Evening star., 1921-08-08
ANNOUNCES STAND
ON D. c. UTILITIES
Commerce Chamber Letter
to Congress Advocates
Merging of Railways.

a letter embodyinS the declaration
Of principles" Of the Washington
Chamber of Commerce on the public
utilities situation in the District was
mailed today to every member of the
House district committee by Arthur
T.. Seymour. secretary OF the local
chamber. The letter announces the
sand on the local street railway
quest tion adopted al recent meeting
OF the board of directors of the cham
ber. the principal points of which are
opposition to municipal ownership Of
utilities here and recommendation
that the two car lines be merged.
Substnnce Of the Letter.
The text of the letter. emitting the
introduction. follows:
The untility situation in the District
of Columbia is approaching condi-
tion which demands wise counseling
and the exercise of unprejudiced busi-
ness judgment to guarantee to the
public proper consideration and ac-
| commcdaticn, and to those who have
invested in such securities fair ana
juss return.
In order that such accommodation
and returns may be assured and con-
tinued. the companies property must
he maintained and it's facilities con-
served with due regard for the pres
ent and future needs of the COM
munity.
service corporations, so that they Will
be able to obtain new capital necessary
for extension and proper equipment, is
the first essential for adequate service.
The attitude taken toward all public
utility companies must be of a con-
structive and not Il destructive nature.
Local public utilities are an industry
which should be fostered and developed.
'All burdens unrelated to the proper
and necessary service performed should
be removed. Therefore public service
corporations should be relieved of street
paving and salaries of crossing police
men.
Opposes Public Ownership.
I'VE are unable to discover any reason
! to justify the assertions or claims that
| better service or lower rates would fol-
low public or municipal ownership.
Therefore the position taken toward
public utilities problems should con-
template private ownership and opera :
| ton.
Regulation is recognized as neces-
f; sary and proper for private' ownership
and operation. but such regulations
| should contemplate changed conditions
in the community.
Whatever form regulation takes. it
i involves duties on the part of the pub
! lie as we'll as on the part of the COM
pany to protect the company. serving
the public. from unfair and unreason-
i I'VE favor an immediate merger o1
| the Potomac Electric Light and Power
| Company with the Washington Rail
way and Electric Company, and with.
| out fear and apprehension in the face
! of legal regulation of unlawful ad.
vances in electric light and power
rates.
! III the present rate for electric cur.
/ rent of 10 cents per kilowatt hour was
reasonable and fair with coal at SO pei
, ton and wages Droportionately low, we
fail to grasp the reasoning for re-
; duction for current with cCai at s.
| per ton. when service of thc highes,
order is demanded and SHOULD be
! given.
! Prompt Merger Legislation Urged.
! We favor prompt action by Con.
gress of specific and direct steps fol
, the merger of the Capital Traction
| Company with the merged Washing
ton Railway and Electric Compan!
and the Potomac Electro Light anG
| Power Company. by congressional
| charter to a new company of suffi
cient capital. but less than the pres.
! ent combined capital of the two exist
; ing companies. on terms which will be
| equitable to the stockholders of bott
companies. economical to the public
! generally and with advanced methods
|! to insure comforts.
| I'VE recommend and urge that all
public service corporations must by
| law in the interest of the public. con-
F. tinue to receive in the form of rates
| based upon a fair valuation of prop
| render adequate service to properly
maintain their property. strengthen
I their credit and give reasonable re-
| turn to security holders