Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-05
INCREASE IN FARES
TO Be TAKEN UP BY
TRACT|ONCO. BOARD
Renewal of Application to
Be Considered at March
ID Meeting. -
INTEREST is REVIVED
BY INAcJI0N ON MERGER
Senate Failure to Confirm Brand
as Utility Commission Member
Complicates Situation.

The board of directors of the Capital
Traction Co. will consider at their
regular meeting March IA the question
of renewing their application to the
Public Utilities Commission for an in
crease of fare, President John H. Hanna
of the company said today. MIR. Hanna
would not predict what action would be
taken, but said that the matter would
be discussed at the meeting.
The company applied for the increase
of fare June IA, 1928, and several public
hearings were held. In the course OF
the hearings the commission ordered
the Washington Railway g. Electric 20.
made a party to the case. This actlon
was interpreted as meaning that any
increase given to the Capital traction
Co. would also be given to the RAILWAY
company, "a
1928. when the petition was dismissed
without prejudice to the Capital Irac-
ton Co. to renew its petition at any
time subsequent to March 5, 1917. Inc
rsason for the action was that legisla-
fion looking to a merger of the street
car companies was at that time penang
in Congress. and the commission wished
to await the outcome OF the merger
Bill before changing any fares
Public Interest Revived.
Congress has now adjourned without
action on the merger billfh thus the
matter of increasing the fares OF the
Canital traction Co., which claimed
that Il was not making reasonable
ret,,rn On its valuation under the pres
ant rates, becomes once more OF puDhc
A new complication in the situation
has arisen by reason OF the failure OIL
the Senate to confirm the recess ap-
rcintment of one of the members OF
the commission, Col. Harrison Brand,
ir. This failure automatically removed
him from office at midday YESTERDAY
Col. Brand left word at the once tnae
he would be in later in the day 10 turn
over his key and get a few personal Ell
fects.
should the company decide to renew
Us application for an increase OF fares,
any one Commissioner could hear the
case, and the present two members,
John W. Childress and Col. w. b.
Ladue. being a majority, could decide II
II they both voted the same way Com
plications would arise, however, If they
took opposite stands.
Would Have to Consider 1t.
Mr.. Childress and Col. Ladue both
said today that they had not given this
aspect of the case much consideration,
but both agreed that if the company
should renew its application 1t would
have to be considered whether the third
member of the commission had been
appointed or not
"I am not staller." Mr.. Childress
said. II am here to do business until
my term expires July !. OF course, II
the application should come in and We
had word that an appointment would be
made in a week or 10 days, We would
wait for the appointment. But am
perfectly willing to go ahead with the
case with only two members. That is
what we are here for. In a matter OF
this importance, however, would lar
rather have three members sit"
One possibility in the case is that the
application may not be made until after
the expiration of the extra session OF
Congress to be called by the President
next month. The merger agreement ex-
pires June 80, 1929, and accordingly,
should Congress decide to act upon !.
at the special session, there would stiii
be time.