The Washington herald., 1921-07-19
Ham ADMITS
RAILWAY USES
LlGHTINGFUND
Says '7-Cent Fare Hinges
! On le-Cent Rate for
Current.
EXPERTS QUESTION.
|. FAIRNESS OF PLAN
,W.R. g. E. Co. Also Seeks
|. Right to Control
Trust Fund. ~

tai Traction Company. would be
adopted by the Washington Rail
way and Electric Company. shouid
the Public Utilities Commission de-
side to grant the Potomac Electric
Power a 1o-cent per kilIowatt- hour
rate. the Commissioners were. told
at the AFTERNOON session of the rate
hearings I'M the District Building
yesterday. :
1t was developed also that the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company would. go till further un-
der the provisions of the Woods
bill now pending in Congress, and
reduce the fare to Z cents with four
tickets for IS cents. The Woods
bill provides for the repeal of the
I per cent gross tau the. payment
of crossing police, and part of the
repaving cost now borne. by the
street car companies, allowing them
to earn per cent on their fair
valuations and taxing the net earn
ings SO per cent.
= Pay More for Coal.
William Nick Clayton. represent
ing the Federation of Citizens AS
sociation. asked William F. Ham.
president of the Washington Rail
way and Electric Company and Po-
tomac Electric Power Company. ii
he considered it sound business to
advocate the increase of electric
light cost in order to remedy the
street. car situation, Mr. Ham re-
piled to the effect. that he .consid-
cred tit fair to allow the Washington
Railway and Electric Company to
participate In the earnings of the
Potomac Electric Power Company
to greater extent than was now
permitted. !. ,sSs.t ts
Justin morrill, .chsmberiin.. sttor
ney for the wholesale users OF
electric power. known as class
"E" consumers, questioned Ham IN
regard to the cost of coal, later in
Producing witnesses to prove that
coal can be, purchased cheaper than
the price.paid by the Potomac Elec-
tric Power Company which was
said to be ss.o3 a ton. -, :
Defends Special Rate.
chamberlin then requested TO
know In. what way the. sale. at cost.
of electricity. to the Washington
Railway. and Electric Company
helped the Potomac Electric Power
Company. Ham explained that It
helped production and balanced the
load by allowing the machinery 10
operate during the day when there
was very little consumption from
private users
would It not be fair to charge
the, washiigtop. Railway and Efec-
tric Company more Tor its currentT'
Ham was asked. a..
.T do not believe that the Po::
tomac Electric Power Company is
hurt by the present method" Ham
answered.
-As president Of the two com!
panies do you not think they shosild
pay for the. electricity they useT
DR.. Chamberlin inquired.
Has Bought Machinery. rs.
Ham then explained that the
Washington Railway and Electric
Comply had helped to develop the
Potomac Electric Power Company
and the existing system was be-
cause of this fact. ..f
rs it not true. Mr.. Ham" Cham
berlin asked. ':that the Potomac
Electric Power Company has pur..
chased certain machinery for the
Washington Railway and Electric
that has not been chareed to the
street car companyT"
Yes" Ham, admitted.
do yo6 think this is fair to the
users of electricity7" Chamberlin
asked. t,'sf Sc
'T,think it better to have it all ip
one eonfpiny," Ham replied
/ commfs1e ener. Kutz then asked
Ham wh< sr or not he thought it
would be ir TO buy street'cars and
charge 6em up to the Potomac
Electric Power Company. ~
!, 1T would be impossible to keep
street cars in the ssubstations," was
Hams reply;
|. Asks Over 0 Per. Cent.
Chamberlin then asked why it
'conipApy was entitled to earn more
than 6 per cent.
Because" Ham answered, aft is
ihPVosipic ~ oeSufe money a.
per cent" - s..
Chamberlin did not agree to this
!. DO you think that the commits
sion. in view of the fact that they
held the gas company to s per cent,
would be justified in granting you
7.54 per. cent?" Chamberlin asked
II do not think. they should allow
us less than eight" was Hams
answer.
"You do net think this is dis
criminatoryT.' Chafhberlin qdes,
toned.
Ham replied to the. .effect that he
did not feel free to question the
commissions ruling. -
Should the washington Railway
and Electric be eliminated, what
effect would this have on the price.
of electricity to the consumers?-
Chamberlin asked &,
The price would be- increased. !"
replied Ham. ss4 I,
-. Paid 10 Per Cent.
Chamberiin brought out the fact
that the power company had for
several years paid IL bers cent and
for other, years s per cent or more.
Tn the chart which you have sub,
mitted, Mr.. Ham. you have shown
cities where the rateiwas more than.
that of ,Washingtop.s.Wh did you
not name the cities where the rate
IN leua utrch nc Rnyti ry.ora 2nHaix. !