The Washington times., 1924-01-22
The Senate Fight for Lower Car
Fares in the District
Congress Has Long Postponed the Relief to Which the
People of Washington Are Justly Entitled
By BILL PRICE.


The determined attitude of Senator Mcclellan is encourag
ing He knows that there ehrg wrong in the District
when street riders compelled to pay CENTS fare
Everybody else knows that there is something radically
wrong Whether Scent fare could be brought about must
be determined We at least know that of the largest
cities in the country operate their street
fully less than cents New York sticks to cents Cleve
land Ohio varies from to cents Philadelphia under most
competent management, is far below cents
There too many brilliant minds in Congress- many
able lawyers there who what legally admit
that the vexaous street problem in the District cannot
be solved bring relief If Scent fare would be
Confscatoryand the railway companies would carry any
proposition of that sort to the coura lower fare than
cents be forced by Congress and would be upheld the
courts
Those Senators who willing their time to
gain just treatment for the people of the District will learn
they do not already know it, that neither of the street rail
way companies of Washington want merger The Capital
Traction Company will fight long and hard keep from be-
ing snatched away from the financial feed bag has
had its mouth in In the last few years it has into
possession Of many millions of dollars Of public money that
it not entitled to- owing to the negotiable situation The
Public Utilities Commission rather than order separate fares
each of the competing companies maintained uniform
fares for both companies This has been for the purpose of
permitting the Washington Railway and Electric Company
to sufficient return continue decent service and
dividends honest obligations bonds stocks The car
fares however have been high that the Capital Traction
has pocketed unnecessary millions of money.
The Washington Railway and Electric Company the
Potomac Electric Power Company which has been fattening
as no other public utility corporation in the country The
Public Utilities Commission has purposely allowed higher
electric light rates than this company should have had that
The large net earnings from it might go to the W. e.
and aid that company to exist the fares charged
But the fact stands out that in order to strengthen
street railway company and keep it its feet the Public
Utilities Commission has maintained uniform fares that
excessive which Melted the Capital Traction
Company financial feast.
Many efforts have been Congress to adjust this
situation forced merger two railway companies
the electric light company would unquesionably result
much lower fares and lower electric light Above ALL
it would result in improved service and the opportunity
the public to ride in that not ammed than
sardine Under consolidated ownership there could be
economical reroutng the Operation of where
they needed and the reduction of overhead expenses
at present extremely heavy
There be for Senate and House committee
in charge of District legislation merely down
scent fare proposition and be content to let matters
rest at that. They know well that the situation here
should not be allowed exist any longer number of
propositions have been submitted them that would par
tally solve the matter least lead later legislation
that will solve it. Somebody should take the street railway
bulls by the horns and give them good shaking up is
to be expected that every solution offered Congress will
with objection from the local financial interests that
juggling things for their respective benefits They are not
going to agree to anything The w. r. & E. hopes that
"a few years will be in position dictate merger
the Capital Traction The latter doesn't let
But aren't the people Washington entitled to some con-
Mderation? Congress constituted protect financial
interests only? Ought not the plain people have ook
i'm? The civic organizations of Washington have
mous in appealing to Congress for settlement of the ir
tang street railway problems They have submitted many
suggestions of them good, all of them enlightenng
It ought to be plainly evident to anybody that a merger
of the street railway and electric light companies will result
in saving money and in better service has been demon
ratd too many times in other Cities where the voters
people of Washington human beings they do not
vote They know right from wrong and sensitive to the
failure of their legislative bodyCongress- work out
nequities and injustces that fragrant
Another outcome of forced merger sustained in the
courts would be the elimination from the court docets of
the District of eight ten valuation and public utility
fights that have been carried there by public utility
panies to prevent decisions OF the Public Utilities Commission
from becoming effective and put the local corporations
position to hold on to the good things they have.
If there cannot be legally forced merger Congress
know the knox