Evening star., 1936-06-30
RETURN {OF0RMER
Scent FARE ALSO.
ASKED BY CLAYTON
Clashes Over Plan to Raise
Rates EnIiven Mass
Meeting.
"PACKING"' OF SESSION
CHARGED BY ROBERTS
Citizens Association Official De.
plores Acquisition Of Local Lines
by Outside Corporation.

Public ownership of the street rail-
way company as an ultimate means OF
adequate transportation of Govern
ment workers was proposed last night
by William NICK. Clayton, chairman OF
the Public Utilities Committee of the
Federation of Citizens Associations, at
a mass meeting held at the District
Building.
His suggestion, along with another
for a return to the old scent cash
fare. was a high point in spirited
meeting, at which officials and stock
holders of the company appeared and
defended the Capital Transit Co. s
right to demand an increase in fares
and the right to install one-man cars.
William A. Roberts, peoples coun-
sci, who called the meeting, clashed
with E. D. Merrill, vice president ;'nd
general manager of the company, and
later with Edwin Jones, trial counsel
for the company. Clayton, who acted
as chairman, had frequently to de-
mand order when friends and foes of
the utility company attempted to tn
gage in heated argument.
Roberts wrote to Merrill today, ask
ing that he be allowed to attend a
meeting of the transit company S
Board of Directors, pointing out that
he Merrill, had had the opportuni-
nifty to be heard and to listen at a
meeting called by me of my Board Of
Directors.
Charges Meeting Packed"
After the meeting, which lasted Tor
more than three and quarter hours,
Roberts charged that it had been
packed" Merrill, meanwhile, had
invited the 300 or more persons pres
ent to a free ride on one Of the recon-
ditioned one-man cars which he had
parked outside the District Building
for a trial ride to the Fourteenth and
Water street loop, ito see what kind
of cars they are"
Resolutions had been prepared call
ing upon the Public Utilities Commis-
sion Ito assume greater activity in
the prosecutions Of public utilities and
particularly the transit company for
failure to give adequate service" but
because of the late hour at which 1t
adjourned. they were not presented
or acted upon.
Clayton had been scheduled to broad
cast his remarks at the opening Of
the meeting, but he arrived late and
only a part of his statement went on
the air.
He outlined the effect of the merger
of the old Capital Traction Co. with
the Washington Railway g. Electric
Co., and then protested the present
control, through the Washington Rail-
way & Electric Co., of the North Amer
lean Co.
Foreign" Control Hit.
I'VE deplore the acquisition of our
railway system by foreign corpora
ton, but in opposing it at first We got
little support from the city and the
press, except from the Federation Of
Citizens Associations.
When We supported the merger we
gave up great deal by giving the
new company an exclusive franchise
for all time. In order to give the
company any competition we will have
to present certificate of convenience
which We can't get. SO we must take
what they give.
The Government owes to it's work.
ers that they have transportation that
is good and adequate and in the proper
style. If the company can't give it,
let them say SO; and let us ask Congress
If it can undertake housing and
slum clearance-why not undertake
the operation of our utilities, and give
us the transportation system we need
and deserve?"
Earlier, Clayton, in opposing the
company's application to increased
fares by boosting the weekly pass to
$l.25 from 81; by selling three tokens
for quarter, instead of four for 80
cents, and by continuing the 10-cent
cash fares on some bus lines, that the
company return to straight scent
cash fare.
IF you are able now to buy 81
pass your fare costs 8 cents" he said.
eff you buy tokens you pay 71a cents,
or if you pay cash, your fare is 10 cents.
Such disporportion in fares is abso-
lutely unforgivable.
Favors Old Scent Fare.
why not try out the old scent
fare? The company operated for 80
years under that rate and made more
money than they are making now. Let
them try it for six months, do away
with the pass, and if it works, they
will thank us for suggesting it."
The first clash came when Arthur
Bristol, who described himself as
spokesman for the 1,500 to 1900 Dis
trict stockholders not represented
here" as favoring the proposed in
creased fares.
His argument was that "the COM
pany Is carrying too many passengers
at q loss" and is entitled to higher
revenue.
Roberts attempted to stop him, say
ing the meeting had been called for
expressions from the public which
would guide him as peoples counsel in
representing them before the Public
Utilities Commission.
Then you are against the stock
holders?" Bristol asked.
I'm pro-public," Roberts answered,
"and this is a one-sided meeting de-
signed for the public"
Shortly afterward, Merrill was
brought into the argument. He ex-
planned that the company now faces
q deficit which has already reached
$4,000 within four months. The
proposed new fare, he said, will
average IL cents per passenger,
whereas in last May the average was
81 cents. Roberts interposed that
the average cost of operation per