Evening star., 1921-06-16

back to the original grant. He point
ed out that then the railway COM
panies would come pleading to Con-
gress. where now the people are plead
ing and Congress Is at the mercy of
the utilities.
Representative Kunz said the first
thing that the committee should do is
to report the Hammer resolution re-
pealing the public utilities act and
second. to recommend passage of the
Representative Woods Of Virginia
warned the subcommittee YOU can't
put any such proposition through the
present Congress No bill giving the
people a five-cent fare can be passed. !"
He agreed that the public utilities
street car properties as a whole, but
as he reads the act each corporation
should be treated individually. For
each kind Of service. light. power and
street car transportation. he said, the
consumers should pay fair price. He
admitted that the Public Utilities
Commission is doing a great inJas-
6tce to each patron of the Capital
Traction Company, by charging him
too much fare.
Woods Argues for His Bill.
Representative Woods said that the
duty Of the committee is to do the
best 1t can. and argued in favor of his
TAXATION from gross to net earnings
relieve tho street railways from GER
tain charges for traffic policemen and
paving and then levy an excess prof.
Afo tax on all earnings in excess of q
44tF return. He said that lis bill
would allow a 7-oent fare and pos
3bly four tickets for a quarter. He
suggested that If a new public util-
tiles commission should be organized
ono OF the District Commissioners
should serve upon it.
Representative Sproul Of Illinois
argued that the Capital Traction
Company did not request an increase
I'd to protect the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company.
The public has complained" he
0aid THE Capital Traction Company
should be forced to live up to its con-
tract II it can carry passengers for
s or cents 1t ought to be the busi-
hess Of the Public Utilities Commis-
sion to see that 1t does so.'
Mr.. Sproul could see no advantage
10 the people in forcing q merger.
Representative Hammer repeated
Heiticisms Of the Public Utilities Com
mission. He reviewed the history OF
tho Washington Railway and Electric
company and how profitable lines
had been brought together into one
mismanaged company. Then he argued
xh3t the Public Utilities Commission
Sshould not consider its peincipal bust.
Aess the fixing OF a rate to keep alive
Ahese poorly managed lines. The Pub.
aic Utilities Commission he said is not
Operating in an atmosphere that will
- advantageous to the people.
States Would near Part Of Cost.
Representative Hammer thought
NE only objection to municipal owner.
ship Of railroads in the District Is tina,
ato fAa ha 70
cent Of all costs. Representative Kel.
DER replied that his bill safeguard.
against any drain on the fedora
finances.
sin said that he believed all members
Of the committee are actuated by the
one motive to give the people OF
Washington some relief. The more
he has studied. he said. the more he
- convinced the only way to give the
to take over the railroads. This Il
m opportune time and place to dc
7 am in favor Of substituting the
passage Of the resolution introduced
BY Representative Hammer to abolish
thePublic Utilities Commission. Tc
give immediate relief would instruct
the commission to nx the fare on the
Capital Traction lines at the rate
Swn testimony"
Keller EAphasizes P1aA.
Representative Keller was invited
Also to make q statement. He en-
YAasissd that his plan for municipal
0WnsTship would not cost the fedora
kUvefnment one cent. and that II
sets up q system for retiring the
bonds ana for replacement, SO that
at the end Of forty years the street
Fajlvay should Be In as good physica.
Eonditlon - today. Mr.. Keller thought
shat the Hammer resolution shoulf
be passed to convince the street rail.
swAy eomDaniss Congress means to d
10 the people. He said that with thl