The Washington times., 1922-02-01

| show that n the present rate Of fare
II continued throughout the present
year. the company's income would be
$764.315.51 or q return on the COM
missions valuation Of ass per cent. .
During the past year the net
operating revenues Of the Washing.
ton Railway and Electric Company
amounted to $8,096.1SS.63, while
operating revenues amounted to w.
0l7,771.46. ~
He declared that the loss of
by the snow storm which visited
Washington would amount to
The old threat Of establishing a
zone System on It's lines. II the
present rates are not also con.
tinued on the lines of the Capital
Traction Company II contained in
the Washington. Railway and Elec.
trio Company's petition that the
rates now existing be also con-
tinued on the other company's
lines. s.
-. Petition Follows
The petition, as presented to the
Public Utilities Commission, says:
THAT aside from the constitu.
tional right of your petitioner to
be authorized to charge rates OF
fare which yield them a reasonable
return upon the fair value OF their
properties, the best interest OF the
public which they serve demand
that your petitioner pc permitted
| to charge rates which Will enable
them to keep their respective prop.
critics at all times In a condition OF
repair and maintenance, adequate
l 10
and secure upon reasonable terms
the necessary new capital for re-
financing and for making provision
for such necessary improvements
and extensions as may be In the
! interest Of the public.
Your petitioners, therefore, state
that any reduction In the present
rates of fare would affect disas'
trously the ability Of the petitioners
to render adequate and proper serV-
/, ice to the public, and II the present
rates are interfered with, either in
amount or uniformity, the result VIII
be to SO reduce the revenues appllca-
BILE by the petitioner and its affiliated
companies 20 return on investment as
to constitute q further confiscation
of it's and their properties. the only
remedy which would lie In the inSu'
tuition within the District OF Column
bia of the zone system, or some other
form of measured service.
Means Continuation Sought.
The foregoing language means that
the w. r. & e. Co. asks for con-
tinuation of present rates on the
Capital Traction lines also, and IN
Inmates that II the commission inns
II advisable to change the rates OF
the latter company, the zone system
should be adopted.
Officials Of the Capital Traction
Company were present at the open
ing of the hearing, but up to noon
had not testified as to what rate
of fare they desire.
At the opening Of the hearing
William Nick. Clayton asked Chair
man Keller II 1t would be permits
sable to ask the companies in this
rate case what steps, II any. have
been taken since the last hearing
toward a merger.
Colonel Keller replied that such
an inquiry would be permitted at
the close Of the hearing.
Mr.. Clayton also asked that the
Commission inquire into the salaries
Of officials Of the two companies
when 1t takes up the question OF
wages paid trainmen.
Plea for Reductions Read.
Colonel Keller agreed to that sug-
gestion.
A letter from Brightwood and
other citizens associations urging
that the present fares be reduced
and complaints against the service
now offered by the Washington
Railway and Electric Company
were read at the hearing.
A letter from c. E. johnson, as
sistant administrative officer Of the
Department of Agriculture, protest
ed against the unsanitary condi-
tions existing on the cars OF the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company caused by ventilators be-
ing closed with hundreds of people