The Washington times., 1925-05-27
Precedents for Higher Car
Fares in Washington
By BILL PRICE.

The plan of the Capital Traction Company establish
parlor line from Chevy Chase to the Capitol with
fare of 25 cents will be opposed before the Utilities Commits
sion it is stated by W. Mex CLAYTON chairman Of the
public utilities committee Federation Of Citizens Asso
citations.
His opposition will be upon the ground that this fare when
coupled with other bus line events Of past months will
bad precedent for higher fares for the District
Mr.. Clayton is the best posted in the District of
Columbia on public utilities problems he every phase
Of matters the beginning Of the various companies
90 their present histories and policies Without cent Of pay
he has for years fought the battles OF the public and but for
his efforts the public would today be paying higher
al public utilities services he had put In the time
intelligence and industry fighting in behalf Of any Of
he local utilities corporations his compensation the years
he has would have been nothing short Of 100000
he would have been worth it. too.
the Washington public appreciative
uabe services rendered another matter In this question Of
the proposed de luxe bus ne Mr. Clayton has shrewd
vision of oncomng conditions that spell the undoubted attempt
the part of of the street companies not both
obtain higher fares from the travelling public
stu the matter Of the Chevy Chase psrlor cars must be
and must influence future decisions and actions by the Pub
lie Utilities Commission there people who want special
service in transportation they will have to pay for it Ex
rusivenes something The utilities which gives
sonehng different has to pay for the equipment fur
truth that the transportation field Is full Of curious
currents The best minds in the street and bus nes bu
ness do not know just what going to be the trend Of things
They feeling their and must be given the opportunity
20 experiment
auG0m0Due mas played naV0C with street car lines
Private ownership Of machines has taken from street
IN every city thousands Of patrons Public bus lines have cut
"a on the number OF car passengers hauled Here Washing
ton the two street companies realizing the drift have
gotten into the bus business themselves first starting
feeders for their lines and putting them to shut off
competing bus lines
Is sharp struggle with the public Of what is
going There has been immense falling off in pas
eengers hauled street in recent years. but there is
hope the part Of street railway that the Of
private automobiles and buses has about reached It's peak
and that the lines viii fare better the future The local
railway companies have wisely employed many economies
20 offset the losses in gross revenues.
This struggle to keep pace with changing conditions
giving street railway companies of Washington something to
think about and to do is giving the Public Utilities Com
demonstrated that street lines operate cheapy
passengers carried than bus lines For that the
street will probably continue to haul the bulk Of people
IN every city For that reason alo fares should be kept
a the lowest possible point The endeavor Of the street
companies should be TO meet bus competition with low
fares When the time that street fares must be
increased the companies must meet increasing bus line
competition and the Public Utilities Commission will be justi
fled in opening the field to all the competition it will bear