The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-07-14
NEWMAN FLAYS
ZONE FARE PLAN
TRACT|ONP PLUM
Continued from First PageJ

Continued from First Page)
Columbia there are three or four
zones from the center OF population
o the outskirts.
Is Really Double Fare.
No such thing IL proposed by those
who have suggested q "zone-fare''
system for Washington. What is
called a ne-fare" system in the
proposition for local application is In
reality a double. fare" system. There
N no suggestion that several zones be
created. with a small fare for the
sirst and a gradual increase through
he second. third or fourth
Not at oil What IL proposed is
that the present rate, or ono pro
portionately high, be charged on the
downtown lines, from the center of
traffic to a poin. part way 70 the
District line, and that for the re-
line ANOTHER FARE OF THE
SAME AMOUNT BE COLLECTED.
This is about as much like the
european Ndl L'flG ~ sltHl us
fish Is like a mule.
What II really amounts to IL this:
Soak the people who live In ;hn
| suburbs and who, Incidentally. get
the worst service.
Which Is Any | make the flat
statement that Washington won't
stand for any such flim-flam. We've
been pretty placid over this street
car situation, for many, many long
years, but we've almost reached The
breaking point. To pile q jou,lc
car fare on US, merely to help on
improvident street car company Dut
of the hole that exploitation AID
waste have put 1t In, would he
several last straws that would break
our backs with a crack that would
be heard for considerable distance.
Interpreted another way. the pres
mt zone.fare proposal for the Dis.
,rict of Columbia may properly be
compared to the European zone-fare
system like this:
In Europe the theory Is to RE-
DUCE the maximum fare for the
benefit of short-haul passengers.
In Warrington the theory is to
DOUBLE the maximum fare as \
penalty against the lons.haul pas.
sengers.
The development Of the plan in
Europe was the result OF \ desire to
DECREASE fares.
People Won't Stand Boost.
In Washington, the plan Is based
on q desire to INCREASE fares.
Everybody might just as well in.
derstand. and accept without fur
ther debate. that the temper of the
people. not only Of Washington but
Of the country. In not such as 10
accent placidly ANY INCREASE In
these burdensome times.
This applies with especial force In
the case of people who live in the su-
burbs of the National Capital. There
Is one, and only one, reason why a
family lives far out
II does so because of the necessity
Of getting away from high rents and
high land values in the downtown sec
tons Suburban residence Is based on
necessity. not on choice-the stern
necessity of living on the measer in.
come most washingt onians receive.
It's just as true as sunlight. that as
you get further and further away from
the center OF population In the Dis
trict, you 60 down and down and down
In the scale Of income of the inhabi.
tants.
This means that the zone fare sys.
tenn as suggested now would take
money out OF the pockets OF the peo.
pie OF the community least able to
bear the burden.
That's an old habit OF rulers and
property owners-takinR taxes and
other revenues from the people who
have the least with which to paw.
but it's a thing which they ought to
hesitate to attempt in broad daylight,
in the year 1921.