Evening star., 1928-11-18

interest or DIVIDENDS out of earnings.
For the IL months ended September
30 last this company showed a net op.
Grating deficit after depreciation anc
taxes Of $8,55862. and after interest
and other charges a net deficit of $685.
603.26. The commission believes that
1t is probable some improvement In
these figures will be made before the
end Of the year. but 1t does not appear
likely that the company will have q net
income.
Probably the most perplexing case
that has confronted the commission
originated also soon after It's orgariza-
ton, when the Anacostia Citizens AS
sociation filed petition for improved
car. service for Anacostia and for the
newer-type one-man cars like the ones
the Washington Railway 81 Electric Co.
had placed In operation on its Wiscon-
sin avenue line.
This petition resulted in the reopen
ing of a previous long controversy over
and provoked storm Of public criti-
cism against this type of car.
The commission considered the COM
plants seriously and ultimately came
to the conclusion that the old-type one
HkoAA CuAb tllGlI HI OpCkhtlOlA VII WIG fNAAa
costa line did not and could not give
satisfactory service, and ordered their
retirement from service or their con-
version to conform to the newer type
with automatic treadle exits and double
front doors to permit of Simultaneous
entrance and exit. In carrying out tho
order the Washington Railway & ElecA
tric Co. was given permission TO pur-
chase sufiicient cars of the new type
in operation on the Wisconsin avenue
line to give improved service in Ana
costa, but decreed that under no cir.
cunstances should the total number OF
one.mar cars in use in the District be
increased. :,
The commission has considered and
passed upon scores of other matters
involving changes In motor bus and
street car routes, and 1t is now engaged
in making new valuation Of the
Washington and Georgetown Gas Light
Companies. Incidentally this Is its
first valuation proceeding.
On the outcome of this valuation
case will hinge the future gas rates in
the District. The Washington COM
pany alone has filed claim to fair
value almost double the valuation al
lowed in 1916. The claim OF the
Georgetown company. which has not
yet been filed, Is expected to add ap-
proximately $2,o00,000 to the present
$50, 100000 figure.
Peoples Counsel Ralph B. F1eharty
whose office was created simultaneously
with the new commission, Is preparing
now for Vigorous fight to have the
valuation claim shaved down materi-
ally Whatever the commissions final
allowance might be, the valuation fig-
ure Is expected to be higher than the
1915 allowance, which will put the gal
companies in position to demand an
increase in rates.
A center trolley pole removal pro.
gram, which provides for the complete
the District In 10 years, and move
to equalize the revenue tax on motor
busses operated by the street Car com.
panies and independent bus concerns
are among the other achievements oi
the commission. Considerable progres.
Is now being made on the removal oi
the center trolley poles, the work being
confined at present to Georgia avenue
and the six mills per bus mile tax or
motor buSSes proposed by the commits
sion to committee of District officials
| revising the 27-year -old license tax laws
probably will be adopted. Under the ex-
isting tax laws, the street car companie!
pay a 4 per cent tax on the gross earn
ings of the bus operations. while the in
dependent bus concerns pay no revenue
tax at all, escaping with the 80 annua
fee--the so-called "jitney" license tax
John w. Childress, q native Of Ten.
nessee, who made success in the rea
estate business in Washington some
years ago and later acquired a pumY
and valve manufacturing plant In Alex
andria, Va, is chairman of the commits
sion and has held this position since
/ its organization. The vice chairman Il
| Col. Harrison Brand, jr.. a lawyer. whit
before being named member Of tn
commission had specialized in public
utility matters. The third member Of th'
commission is Col. william B. Ladue
Engineer Commissioner of the District.