Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-17
Vice Chairman of Commission
DeIveS Into Financial
History of Line.
BACHMAN CONSIDERS
AUTO REGISTRATION GAIN
Utilities Body Launches Into Task
of Preparing for Hearing
July %.

Preparations for the public hearing
July % on the Capital Traction Co. s
application for a higher fare were start
cd intensively today at the Public IT'LL
tiles Commission.
Harleigh H. Hartman, vice chairman
of the commission. denied himself to
visitors and plunged into an eXhaus-
tive study of the operating and finan-
cial history of the company since 1917
when car tickets were sold by the strip
at the rate of for IS cents
At the same time. ByarS Mex. Bach
man, the commissions chief accountant,
undertook a research of automobile
registration records in the District,
which is designed to show upon COM
pletion the effect of the increasing
use of the private automobile on the
operating income of the car companies
Piled high on Mr. Hartman's desk
are official copies of the Capital Trac-
ton Co.'S annual year books. dating
back to the period before the war.
These books graphically describe the
changes that have taken place in the
transportation situation in the District
and from them the new commissioner
expects to find much valuable informa-
ton for use in connection with the
Forthcoming rate hearing.
Growth of Car Use Pictured.
Mr. Bachman already has obtained
most of the data for his study from
the Office of Wade H. Coombs, super
intendent of licenses of the District,
and while a comparative analysis is as
yet uncompleted. it has presented him
with an impressive picture of the growth
of the use of the private automobile
For instance, he found that 7,941 more
automobiles we're registered in 1926
than in the preceding year, while the
increase on January Is this year was
9705 greater than the total registra-
ton for 1928
The purpose of Mr. Bachman's study,
It was said. is to show that higher
fare probably will not aid materially
the financial condition of the Capital
Traction Co, since the increasing use
of the private car for transportation
likely will continue, especially If fares
are raised. Attaches of the commits
sion point out that a Is per cent reduc-
ton in revenue passengers has followed
each of the fare increases since 1917
and there is reason to believe that
fare raise at this time likely would have
the same effect.
In fact, John II. Hanna, president of
the Traction Co., in statement which
accompanied the application for a fare
raise. explained that the private auto
mobile is responsible for the constant
reduction in business.
I'VE have practiced strict economy in
operation" he said I'VE have hoped
and believed that the inroads of the
private automobile would lessen. They
have not. Nor would the most optimis-
tic street railway man forecast when
they will, although all are convinced
that future city growth and develop
ment will continue to depend on high
grade public transportation by street
car and bus"
The procedure to be followed at the
hearing on the higher fare petition
has not been mapped out, but there
are indications that the commission
pany's legal right to earn fair re-
turn on its valuation as the only fac
tor in the case
The value OF the service rendered
by the company, an important ele-
nent taken into consideration by the
Interstate Commerce Commission in
rate making cases, it is understood. is
to be one of the principal factors
weighed by the utilities commission.
Retaliation Move Denied.
There also are rumors that the COM
mission may order revaluation of not
sonly the Capital Traction Co. but the
Washington Railway & Electric Co. as
we'll in order to check a possible fare
increase at this time, but it was learned
authoritatively that such move is not
now in contemplation. The commission,
however, it was said, may consider the
need of a revaluation of the traction
properties, but definite action would not
be taken until all evidence had been
submitted in the fare hearing.
A reyaluation, it was pointed cut,
would take two years or longer during
which car fares would remain I'M
4changed unless the companies resorted
4 to mandamus proceedings in the court
! 10 compel an increase pending compile
s ton of the inventory.