The Washington times., 1925-08-20
Out-of-Place Talk of Higher
Car Fare for Washington
By BILL PRICE

By BILL PRICE
The published statements Of Major w Il B. ooVEL chief
public utilities assistant Colonel BELL, chairman Of the
Public Utilities Commission that the street railway companies
Of District could get an increase Of fare any time they
want It by going court and demanding rate that would
rive them fair return investment to be queer
and unusual way Of passing upon such questions
Furthermore such statements ont Of place to
probably embarrassing to Colonel Bell whose chief adj
wiser ON local utility problems Major Cove is But for Major
covels close official relations Bell the
statements might be accepted just the opinion Of
The Public Utilities Commission win be called upon to
pass upon the question Of higher car fares for
the street railway companies decide to make application
for increase on grounds that they not getting fair
return on their official valuations The duties Of the
mission are hold hearings determine the facts and truth
n al matters There will % no need Of hearings the
ofsstng Major COyes statements about higher fares Is
tokens increase Of cash fares from cents
10 might give the street railways the additional in
out the hint that the railways apprehenSe about
fare Increases feeling that the public might conclude to use
other Of transportation and thereby cut their income to
lower figures than at present
that the courts might order boost IN
sfo maze s unbc us the street rsy. unds
those conditions Besides is matter Of opinion what
the courts might do under the circumstances.
not customary for the to undertake to protect
public utilities unless the utilities corporations are getting such
10y Tss q s what the. sell u. public =. IS to
IL such situation in the District Of Columbia. TO the Op
po.s the statement Of Major ocye after visiting other
the cities visited and utilities in better shape shown
by the status Of their common stock
Following this given the fancy prices prevailing the
local exchange for the stocks Of al District public
going to show that Of them suffering
The unusual soIicitude for the street railways without any
corresponding feeling for the interests Of the public worth
the La Toilette is for the purpose Of doing
right thing between the public and the utilities companies
There n much doubt that in the matter Of fair returns
TIE nfnaxy rider considerably off than
tie railway companies
The street car corporations Of the District shown
themselves abundanty able to for their interests
in the past without having the way smooted for them to
demand and possibly obtain higher car fares.
The chances are that the railway companies going
be coneted to let well enough alone The courts 1t il
Public Utilities Oommson but corporations they
set IN valuations for more reasons than that Of higher fares
rates Higher valuations useful in financing in stock
transactions, in possible mergers, etc.
Our street fares about level with those IN Balt
more They are higher than those in Philadelphia where the
Cleveland Ohio In the latter city the municipality controls
all lines and guarantees fair returns to stockholders and
sondhodss on genuine valuation The fares there are much
Major COve has theory that cash fares increased
to 10 cents while tokens reduced the needed income
the railways would be paid by strangers in the city Strangers
would pay part Of it Of course but the burden would fall
long been known that the bulk Of cash fares paid by
people unable to much 40 cents at time for
tokens
Wash women servants and all classes with small incomes
from their labor the who in most Of the cash
washington family ana mighty
little cash her disposal is seldom able spare cents
time 10cent cash fare would be hardship upon many
Thousands Of people in Strengthened circumstances in
days Of oppressively high prices and rents.
ANY attempt to materially boost fares here il going
meet with the most vigorous opposition known
city Congress to be reckoned with in addition to public
sentiment Street railway managers fully understand the
adage about taking horse to water Higher fares may
fixed but unless they have absolute justice back Of them
public cannot be forced to ride and would doubtless find
ways Of showing its resentment
Nobody wants to do the unfair thing by railways
other public utilities We want to see them prosper part
Of the greater Washington building We also
the man IN the street have little prosperity We want to
dollar.