Evening star., 1921-05-27
TRACTION SOLUTION
COULD Be FORCED
BY UTILITIES BODY
House Committee Members
Hold Commission Has
Power to Cut Fares.
DISTRICT HEADS OFFER
COUNTER RELIEF PLANS
Increase Of Electric Light Rate
Again Urged by Capt. Oyster
as Remedial Measure.


Counter proposals from the District
Comm sioners, who constitute the
Public Utilities Commission, for relief
from the street car situation in the
National Capital were argued before
special subcommittee Of the House
District committee today.
Capt. James F. oyster advocated
relief through allowing the Potomac
Electric Power Company a ten-cent
rate for electric light current. which
would increase the revenues Of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company. which is sole owner Of the
Potomac Electric Power Company.
and which. he said. would make pos
sible the reduction Of car fares TO :
cents. four tickets for a quarter.
Engineer Commissioner kutZ argued
in favor of the legislation urged by
lief through an excess profits tax on
both companies SO as to more nearly
equalize their earnings.
Most of the members OF the District
committee took an entirely different
position and urged that the quickest
to force merger would be through
the Public Utilities Commission ex-
ercisinS the power il now has to re-
duce the carfare for the Capital Trac-
ton Company to cents. This course
was advocated strongly by several
members of the committee.
Lowest Rate Held Issue.
Representative I.akpert of Wis
consln voiced the opinion Of these
members when he said:
My interest is not in what becomes
or the watered stock. etc am inter-
ested in bringing the fare down to
the public to what it should be.
Representatives Kunz illinois:
Sproul. Illinois; Keller. Minnesota. and
Hammer' North Carolina. argued that
their particular interest is to reduce
the fare for the public and each aid
ne oelieved it could be reduced to :
cents. Representative Kunz said thai
the real question before the com
mlttee is not how to bring about a
merger. but how. to give the public
the lowest rates
Capt. Oyster in his statemen. ., ,ho
committee said: ~ '"e
Let me frankly. say that the nron-
osition submitted by Col kutz 7 tnor-
ousni! lndorse' and approve. After
seSerai meetings of the conferee.
psnios,inns ps1IosM."ns were made by both or
apart Col. kutz appealed to them ia
set together on middle ground, hui
nether would yield 4 counter pron-
ositi4n was submitted by Col. Kutz.
nlch ooth sides turned down fatty
ur thousht was first-public in
ierest-and at the same time a fare
giving reasonable return for ~ =
stockholders. o' 'he
After much thought to the state.
ment made by the conferees. copiAs NJ
Which nave been submitted to your
e1mm'ttee' e9nn II occurred to me that
oe worked out. and I asked consent
10 let me ask the advice of a friend
VINO was more familiar with sacuri.
ties than myself to work out a differ.
ent proposition. which might be ac-
cepiaeie 10 both sides and to carry
would benefit the public and safe.
guard the interest of the stockhold-
ers. which would promise a cen,
fare and four tokens for - cnts.
In economical management. re-
auction In coal. oil and other ma
all of which should be ba sed on ef,i.
cient service. which will be expected
for the benefit OF all concerned.
Declares Merger Wanted.
The public wants a merger. Why,
Because they believe that lower fares
will follow. Yet little do they care
II tney can get eff1cient service and
knowledge and consent OF my col
leagues, my new thought. If you gen
tlemen can pass bill that will hold
ger, II there should be much delay
in passing such legislation. then !
submit two propositions that in my
mind would bring quicker results
First. Urge upon the utilities
rate and reduce carfares to cents.
and if you gentlemen will pass a bill
and add part of the bill introduced
by Representative Woods. if only tenn
porary. wherein he offers to relieve
pense Of crossin policemen. the paw
ing Of the street car tracks and the
tax on the net earnings. we then
could reduce the fares to cents
This am confident would be help
ful until such time as you gentIeme en-
could agree upOn merger
1T is doubtful IL it would be nee
essary FOR you gentlemen to bother
further about the street railway prob
lem. because 1 feel that the railway
people may get together themselves
and give the public a better rate
which l believe can be done. II they
don't. then put them together and
give the travelling public what they
are asking for and entitled to-the
best possible service and a lower cal
fare.
Now. gentlemen. it I. up to you ia
help us along these lines. Every
body should get together. You say
YOU want to help us and 1 believe the
time Is ripe for you to do so. am
asking for our people the best tina,
you can give US.
Rate Believed ReasonabIe.
! Il also submit the electricity rat.
! Of many other cities to prove the ra t.
asked for 1 sonly reasonable. sub.
init also a statement giving the in.
creased cost of material since the eiec.
| tric light rate was reduced to sl1 cent.
four years ago. varying from SO tc
200 per cent. ana now they are only
! they promise this reduction Of carfare
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