The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-06-29
The Significance Of a Straight
Ten-Cent Bus Fare

The testimony Public Utilities Commission showed
concluve that the buses Of the Washington Rapid Transit
Company were operating at financial loss.
No utilities could continue to do that It must
either abandon its service insist fares that would yield
it something like the reasonable returns promised under the
public utilities act and demanded by those who have invested
their money in it.
Or The face of all the facts submitted the commission could
done otherwise than grant the increase to tencen
straight fare.
Still there more than ordinary significance to this new
'hgh District bus fares and nobody predict just
what the outcome street and bus fares will be in the
future.
The street railways are not making the reasonable returns
which the law conempates they shall have but they hesitate
seek higher fares for higher fares quite often
duced revenues all depending upon the public attitude
Once the public accustomed tencen bus fare how
ever may make serious fight against tencent street
fare which Will necessarily be hardship thousands of
poor people who are hard pressed financially
Washington street railway companies face critical problems
Just what the future will bring to them they do not know
In many small cities Of the country street have ceased
to operate altogether and buses have taken their places not
with public satisfaction always but street companies
not do business at loss There must be return the
money invested. Our own companies under economical
management not losing money, but not making
much the law contempates they shall make.
Another significance to the bus and street railway situation
here that the bus been bought from the North
American Company by Harley T. Wilson, who has made
marked in many public utilities enterprises Mr. Viii
director in the North American Company which
large amount Of stock in the Washington Railway and Elec
trio Company.
The purchase Of the bus stock by Mr. Wilson undoubtedly
intended the beginning of really serious efforts to bring
merger of the transportation interests Washington
in the interest of the stockholders and of the public
Such merger, made honestly with economical operation
afterwapA should prevent increased fares here Mr.
Wilson factor in that merger there will be increase in
fares in the opinion of those who know him.
Mr.. Wilson is not stranger to Washington. He has
beautiful country home Virginia far from this city He
loves this city, all patriotic Americans do He believes in
its great future and he believes that transportation should
develop here the city develops There be har
mOuou cooperation between the transportation interests and
the proper growth Of Washington along other lines until there
merger which will permit unified operation and improved
transportation service
It may be that Mr. Wilson'S entrance into the transit field
of the District may prove Of value to the public nasmuch
his policies declared to be not those Of depong the pub
lie through speculative financial ventures that will enrich
stockholders only.
will be well for the citizens associations Of the District to
keer touch with the local transportation situation in the
next year with the purpose Of joining in any pro-
gram for beement of service and prevention of increased
fares unless absolutely necessary in fairness to the
companies The future of these companies and of satisfactory
public service dependent upon constructive policies which
the public aid in bringing about.