Evening star., 1922-02-28
MAY TAKE CARFARE
CUT into COURT
w. N. Clayton Holds Each
Line Should Have Own Rates
to Meet Revenue Needs.

The decision of the Public Utilities
Commission reducing street car
tokens to 2-s cents may be taken
into court by a citizen or group of
citizens, William NICK. Clayton de-
clared today.
Mr. Clayton said he was considering
an appeal to the courts on the state
ment of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company that the new rate
will yield that company a return of
only Ia per cent on valuation.
Mr.. Clayton expressed the belief
that such a return Is inadequate for
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company.
IF such a rate will not enable :he
company to maintain its property ana
render satisfactory service. the peo-
way and Electric lines for transpor-
tation will suffer as well as the COM
pany." MIR. Clayton continued.
Different Rates Desired.
Such a petition. il presented to the
court. would be for the purpose of
having rates fixed for each company
according to their respective needs.
The Commission has adhered to the
= belief that the fare should be the
same on both roads.
Both street railway companies will
redeem outstanding tokens at five for
S5 cents until a late hour this even
ing. it was announced today.
The main Office OF the Washington
Railway and Electric Company. 18th
and C streets. and the headquarters
of the Capital Traction Company,
36th and NJ streets, will cash tokens
until S o'clock.
They will be redeemed at all barns
of the Washington Railway and Elec.
trio until midnight, and at Capital
Traction barns until 9 o'clock.
The same tokens will continue in
use after am. tomorrow morning.
when the new rate of six for 40 cents
becomes effective.
Wage Cut Problematical.
There were no definite indications
today that the wages Of motormen
and conductors would be cut as re-
suit of the reduction in car fare.
Il haven't word to say on the sub
Ject,' was the answer of President
Ham OF the Washington Railway and
Electric Company. when asked about
the wage question.
The Capital Traction Company has
an agreement with it's men. who are
unionized. under which the wage ques-
tion could be reopened in March by Ell
ther side giving notice. Neither the
company nor the union had given such
notice today, and the impression pre-
vailed that the wage agreement on
that system would not be disturbed at
this time.
Although expressing disappoint-
ment at the reduction ordered by the
commission, Mr.. Ham was non-com-
initial rs to whether he would seek
further relief from the commission.
He said he had not had sufficient time
to decide that question. He added:
Sees Loss In Revenue.
1.-THE reduction means a loss in
revenue to our company Of $216.0o0
annually, as compared with the pres
ent rate, and $4,000 annually as
compared with the rate In effect a
year ago.
THE new rate is estimated to yield
US only 8 1-3 per cent return upon
the value of our property as fixed
by the Public Utilities Commission,
using the low prices Of 1914. This is
certainly far below what any one
could consider reasonable return
upon capital invested in ahy enter
prise, and must necessarily interfere
with the ability OF the company to
go forward as 1t would like to in the
upbuilding of its service and facili-
ties,