The Washington times., 1922-10-01
WILL
PRESSFOR GUT
IN CAR FARES
Federation Believes Reductions
First Step in Program Look
ing to Eventual Merger.

The Federation OF Citizens Associa.
tions is determined to secure a re.
duction in street care fare for the
citizens Of the District of Columbia
Through it's Public Utilities Commit.
tee it has already presented a peti
tion to the Public Utilities Commits.
sion and a public hearing is to be
held October 16.
THE Public Utilities Committee is
to have a showdown from the Capi.
tai Traction Company in order that
1t may be determined just what re.
duction Of fare is justified" said
Charles s. Baker. president OF the
federation yesterday. 1T is impos.
sible to state what the reduction
should be until II is determined what
revenue that traction company
makes"
The Public Utilities Committee. it
is declared, believes that reduction
Of fare will be q step toward secur.
ing a merger Of the two lines.
The federation has been in favor
Of a merger for a long time, and
a merger should be brought about
IL possible" said Mr.. Baker. How.
ever, a great many considerations
must be taken into account, suCh
as property rights of the stockhOld-
ers, and rights Of the public that
have granted the franchises. There
is no desire on the part OF any
member Of the federation to do an
injustice to anybody"
Want Justice Done.
Both the Connecticut Avenue
Citizens Association and the Chevy
Chase Citizens Association want n
reduction in fares, provided the
traction company is earning a suf-
ficient sum to warrant 1t. I'VE do
not want to be unjust or unreason-
able, we want to play the game
fair" said Fred s. Lincoln, presi.
dent of the Chevy Chase Associa-
ton, but we want a cheaper rate
II IL is justified."y
The Federation Of Citizens Associa-
ton objects to the action Of the
Budget Bureau in reducing the
budget OF $50, 800, 900 asked by the
District Commissioners, to $24, $780,
900.
"The federation feels that the
District has certain needs and re-
quirements that cannot be placed In
the same category as national re-
quirements," Mr.. Baker explained.
And so we sent representative OF
the federation to request the Direc:
tor of the Budget not to treat District
needs in the same way that the Ma
tional needs are treated. The Dis
triCt Is in need of new schools, new
streets and repairs to old ones. a
better lighting system, water and
sewerage system-all of them strictly
local needs"
President Lincoln. of the Chevy
Chase Citizens Association, believes
that instead OF having a few thou.
sand dollars for repair of streets.
hundreds OF thousands of dollars and
even, perhaps, millions are needed.
II am glad the Budget Bureau
recognizes some of our needs and Ia
going after them. Congress ought to
realize them. too" he said.
Streets Need Repairs.
But Congress is always expert
menting in Washington. In the
early days II experimental with our
streets, with the result that at one
time we had the finest streets in the
United States: Then Congress be.
came interested in the streets at
home Now, our streets are not get
ting any attention, let alone keeping
pace with the growth of the city.
Instead OF having the finest streets
we have worse streets than those in
the smallest towns"
The Chevy Chase Citizens Associa.
ton wants a new paving and curb
on the west side OF Connecticut ave-
nue. The street II in bad condition
and there il no curb.