The Washington herald., 1921-07-19
HAM ADMITS
RAILWAY uses
LIGHTING FUND
Says 7-Cent Fare Hinges
On 10-Cent Rate for
Current.
cnxr,srEn FROM PAGE ONE.

CONTINUED FhOA fAGb ONb-
Rochester and others?" questioned
Chamberlin.
Il submitted them as furnished by
Mr.. Smith" Ham answered.
Ham was then asked If he knew
that companies who used the power
of his company. are beginning to
h generate their own power. He an
swered that he did not know this.
DO you know" Chamberlin
asked, that the American Ice and
the Washington Hotel companies
would install their own plants to-
morrow if they had the room?"
mo, / did not know this" replied
Ham
-Is it not true that the Potomac
Electric Power Company sells cur
rent at cost to the Washington
Railway and Electric Company. that
it in turn sells il TO the Washington
and Rockville. Capital Traction.
City and Suburban, Washington and
Old Dominion and other companies
at a profit?'
This was acknowledged TO be
true, and at the same time il was
explained that this transaction TAX
Ting place outside the District was
not within the Jurisdiction of the
commission. The fares of the Wash
{ ington, Baltimore and Annapolis
company, when operating in the
District. are given to the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company.
it was explained.
Clayton then desired to know
whether Ham thought the users of
electricity would be reconciled to
the application of the profits of the
Potomac Electric Power Company
to the deficit of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company. II
was Hams opinion that the users
of electricity would stick to the
power company as long as it is TO
their advantage to do so.
Fights Lower Rate.
Asked by Chamberlin If he did
not think that the present cost of
electricity was too high, Ham
answered that he did not think II
should be lowered. He also stated
that he did not think it made any
difference to the people should ii be
decided to pay the money to the
Company lndl O. hN" OSAhS I'M
pounded as the result of ruling
BY the court
Robert b. Swope. manager of the
Southern Oxygen Company of South
Washington. Virginia. was intro
tduced as a witness by Chamberlin.
objection to his testimony by coun-
sci for the Washington Railway
and Electric Company resulted in
his withdrawal. 1t was decided that
although the current used by the
Southern Oxygen Company origi-
mated in the Potomac Electric
Power Company's plant. being sold
TO the Washington Railway and
Electric Company. who in turn sold
il to the Virginia company, the fact
that il was not subject to the ruling
of the commission excluded it from
the hearing.
Rate Up "a Per Cent.
ChamberIfn then introduced G.
Hall White. superintendent of the
firm of Chaplin and Sacks. White
stated that he had previously been
employed by the Atlantic Sugar Re-
timing Company and other large
manufacturers. He estimated that
the increase in price of electricity
had been 81 pc. cent and in reply
ing to the question of how this af-
fected the price of ice cream he
quoted the same percentage. White
in answer to a question, admitted
that Chaplin and Sacks had. because
of the high price of electricity, con-
templated the installation of their
own plant.
n Mark LansburGh. office manager
1 and member of the firm OF Lans.
4 burgh and Brother, testified that
the principal fault he had TO hno
with the Potomac Electric Power
fCompany was the service. He
pointed out the loss to the firm tr
business as a result of the break
downs He stated that they would
not hesitate to install a service OF
their own il they had the available
space.
submits Coal Prices.
S. J. McCaffrey, purchasing agent
for the District Paper Company,
then produced figures to substan-
tiate the claim, that he purchased
and received bids on coal substan-
TALLY less than that paid by the
Potomac Electric Power Company
and from the same company.
The meeting adjourned to meet al
. o'clock this afternoon.
Plans Expansion.
During the morning session il
was again pointed out that the sub
urban lines of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company
were financially in need of assist
ance and in order to come to their
aid il was advocated that the Poto-
mac Electric Power Company be
allowed to increase the rate of
| electricity and apply the profit to