Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-29

ing relief from financial burden we
are unable to bear unless uniform
fare were fixed that would not afford
the relief to which we are entitled"
Mr.. Hartman then said: IF your
former conference does not allow you
another?' and Mr.. Dunlop replied: Il
answered"
You did not" said Hartman.
I'VE have made all the answer We
are going to- Dunlop replied.
Mr.. Hamilton here interviewed, say
ing: THE commission if it passed any
such order would be stultifying itself"
Then you refuse to answer" Hart
man queried.
We answer in that way" Hamilton
said.
Il think the record will show the
Capital Traction Co. refused to an
swer," Mr.. Hartman said.
Il don't think it will show any such
thing" was Hamiltons rejoinder.
MIR. Dunlop then interjected: THE
commission has no right to ask us a
question about a situation with which
we are not confronted at this time"
He then announced that the COM
pany's opening statement was over and
Mr.. Bowen rose to speak for the Wash
lngton Railway g. Electric Co.
In explaining that Washington Rail-
way g. Electric, Co. proposed to show
that it was entitled to an Increased fare,
Mr.. Bowen several times referred to the
valuation of the company, ION the rec
ords of the commission" contendlng
that the company should have fair re-
turn upon this valuation.
You keep referring to the valuation
on the records of the commission" in
terjected MIR. Hartman, and / want to
ask you if 1t is not true that the only
records are the statements of valuation
filed by the companies themselves"
After brief interchange of questions
and answers, Mr.. Bowen agreed that Mr..
Hartman was correct insofar as the
present valuation of the street railway
companies is concerned. Mr.. Hartman
then asked on behalf of the commission
whether the Washington Railway &
Electric Co. would accept decision OF
the commission if it should be adverse
to a rate increase, or whether it would
apply for an increase on its own behalf.
Mr.. Bowen said he was not prepared to
answer that question at this time.
Appearing on behalf of the Federation
of Citizens Associations, William NICK.
Clayton entered on the record an OBJ
lection to the commissions order max
ing the Washington Railway g. Electric
Co. party TO the present rate case, re-
sulting from the Capital Traction Co.'S
application for increased fare. He said,
however. that he did not expect the
commission to change its position in
that matter.
If the Washington Railway e. Electric
Co. remains party to the case, Mr..
Clayton said he desired to move that
the Washington Rapid Transit Co. be
also included as party to the case.
Service Consideration Urged.
1.-THE service of the bus line is nat
urally a matter which you would want
to consider. in my opinion, in connec-
ton with the improvement of tranSpor-
tation service in Washington" said Mr..
Clayton.
George P Hoover, counsel for the Wash
ington Rapid Transit Co., said that he
was present at the hearing today chiefly
in the capacity of an observer and was
not prepared to state the position of
his company with reference to being
made party to the present hearing.
He asked time to consult the officials of
the Washington Rapid Transit Co. and
examine the legal aspects of the case
before commenting upon Mr.. Clayton's
motion.
Mr.. Clayton agreed to withhold his
motion until Mr. Hoover had an oppor-
tunity to consult the officers of the
Rapid Transit Co.
Hanna Is First TO Be Called.
John H. Hanna, president of the
Capital Traction Co., was the first wit
Tess to be formally called. He took the
stand armed with 10-page typewriter
statement.
First Mr.. Hanna sketched briefly the
history OF the Capital Traction Co.. |
going back to the Incorporation during |
he Civil War of the Washington g. |
jeo"~cvown Railway Cos. the first |
street car line to operate in the Dis
riot, running horse cars from George |
own to the Navy Yard and later on |
Seventh street and Fourteenth street.
Mr.. Hanna next told of the detailed |
which was made to de-
.ermine the value of the Capital Trac-
lion Co.'S property. He referred to the |
action of the District Court of Appeals
IN fixing the valuation of the COM
oanys property at $25,756,880 as Of
January /, 1925.
My purpose in going into the matter
in some detail is to refute the state
ment which has frequently been made
that the valuation as fixed by the court |
was not the result of scientific fnves-
tigation but more or less of an APP
said Mr. Hanna. II re-
peat that this is not a fair charge and
that the value of our property as fixed
by the courts represents a logical APP
plication of principles approved by the
court to valuation made by engineers
Of recognized ability using methods uni
versally approved"
Says Entitled to Raise Five Years.
The Capital Traction Co., Mr.. Hanna
has been entitled to an in |
creased rate of fare :for at least five |