The Washington times., 1922-03-02

FARE RAT {.
LOOKED ON
AS RA|SE
Oyster Declares Necessity OF
Buying Six Tokens Will I'M
pose Hardships.

Advertised by the traction
lines and Public Utilities Com
mission as a reduction in car
fare, the decision of the COM
mission, effective yesterday will
have the effect of an increase in
fare.
Commissioner James F. Oyster
declared the reduction of one
third Of one cent on tokens
would not have the effect of a
reduction, but would for "sen-
timental reasons" prove as I'M
satisfactory to the average car
rider as an increase in the same
amount.
FavOrs 7.Cent Flat Rate.
IT contended that we should fix
the rate at cents straight. and
failing that at three tokens for 20
cents" Commissioner Oyster said
today.
"At the Accent rate, the psyche
logical effect will be that the car
riders win feel that he is paving
more. In fact, he may be paying
more in the long run. 1t viii! mean
that he cannot enjoy the lower
rate unless he invests forty cents at
one time for tokens. Forty cents is
q considerable sum for thousands of
Washington people.
Commissioner Rudolph asserts that
'three tokens for twenty cents
would be a nuisance, both for the
patron and for the conductor" He
believes the forty-cent rate Is salts
factory, and declares that most Of
those paying straight fares are visi-
tors to the city,"
Reduction Favored.
A strong feeling exists in Congress
that street railway fares in Washing
ton should be further reduced.
The Commissioners action in de-
creeing the new rate Of six tokens
for 40 cents is regarded as merely u
halfway and makeshift measure by
members OF the Senate District Com
mittee. II probably win have a di.
rect effect upon the traction politics
of Congress In the near future.
Senator King of Utah said the fare
reduction was utterly unsatisfactory
and made more imperative the need
of remedial action by Congress" He
added that he intended to press for
action upon his traction merger bill
by the Senate District Committee.
Senator Capper also said he did not
believe the fare reduction ordered by
the Public Utilities Commission was
large enough. He does not think the
local situation can be stabilized on
such q basis
Lampert Criticizes Fare.
There is no reason in the world
why the people OF the District should
for twenty cents" Congressman
Lampert, of the House District Com
mittee. said. today.
AS IL Is, the fare is entirely too
high, and 1t 10 outrageous TO force
the people to pay forty cents for six
tokens In order to take advantage of
the lower fare"
Similar sentiments were expressed
yesterday by members of the District
committee in the course Of an in
formal discussion Of the new carfare
at the committee meeting.
Forty cents Is large amount for
some people to pay" Congressman
Brown Of Tennessee said. 1.-THE peo-
. three tokens for twenty cents. There
IL no difference in the fare IL the
commissioners allow the people to
buy tokens in lesser quantity"
The order Of the commission was
vigorously condemned by members
Of the committee who criticized the
slight fare reduction.
at seems that the commission is
always increasing the quantity price
of tokens" Lampert declared. First
they want you to buy twenty-five
cents worth, next thirty. Next thir.
ty-five, and now they want forty
-