Evening star., 1922-03-16
Suggested to Utilities Com
mission as Substitute of
3 for 20 Plan.
100000 ANNUAL LOSS
SEEN IN TICKET CHANGE
Company Points Out Reasons for
Objection in Answer to Citi-
zens' Associations Plea.

Establishment of straight I-ccnt
fare instead of changing the token
rate to three for 20 cents or cents
cash is suggested by the Washington
Railway and Electric Company in
letter to the Public Utilities Commits
sion today.
The letter was in answer to one
from the commission asking for an
expression from the company on the
plea of the Federation of Citizens
Associations that tokens be sold three
for 20 cents instead of six for 40
cents
In it's reply the company declares
that to sell tokens at three for ~
cents in lieu of six for 40 cents would
reduce the company's revenue TINS
year by at least 100000.
The commission will probably meet
of whether the present token rate
will be changed.
Mr.. Hams Letter.
Commissioner Oyster, it is known,
advocated the straight seven-cent
fare before the commission decided
upon cents cash or six tokens for
40 cents. William F. Hams letter to
the commission today reads, in part.
as follows:
I'VE are in receipt of your letter Of
the 9th instant. inclosing copy of Pc
ton from the Federation of Citizens
Associations requesting that the COM
the sale of three tokens for 20 cents.
and stating that the commission
wishes our views on this suggestion.
with the hope that we will be able to
consider It favorably.
Much as we would like to meet
the views OF the petitioner. we regret
that we are forced to object to the
suggested modification of the COM
missions order for two reasons:
Reasons for Objection.
Il. The sale of three tokens for
20 cents Is Questionable from an ope-
rating standpoint. The primary object
of a reduced rate for tickets or tok-
ems in quantity is to sacilitate the
hanS.ing of traffic. Il eacn sale of
tokens is to be 20 cents worth in
stead of 40 cents worth, the duties
of the conductor In the sale of tokens
will be substantially doubled, and
We believe that congestion in the
boarding Of cars and delays incident
thereto will be measurably increased.
80 In the order of the commission
Gfove referred to it is admitted that
the rate of street car fare therein
prescribed will yield this company an
inadequate and insufficient return. We
estimate that the modification of the
commissioners order. as suggested
by the petitioner, will reduce our
revenues from $4,000 to 100000 be-
low those now received.
According to the commissions find
ings this company is performing serv-
ice at the present rate Of fare for
approximately $643,000 per annum
below cost. including in cost only a
reasonable return upon the value of
the property fixed by the commits
sion itself. using the low prices of
1914. 1t is. therefore. apparent that
We cannot acquiesce in suggestion
the effect of which is to further in
crease this loss by from $4,000 to
100000 per annum, especially as no
most recent reduction in rate of fare.
but. on the contrary, it would now
appear that our estimate of oae per
cent in loss of traffic from February
15 to the end of the year is consid
erably less than the actual loss will
be.
1--WE believe the commission thor
oughIy appreciates the great diff
Guilty we have with insufficient rates
in properly maintaining our proper
ty. operating the high class of serv-
ice demanded by the public and
providing necessary improvements
and extensions.
Many Use Tokens.
Our experience during the first ten
days of March, during which the pres
ent rate of fare has been in effect.
does not indicate that there has been
any lessened. proportionate use of
tokens sold at the rate of six for 40
cents than at the former rate of five
for IS cents. but that, on the con-
trary, there has been slight in
crease in the percentage Of tickets to
total fares.
IF, however, the public and COM
mission believe that an appreciab1e
burden Is now placed upon any of our
patrons by requiring the purchase of
tokens in accordance with the terms
of the commissions order, we re-
spectfully suggest that a fairer solu-
tion of the matter would be the es-
tablishment Of a straight seven-cent
fare. This, we submit, is a lower
rate Of fare than could be charged
under existing conditions by merged
street railway company If such
merged company were to be given q
reasonable return upon the fair value
of its property as fixed by the COM
mission; and, furthermore. as stated
hv tho commission, compares very
% Sovorah1v with the rates of fare in