The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-07-15
Making a Start for Higher
Car Fares

An auditor for the Public Utilities Commission recently
found after partial Investigation that the Washington Rapid
Transit Company closing money at its present rates OF
6 bus tokens for 30 cents.
The enor Of the auditor has been sypathetcay received
and deeply appreciated by the Transit Company which
that will shortly apply to the utiles commission
AZ to the wisdom Of an official of the Utilities Commission
searching in sorrowu manner financial weak places in the
gross and net public utility there remains much
to be said especially when the Utilities Commission is short
handed in its personnel and always unable to make proper
Investigations Of the claims of utilities corporaions Then
too It should be remembered that public utilities lose
any time in making financial losses known to the Com
G e ana N Sc seeking san 70 and
There are phases Of this bus situation that will strike
the public IS peculiar and which the bso. UO
yields which probably will not do to demands Tor higher
This bus line is now owned by the North American Com
pany Of New York. institution that makes it business
Of buying into utilities properties throughout the country
e then applies upodate methods Of boosting these properties
stocks and bonds may increase rapidly IN values
The typical methods make claims that viii result in
This North American Company owns large amount Of the
stock of the Washington Railway and Electric Company and
considerable amount Of the stock OF the Capital Traction
The company in position to merge these properties
IN the District and through economies hold down
reduce and bus fares here Things not just ripe for
the company 70 make merger, however.
No merger for big financial concern ever worth while
until the inside interests the stage cutting
melons These melons, it should be remembered, are
seldom cut for the benefit of minority stockholders the
public. They are always cut for the insiders
The North American Company is probably little interested
"a washington as city its people Il interested
making all the money it for its stockholders The
bigger the clean up the higher the company will rank among
the financial concerns Of New York.
Before the North American Company bought the Washing
CON Transit Company the latter making satisfactory
turns upon It's investment It past understanding that
soon after changing hands the bus line should begin losing
money That Is something for the Public Utilities Commits
sion to find out.
The real motive back Of the prospective application Tor
higher bus is that precedent may be for attempt
TO increase street fares the District Members the
Public Utilities Commission not asleep and viii doubtless
become and alert with developments that
the way.
will not escape attention that these things taking
place while Congress Is not in session. anything be
put over the putting must be done while Congress is not
working After It done may be too late to holIer
Congress exhibited deep concern in the street railway stu
alton here at the last session. may be well for the Utilities
Commission to mark the matters before
until Congress meets again and then give that body new
insight into the maneuvering that IS going on