The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-27
NJ KEL | Ar
ASKS FOR
DRAS II C
INQUIRY
viii Question Right Of Com
mission to Raise Fares on
District Lines.

A sweeping investigation by
the Senate of the traction situa-
tion in Washington is in sight.
Senator Mcclellan introduced q
resolution providing for such an
inquiry today, but Senator Srnoot
objected to its immediate consid-
Grafton, and the matter was re-
ferred to the committee on audit
and control, of which Senator
Calder is chairman.
Favorable Report Expected.
1t is understood that the Commit.
tee on Audit and Control Is favor.
able to the investigation and that 1t
viii report it back favofabIy to the
Senate without delay.
It is possible that the resolution
may be adopted before adjournment
tonight.
Senator Ball will be chairman OF
the investigating committee, and
the other members win be Senator'S
Mcclellan, Couzens Of Michigan,
Keyes of New Hampshire and Sim.
mons of North Carolina.
The Mcclellan resolution provides
for the following:
An inquiry into all existing con-
tracts or charters between Congress
and the street railway companies
now using the streets OF Washing
ton.
Will Investigate Privilege.
Whether the railway companies
are actually occupying the streets
and enjoying all the privileges con-
veyed them by Congress in such
charters or contracts, or whether
they have given up any Of said
contract rights in return for being
by the Public Utilities Com
to raise tneir rates Of fare.
The committee is instructed to re-
port on the acts Of the Public IT'LL
ties Commission raising street rail-
way fares and whether there was
either specific or implied authority
given by the public utilities act TOR
raising such fares.
Whether the raising Of such fares
by the Public Utilities Commission
was violation of the contracts
entered into by the street railway
companies for the use of the Wash
ington streets.
Will Question Authority.
If it is found that the Public
Utilities Commission has not ex.
ceeded its authority to raise fares.
then whether the Public Utilities
Commission was justified in raising
such fares during the war and
whether the Public Utilities Com
is justified now in refusing
or failing to reduce such fares, now
that the war is over, and virtually
conditions have returned,
a. 80
cents or the sale of six tickets for
Is cents is a reasonable fare to be
charged for the service renderedsat
this time.
The committee IL instructed to re-
port on the property and equipment
of the companies, what part OF it
consists Of charter or contract rights
or privileges, the capital stock Of the
companies, when and how issued,
whether paid for In full or in part.
whether any stock dividends have
at any time been declared during the
past twenty years, what the earn.
iags Of said companies were during
a period extending over the past
twenty years, what amounts OF
bonds are outstanding, preferred
stock or other evidences Of indebted.
ness, the total number Of passengers
carried each year by each company
during the past twenty years, wages,
salaries, fees paid, materials bought.
and every other fact relating to said
bearing on their income
or expenses or earnings.
WIN Question Mergers.
The committee Is Instructed to re-
port upon the gross and net earn
lngA Of the railway company. the
operating expenses, under what CIR
bonds were issued,
whether they were sold at par, what
was done with the proceeds, etc.
Whether the consolidation OF any
with the two street rail-
way companies or the purchase OF
,ther companies by either of said
the actually price paid
therefore, whether any stock, pre-
'erred or common. was issued with
out the payment Of cash, etc.