Evening star., 1922-01-08
BUSY Time AHEAD
0ND.C. PROBLEMS
Auto Parking, Rent Board
and Utility Rates to Occupy
Commissioners.
FARE QUESTION UP AGAIN
Little Chance of Return to Five
Cents When Present Rule Ex-
pires March /.

The next six weeks will be busy
period for the board of District Com
missioners, judging from the schedule
of work mapped out for them.
Here are a few of the more i'm
portant questions they will be called
upon to take up during that time:
Adoption of new regulations for
the parking of automobiles in the
downtown section.
Preparation of report to Congress
on the bill to continue the rent COM
mission until 1924.
Fixing Of rates for telephone, gas
and street car service.
Auto Rules Up Soon.
The proposed parking rules drafted
by committee of citizens have been
studied by Commissioners oyster and
Rudolph and will be taken up at
board meeting as soon as Engineer
Commissioner Keller has had an op-
portunity to become familiar with
them. Much of Col. keller's time has
been taken up recently testifying be-
fore the. House committee handling
the District appropriation bill.
The Commissioners regard the ilfe
Of the rent commission as so i'm
portant an issue as to warrant the
holding of a public hearing in the
district building at lO.SO . clock vi
the morning of January IL.
OF the three rate cases pending the
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Company's case probably will be taken
up first. The company estimated
few days ago that 1t had earned ap-
proximately 5.S7 per cent on its valua-
ton during the last calendar year
The commission in the past has re-
gartied per cent as reasonable re-
turn. Existing telephone rates eX-
pire on February 2S.
Car Fare. Uncertain.
The street car fare question prob
ably will be taken up before gas
rates are considered. The eXiStlns
rate of fare expires March 1. whereas
the present gas rates continue until
the meter reading period on March ~.
1t Is too early to predict what the
action of the commission will be on
the fare question. The last order OF
the commission provided that on
March /, 1922, the fare would be re-
stored automatically to cents un-
less otherwise ordered In the mean
time.
II WAS said at the District building
yesterday that there is no ilkellnooo
of allowing the fare to go back to
that figure under present conditions
Officials of the street railway COM
panies are not expected TO make
known their stand on the future rate
of fare until they nave an estliidte "a
January operations.
w. II. & Z. Making Estimates.
The directors of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company Will
hold their annual meeting the latter
part of this month, at which the rare
question undoubtedly will be llVe
topic.
The present fare of five tokens Tor
as cents has been in effect since Sep
tember 1, but the w. r. and E, 1t was
stated yesterday, has not estimated
vet what the companys rate OF re-
turn has been during that time
In the past the utilities commission
has excluded the companys mary
land operations from consideration IN
rate cases, so that 1t Will De neces-
sary for the company to separate its
MARYLAND and District figures oe1ore
being able to determine what rate OF
fare will be requested at the hearing
next month.
Cost Of OIL q Factor.
AS in previous hearings. the cost OF
oil will be one of the foremost aues-
fions in considering what raLes
should be fixed for gas after March
IA. At present the company gets
81 10 per 1000 cubic feet for gas useo
in private homes, with sliding scare
downward for business estaoilsh-
ments that use large quantities.
The commission viii! not nave 10
worry about electric light rates I'M
mediately. since the present schedule
of that company will remain In erect
until March 81.