Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-26
RETALIATION SEEN
FOR TRACTION LINES
Action Would ForestalI Fare
Increase From One to
Two Years. ..--

The Public Utilities Commission may
undertake to revaIue the property of
the Capital Traction Co. before con-
sidering its demand for higher fare,
which would have the effect of fore
stalling the increase for one or two
years.
This appeared as a possibility to-day
following an executive meeting OF the
commission yesterday afternoon, at
which the higher fare application and
its related problems were canvaSsed Tor
the second time While the commission
again failed to reach definite decision
on any of the questions, a tentative
outline Of the program considered IN
dicates serious thought Is being given
to q revaluation.
In fact, it was agreed that the Court
of Appeals decision in the Capital
Traction Co. valuation case OF 1923,
fixing the value at $26, 100000, does not
stop the commission from revaluing. in
view of the request for an increased
fare. This is possible, 1t was pointed
out, under the law passed by the last
Congress because the commission is au-
thorized to assess the company for the
cost of valuation.
The tentative program discussed by
the commission contemplatsS pre-
liminary public hearing at which the
company could present Its case and at
which objections to the proposed m
crease could be heard, following when
levaluation would be started, II this
procedure Is followed the company
could try to sue out an injunction to
prevent the commission from revalulng.
or a mandamus to require it to permit
the fare increase while the valuation
is in progress. but the commission, II
was said. felt that such course would
merely complicate and further delay
the company in obtaining a higher fare.
The commission will meet again to-
morrow afternoon to discuss for the
third time the company's application
and the allied problems. Indications
are that definite decision will be
reached on the program it proposes to
follow
Trade Board Studies Fare.
The Federal Bureau of Efficiency and
the Washington Board of Trade also
turned their attention to public utility
affairs today.
The former initiated its contemplated
investigation of the transit unification
plan. while the Board of Trade directed
its committee on public utilities to make
a thorough study of the Capital Trac-
ton Co. need for an increased fare.
The Efficiency Bureaus inquiry viii
be entirely separate and independent
of the study to be made of the merger
scheme by DR.. Milo r. Maltbie for the
Senate District committee. DR.. Maltbie.
New York traction valuation expert,
is expected to arrive in Washington
this week end prepare for the task Of
fixing a fair valuation on the transit
properties to so into the proposed con-
solidated company.
Efficiency Bureau Work.
Paul Rapp, an investigator for the
Efficiency Bureau. has been assigned
to the work by his agency. and he con-
ferred for some time today with Earl
v. Fisher. executive secretary OF the
Public Utilities Commission. gathering
all available data relating to the merger
proceedings before the commission. A
transcript of the merger hearings con-
Quoted by the commissioner. as well as
all other file records concerning the
merger, were turned over to Rapp.
The utilities committee of the Board
of Trade, which Is to study the higher
street car fare question, is headed by
Jesse G. Adkins.