The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-30
The Answer Of Washington to
That Common Stock Dividend
Ioc1 P,h,;c s,n;non Deenl, Aroused over W. r. and E.
Bv BILL PRICE
z. r. and E.
Local Public Opinion Deeply Aroused Over W.. R.
Financial Tactics.


The answer Washington people to that declaration of
dividend common stock of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company just what person might
have expectedthe arousng and crystaliNng OF public
opinion realization Of what the people of this city
look for if they fail protect their interests and stand
up manfully for themselves
The of the dividend which $S25O0O
per year what has been proclaimed to be much water
has been answered by rush of civic organizations and
Washington individuals to subscribe to the Times and Herald
fund Of $4,000 to make sure Conrad Syme continued
special counsel for the Public Utilities Commission in valua
ion and in the courts syme the who
has the Of the local public utilities that have been
trying to make the Washington public exorbltant rates Tor
rides and electricity that speculative nanciers in and out
Of this city may revel in stock boosting and dividends
When the inside interests managed to get their friends in
the House kill that $4,000 appropriation for sme services
they thought they had things sewed just right But they
failed the fact that there newspapers in
Washington absolutely free from ENHANCEMENT with interests
which them telling the truth and fighting the battles
There is every indication that the syme fund will
subscribed it should be- as warning big that
while they may secretly work their pull in Congress defeat
the public will they must reckon with an aroused public
sentiment, led by newspapers that are not hog tied
News that several meetings contemplated
push the fund along Citizens who belong to the Rhode Island
Avenue Citizens Association which failed subscribe the
fund.- that they contemplate meeting put
themselves record
Senator McKELLAR has made it known that there are
going TO be hot times in Congress at the session
the inside history of certain local public utilities He has
stated that appropriation special may
psctsd the District appropriation bill there be
"a District bill And the large number of Senators who
do not believe that washington people are getting square
deal Set themselves to stir M this matter YOU can bet your
last dollar that the next District bill will provide for special
again TO put up their own money TO for their
interests.
When the bright lights are turned on the inside workings Of
corporation influences in Congress the who be-
fended local corporations against the public will to
cover.
So worry sye fund being oversubscrbed
AL the money subscribed be well used by the Public
Utilities Commission which ought now to comprehend that
Company and the Washington Railway and Electric Company
been imposed upon BY the pleas of poverty put before it
It has accepted certain figures and of these companies
certain theories OF depreciation by Co officials and
been too liberal in the rates it has allowed the power
pany to charge Washington people for electricity in the last
The Commission must be remembered has for years been
denied sufficient money employ experts to anaze and
dsect corporation figures of income and expense The
influences Congress that thought they put queus
should have had bring experts here to aid its poorly paid
the most complete light on inside operations i Senators
OF the public will investigate this phase of things they will
learn mighty interesting facts
the duty of the Public Utilities Commission to insist
emphatcay that the next Congress shall provide it with
all the funds it needs to make effective its findings
Washington people it true voteess but they
intelligent discriminating courageous uphong principles
They learned that in putting up their own money in this
PEP Co battle in the courts they are doing far more than
seeking to get back 100000 of money they never
cp laid down by the Public Utilities Commission that public
utilities shall not collect money from the public except
payment OF just returns upon fair valuaton-N0T UPON
WATER.
This PEP Co. is three that were
in an effort to have water declared solid
value and the public returns it. Special counsel will
be needed in all these cases for years to
Washington people square enough willing to nav
reasonable returns to all local utilities for ghul dividends
and for the upbudng Of physical properties
possible service be had They willing their
money shall to pay dividends what Public Utilities
Commission and the Supreme Court of the District decided was
water especially at time when the money should be snent
the public should be the first principle with all utilities
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