Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-21
MOTz IS OUSTED
AS ENGINEER FOR
CAR FARE LETTER
Utilities Commission De-
mands Resignation, Which
Is Agreed To.
HOLDS CASE PREIUDGED
WITHOUT HEARING FACTS
Consider Action Amounts Almost
to Breach of Public Trust,
Says Hartman.

The Public Utilities Commission to-
day requested the resignation of Capt.
Robert G. Klotz, the commissions en-
gineer, because of letter he wrote to
Peoples Counsel Ralph B. Fleharty yes
terday giving his opinion that the Capt.
tai Traction Co.'S request for street car
fare increase should be granted. The
company asked a 10-cent cash fare and
that the token rate be three for IS cents
instead of four for 80 cents, as requested
In the company's petition.
Harleigh H. Hartman, vice chairman
of the commission. endeavored to call a
meeting of the commission yesterday as
soon as Capt. Klotz's letter had ap-
peared in an afternoon newspaper. He
could not obtain quorum, but Mr..
Hartmand and Engineer Commissioner
William 3. Ladue held meeting short
ly after o'clock today and decided on
their course of action. Announcement
OF the decision, however, was delayed
until Maj. Gen. Mason NJ Patrick, who
is out of town, could be reached on the
long distance telephone to confirm the
decision. Gen. Patrick is chairman Of
the commission and Mr.. Hartman Is
acting chairman in his absence.
KIotz Agrees to Resign.
Capt. Klotz was requested to resign
effective June 80 and to take leave of
absence beginning Immediately. He
agreed to do so.
Capt. Klotz's letter, especially by
virtue of the fact that he signed it as
engineer to this commission, was most
unfortunate" Mr.. Hartman said in ex-
planning the commissions action. "It
showed that Capt. Klotz had prejudged
the case to come before the commission
without hearing any of the facts to be
presented by the public In opposition
20 the company's petition or without
knowing Of any changes in the finan-
cial condition of the company since the
public hearing on its last application
Tor an increase in fare.
BY implication, Capt. Klotz's action
made 1t seem that the commission also
had prejudged the case. OF course.
The commission Is in no wise bound by
anything contained in Capt. Klotz's let
ter. The minds of the commission are
clear and open, as Capt Klotz's mind
should have been: The letter ended
Capt. Klotz's usefulness, certainly In
this case, and by analogy in other cases.
Expect Open-Minded Facts.
when we call on our engineer for
facts we expect to be given facts by
&1loAA WLAOoC At1llu Opc1s IldG WOulQ
not be possible under the circumstances
In the case of Capt. Klotz.
I'VE considered that his action
amounted almost to a breach of public
trust. Certainly there would seem to
be no reason for an engineer of this
commission, as such, expressing any
opinion as to the financial condition of
petitioner Of relief before this COM
mission.
"Our action must not be taken as In
any way abridging Capt. Klotz's right
to free speech. He may appear at the
public hearing as a witness and give
any testimony he may desire, and it
will be entertained. Our objection lies
against the position Of prejudicing the
case into which his letter has tended to
place the commission"
Mr.. Hartman said that he had asked
Capt. Klotz specifically if there had
been any communication between him
and Mr.. Fleharty on which to base the
letter and that Capt. Klotz had replied
that there had not except for a nimeo-
graph copy of a letter sent by MFR.
Ffeharty to civic associations asking for
their expression of opinion as to the
company'S petition for an increase in
fare.
Summary of Letter.
Capt. Klotz's letter, summarized, is
/ to the effect that the company needs
an increase of fare; that revaluation
might postpone, but could not forever
withhold this increase; that If revalu-
alton is undertaken, the proper fare to
be charged on the new value to be
found might be so high as to be pro-
hibitive, and that therefore the logical
procedure is to grant "a substantially
/ higher and logical rate of fare, ac-
companied by a complete overhaul of
the transfer situation and the establish
rnent of free, universal intercompany
transfers. with restrictions sufficiently
only to avoid abuse"
After reviewing the history of the
two local street car companies, Capt.
Klotz pointed out that in the World
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