Evening star., 1915-01-29
RAILWAY FINANCES
|. PR0BED AT HEARING
Relations Between B. & o.
and Washington Terminal
Company Aired.
COMMUTERS FIGHTING
INCREASED RATES
Contentious Will Be Laid Before
Interstate Commerce Commits
sion This Afternoon.

the Washington Terminal Company
which operates the Union station, were
probed from every angle this morning
by attorneys for the commuters in the
case Of the Metropolitan Branch Com
| muters' Association against the Balti-
| more and Ohio railroad in an attempt
to prevent the proposed increased COM
mutation rates from going into effect
The hearing is being conducted by the
| interstate commerce commission.
Counsel made an effort to show that
the United States government had
given the railroad $1,500.000 for the
construction of the terminal and that
the road was charging interest on this
! sum and adding it to the cost Of the
station, whereas the government made
it present of the amount. John J.
Ekine, general accountant for the Bal
tfmore and Ohio and former accountant
for the terminal company, who was
| under cross ss-examination, declared that
the money was given by the govern
ment to the railroad, not as present
but in consideration of certain property
decided to the District of Columbia and
for promises to eliminate grade cross
ings. He sought to point out that the
interest charge was just one to make.
Terminal Company Charges.
Efforts to get information as to how
the terminal company figured up Its
charge of $2.4S for each time car goes
in and out Of the Union station failed.
1t developed that each piece of equip
ment, whether hauled long distance
or short distance, regardless of its
earnings, had to pay the same charge
for use Of the terminal. Much stress
was laid on this point by the COM
muters, on the ground that the same
charge should not be made for the more
frequent commuters trains than ror
the long-distance trains.
The railroad rested its case this
morning, SO far as the direct examina-
tion was concerned, but several rail-
road witnesses were recalled for cross
examina ton. At the time the luncheon
recess was taken. 0. P. McCarty, pas
senger traffic manager, was on the
this afternoon. The commuters side
Of the case will be reached this after
noon, and attorneys hope to conclude
the whole case before adjournment to-
day.
Attorney as Witness.
Attorney became witness when the So
called commuters hearing was resumed
this morning at the New Willard Hotel
before Examiner Woodward. Commits
sioner Daniels, who has been hearing the
evidence, was in attendance at general
conference of the commission.
Jackson H. Ralston, attorney for the
Suburban Citizens Association OF Prince
Georges county, Md, offered a table as
an exhibit, which purported to show that
at Contee, on the Washington Baltimore
branch, where the traffic amounted to
little or nothing. but the rates were in
creased 4S per cent. while at Hyatts-
increase amounted to 81 per cent, thus
seeking to show that the volume OF traffic
did not control when the rate increases
were considered by the road.
Counsel for the railroad objected to
It's admission unless 1t was produced
by the witness. Mr.. Ralston then took
the stand and assumed the roll Of wit
ness. After presenting the table. he
declared that census reports showed
an error in the Hyattsville population
because of a misunderstanding Of the
corporation boundaries. He declared
the volume of traffic at that point was
exceedingly heavier than had been
estimated.
Mr.. Ralston undertook to show that
there had been a heavy growth Of the
population at stations on the Wash
branch for the last
that the steam road had been facing
electric railway competition since 1893,
when the Maryland electric line
started.
Based on Voters.
Questioned by Attorney W. H. Park
er. for the railroad. as to the basis on
which he estimated the population Of
Hyattsville. Mr.. Ralstcn replied that
it was based on the steady growth and
the number of voters registered.
John ] Ekine, general accountant of
the Baltimore and Ohio. and formerly
accountant for the Washington termi-
nal. resumed the stand. anu tn c. oss-
examination was taken up where it
was broken off last night. AS on yes
terday. all efforts to get statistics as
to cost of specific train service failed.
Mr.. Ekine declaring many times that
! he could not answer the questions, He
declared he came as witness to- tes-
tify only as to the terminal charges.
the metropolitan branch commuters de-
veAoped from Mr.. Ekine that certain of
the metropolitan branch trains were
profitable.
J. K. Shilling, special accountant for
the Baltimore and Ohio. was recalled
Tor further cross-examination thia
! morning. as to certain statistics which
he filed on the first day of the hea rinr
McCarty on Stand.
o. P. McCarty, passenger traffic man.
ager for the Baltimore and Ohio, also
, was recalled this morning for Cross
examination.
Does 1t cost you more to transport
100 people than it does 1872" questioned
Attorney Curley.
"I do not know that it would" re-
piled the witness.
Did the company take into consider.
alton the probability of loss of certain
percentage of its patrons. and thus
keep down its revenue?"
I'VE did not anticipate the loss of
many patrons"
"Dtd you consider that the increa.e
was abnormal" pressed Mr.. Gurley-
"No. we did consider the abnormallv
low rate which commuters were nav.
| ing, and 80 thought that they should
| pay a reasonable rate.
"Then you were doing business at a
considerable expense or loss?"
I'VE were not getting adequate re-
turns"
| Yes, sir, l think we were"
| DO you know what percentage?"
mo, sir.
Reasonable Rate" McCarty Saws
Developing the point that special
trains we're put on to handle commuta-
ton traffic in other cities. while So
| oouad tbro, oh trains handled fba Sor,s,