Evening star., 1921-07-17

cents, which the company admits i,s
would yield 6.32 per cent on ''s
valuation. ,,
He said the federation is not ask.
;nC for reduction on the lines Oh
the W. r. and E., but is contenaihs 3
that the two companies snouio oe
dealt with separately. ,
az the W. r. and E. feels that
uniform rate of fare is necessary on
hnth systems." said Mr. Clayton. '1et
that company come down to the rate
that the Capital Traction can operate
on
Later in his argument Mr.. Clayton
advocated intercompany transfers
without charge. President Ham OF
the w. r: and E. interrupted MT
Clayton with this query:
"How can you urge that these two
companies be dealt with separately
and in the same breath suggest that
they should exchange free transfers?,'
| Mr.. Clayton replied that he would
not regard the transfers as free. de-
claring that he feels the people are
entitled to them when they pay a fare
on either system.
Wage Question Arises.
Robert F. Jansen of the 1nterna- :
tional Association Of Machinists urged
the commission to reduce the rate Of
fare. declaring that it il time for the
corporations of the country to share
in the reductions which labor is being
compelled to take in the after-war
readjustment.
Attorney Bowen for the Washing
ton Railway and Electric. asked Mr..
Jansen If he was arguing for re-
duction in the pay OF street car en-
ployes.
MIR, Jansen replied that he was not.
whereupon Mr.. Bowen asked him how
he could suggest that the company
could make up the loss resulting from
a cut in fare.
Mrs. Mary Wright Johnson. repre-
senting the District Federation of
Women's Clubs. who followed Mr..
Jansen. suggested that il the Wash
ington Railway and Electric finds it
cannot earn fair return: the higher
officers of the company should accept
a reduction in salaries rather than
the platform men.
Mrs. Johnson said her organization
feels that the commission would ex-
ceed its authority if it allowed one
Of the companies a rate of fare that
by the commission as reasonable. If
the commission decides now that it
violated the law in giving the Capt.
tai Traction Company it's present rate
of fare. a reduction should be or
dered Immediately. and not on Sep
temO6r 1, when tne
expires, Mrs Johnson testified.
Evan H. Tucker. president Of the
Northeast Washington Citizens As
ISOLATION, said his organization does
not feel the commission violated the
law in keeping the rate OF fare uni
form on both systems. His organiza-
tion. he said. Is not in favor of a
zone system of fares. He said his
people do favor a merger of the Po-
tomac Electric Power and the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Com
pany as the first step toward a
merger of the two street railway
companies. His people. he continued:
fare if it can be done.
Charles T. Clayton of the Columbia
Heights Citizens Association stood
with the federation for reduction
in fare on the Capital Traction lines.
He also spoke in opposition to a
Power Company and the Washington
Railway and Electric
Brookland Against Zones.
Edward w. Turner. president Of the
Brookland Citizens Association. filed
a written brief opposing zone sys-
tenn of fares.
Former Representative James T..
Lloyd, speaking for the Chamber Of
Commerce. advocated the retention of
q uniform rate of fare on both sys-
TENS and declared the w. r. and f..
should be granted a rate that will
yield it a reasonable return upon the
fair value of it's property. If such
a rate is not allowed that company.
he said, the people who ride on w.
r. and f. cars will be paying less
than they should pay for the service
rendered.
George A. Ward declared he would
favor Comm 5ioner Oysters solution
Of increasing the electric light rate
and reducing car fares. provided that
would not yield more than a reason
able return to the W. r. and E. and
the P. E. P. Co. He. also advocated
a receivership for the w. r. and E.,
declaring the company should be
put on the auction block and start