X. & r.. Is not known.
"MUsT CUT c. T. &. RATE"
William Nick. Clayton. representing
the Federation of Citizens Associa :
tion. a committee sent by Navy yard
workers: representatives OF the Pet
worth and Northeast Citizens As
sociations, who attended the street
car hearing yesterday morning. urged
lower fare on the lines or the
Capital Traction Company.
mo matter what rate the commits
sion gives to the Washington Railway
il must lower the rate on the CAPITAL
Traction lines" Clayton declared.
'"The commission has no legal right to
give the Capital Traction more than
il needs. We want the commission
to consider the two companies sepa-
rately and award to each the fare
necessary for them to earn fair re-
turn"
A statement by Mr.. Clayton that
some years back the w r. r. paid
WdStS III oioc1 W "'ip" ~
company to pay per cent dividend
of the common stock was branded az
an absolute falsehood" by william F..
Ham, president of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company. TO
substantiate the charge Clayton re-
ferred to a hearing before the senate
committee, during which. he said, t1is
fact was brought out.
The present fare expires on March
81, and unless otherwise ordered by
the commission. will, after that day
return to cents straight.
SHOULDN'T BEAR BURDEN.
A committee, comprising Robert r.
Janson, James j. Noonan, A. a. La
forrest and J. c. Brannon, represent
ing the Columbia Lodge. IA, |. A. OF
NJ on behalf OF 800 employees of the
navy yard, presented letter to the
commi ssion. The letter, in part fol-
lows:
In the payment of fares by the
public for such service rendered IL
has always been our policy TO &C
cept such rates of fares as the com
mission has deemed wise in setting.
In our arguments for change in the
rates Of fares to be paid we have
consistently held the position that
the companies were entitled to just
return on their investment or rather
the valuation as laid down by law,
but at the same time when we have
been willing to grant such rate
of fare as is shown by the earnings
of the Capital Traction Company we
do not feel that the burden should
rest on the people by excessive
charges in fares because the other
company involved has mismanaged
or unwisely expended it's money in
the past"