Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-05
Token Use Would Increase,
HeberIe Says at Rate
Raise Hearing.
FINANCE QUESTIONS
FILL QUIET SESSION
Analyses of Company's Accounts
Are Submitted, Covering Shop
Maintenance and Expenses.

The hearing before the Public Utilities
Commission on the Capital Traction
Co.'S request for an increase In carfare
was devoted largely today to filing Of
exhibits showing various financial
aspects of the company's operations, in
comparison with the operations of other
companies in the United States and
also computations on the probable cash
result of the fare increase asked.
The morning session was by far the
quietest which has been held thus far.
The witness for the company, j. B.
Heberle, was asked but few questions.
Commissioner Harleigh H. Hartman's
little black book of questions remain
ed at his side. He did not pick it up.
Mr.. Heberle had entered about half
of the exhibits which he had brought
to the hearing.
HeberIe Resumes Stand.
Mr. Heberle resumed the witness
stand when the hearing began again
this morning. Before he began his tes-
timony Mr.. Dunlop announced that he
expected to offer in evidence more ex-
cerpts from the record of the rate case
last year to fill out certain excerpts
which were put in evidence last week
by Commissioner Hartman.
1t was explained by President Hanna
OF the Capital Traction Co. that he was
prepared to furnish the commission, at
any time it desired, with the detailed
analysis, or breakdown" of the vari-
Gus general expense and equipment ac-
counts which the company put in evi-
oence last week. 1t was Commissioner
Hartman's searching questions with re-
gard to items in these accounts which
gave rise to- the heated controversies
between the commission and repre-
sentatives of the company during the
first three days Of the hearing.
Before adjournment last week truce
was declared. when the company offered
to furnish, at later time, after con-
Sultlng its books, answers to any Ques-
tions which MIR. Hartman might sub
init. On his part, Mr.. Hartman agreed
to suspend this line of questioning at
the hearing for the present.
Token Estimates Produced.
1t was agreed today that the break
down" Of these accounts would be
called for later by the commission when
it desired them. Meantime. in response
to questions by counsel, Mr.. Heberle
produced another exhibit. submitted by
the company, showing its estimate of
tn. effect of the use of tokens ut va
rious rates of fare in Washington and
other cities.
The first part of this tabulation gave
the experience of the Capital Traction
Co. in the sale of tokens at various
periods since 1917.
In 1917, when the cash fare was
cents with six tickets or tokens for Is
cents the percentage Of tokens used
was S0.6. From November, 1919. to
April, 1920. with a cash fare of cents
AMI four tokens for 25 cents, the token
use was 88.5 per cent
From May, 1920. to August, 1921, with
cash fare of cents and four tokens
for 80 cents, the percentage of token use
was 81.6. From September, 1921, to
February. 1922, with a cash fare of
cents and f1ve tokens for IS cents, the
percentage OF token use was 81.3.
Percentage Now is Lower.
With a cash fare of cents and six
tokens for 40 cents, which is the pres
ent rate. the company found between
March, 1922, and December, 1922, that
the percentage of token users was 77.3.
Each year since that time the percent
age OF token users, with the cash fare
and the price of tokens remaining the
same. has declined steadily.
For these years the percentage of
token users was as follows: For 1928.
token users, 75.4 per cent; for 1851
token users, "a per cent: for 1925, token
users, 72.6 per cent; for 1926, token
users, 70:8 per cent: for 1927. token
users, 69.6 per cent and for 1928 token
users, 68.5 per cent.
In the second part of this exhibit
was given the experience of street car
companies in a number of other cities
where tickets or tokens are sold in ad-
dltion to the cash fare. For instance,
In Buffalo. with a 10-cent cash fare
and three tickets for 25 cents, the per-
centage of token users in 1928 was So
With the same rate for cash and token
fares the percentage of token users in
Cincinnati was S7.3. In Baltimore,
with a 10-cent cash fare and four
tokens for IS cents, during the first six
months of this year the percentage of
token users was 86.1. Similar informa-
ton was given with reference to Phila-
delphia, -1ansas City. Indianapolis, st.
Louis, Detroit, Chicago and other cities
which have varying rates of cash fare
and token charges.
Believes More Will Be Used.
MY study of our own experience and
that in other Cities said Mr.. Heberle,
"convinces me that when we estimate
10-cent cash fare and four tokens for
80 cents the number of token users In
Washington will be IS per cent We are
entirely reasonable"
Mr.. Heberle said that he believed it
would be easier for passengers to reach
in their pockets or pocketbooks for 80
cents to buy four tokens. under the pro-
posed rate, than it is for them to pay
out 40 cents for six tokens as at pres
ent.
st have tried it myself" added Mr..
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column 81
RAMnlTc STEAL PAY