Evening star., 1928-06-20
HIGHER BUS FARE
PLEA CONSIDERED
Ham Tells Commission BIad-
ensburg Line Has Operated
at Loss.

An appeal for relief in the form of
l0-cent cash fare, or three tickets
for p cents for the motor bus line
operating on BlaGensburg road. be-
tween Fifteenth and H streets north
east and Laurel. Md. was made to
the Public Utilities Commission today
by William F. Ham, president of the
Washington Railway g. Electric Co.
Mr.. Hams request was regarded as
particularly significant in public util-
ity circles in view of the recent de-
mand of the Capital Traction Co. for
an increased fare. The Washington
Railway & Electric Co. has not yet
applied for a higher fare on its rail
lines, but Mr. Ham laid particular en-
phaSis today OH the financial condi-
tion of his company which, he said,
is earning slightly in excess of 4
per cent return on its court valuation.
The Capital Traction Co.'S return last
year was 3.8.
Claims Loss Of SASH.
The existing rates of fare on the
Bladensburg bus line are the same
as those on the street ca lines of the
railway company. Free transfers are
issued between the buses and the
street cars at Fifteenth and II streets
northeast under fiVe-year agreement
between the commission and the COM
pany. which expired April IL.
MIR, Hams plea for higher bus fare
was made at a public hearing called
specifically by the commission to deter
mine whether the transfer arrangement
contained in the five-year agreement
should be disturbed He declared that
the bus line suffered a loss of SASH
in the five-year period, beginning April
IL, 1923. when busses we're substituted
for rail service on Bladensburg road.
The new schedule of rates proposed by
Mr.. Ham contemplates the issuance of
free transfers between the buses and
the cars on the payment of a l0-cent
cash fare. Ticket users would be re-
quired to pay cents additional for a
transfer
Mr.. Ham explained that this schedule
Is the same that prevails now on the
Rhode Island avenue and Burleith mo-
tor coach lines of his company
Questioned by Ralph v. Fleharty. peo-
pies counsel before the commission, as
TO the bus lines relation to the railway
company. Mr.. Ham said that IL was
owned by the Washington Interurban
Coach Co, a subsidiary. and should be
considered independently for rate-mak-
ing purposes. Engineer Commissioner
William B. Ladue, member of the
commission, pointed out that the rail-
way company ultimately bears the losses
or benefits from It's operation, as the
case may be.
Wants Rate Continued.
Irrespective of how the relationship
Is viewed Mr.. Ham insisted. the bus
riders have been getting service for less
than cost in the five-year period, and
there is no reason now why they
should get it for less than cost
Col, Harrison Brand, ir,. vice chair
man of the commission, asked Mr.. Ham
II he would be willing to extend the bus
line downtown. He said he had no OBJ
lection to making the extension. but
that 1t would cost the company be-
tween $50 and 500 additional day in
operating expenses.
William Nick. Clayton. chairman of
the public utilities committee of the
Federation of Citizens Associations.
urged the continuance of the existing
arrangement between the busSes and
cars at Fifteenth and H streets north
east for another year In view of the
pending transit merger negotiations.