Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-29
CLAYTON MAY BALK
RFARE INCREASE.
Citizens Counsel Will Move
to Suspend Hearings
and Value Properties.

William Nick. Clayton. counsel for
the Federation of Citizens Association.
gave notice at the hearing today on the
increased car fare case that as soon as
the evidence offered by the companies
is completed he will move to suspend
the hearings and proceed to value all
the properties involved. The effect of
the granting of Mr.. Clayton's motion,
should the Public Utilities Commission
decide to do so when it is formally
made. would be to delay for many
months, and probably for years, any
change in the present car fare levels.
Mr.. Clayton said that he gave this
advance notice out Of courtesy to the
commission and to counsel for the conf
panies involved.
Hearings Recessed.
After brief testimony today from wit
nesses for the Capital Traction Co,
which is petitioning for the establish
ment of a 10-cent car fare, with the sale
of four tokens for 80 cents, the hearings
adjourned until 10 o'clock. September 5.
at which time the case Of the WASH
ington Rapid Transit Co. will be con-
tinued. The delay was granted for the
convenience of the company's lawyer,
George P. Hoover, who told the COM
mission yesterday that he wished TO
take a short vacation and would not be
in town again until that date. There
was no objection from any quarter to
the postponement.
HeberIe First witness.
JE. Heberle, chief statistician of the
Capital Traction Co. was the first wit
ness to take the stand this morning. He
read into the record number OF in
volved statistical explanations OF varl-
Gus figures appearing in the companys
accounts. concerning which questions
were asked last week by Commissioner
Hartman.
Some of these questions were intended
to show whether or not various ex-
penditures by the Capital Traction Co.
upon leased lines or lines operated in
Maryland had been included in the
company's claimed fair" value of $26,-
O8O,l44. Mr.. Heberle said that certain
costs for block signal installations, track
and feeder connections, ana overhead
line work. necessary in connection with
Capital Traction lines with those OF the
Washington Il Maryland Railroad Co,
which runs to Takoma Park. were in
cluded in the fair value, and contend
ed that they were proper additions to
the company's property in the District
of Columbia.
One of the questions related to costs
of connecting the Capital Traction line
with the Kensington line. Mr. Heberle
said an item of S7234. covering the cost
of track connections and signal system,
had not been included in the District
Of Columbia value, but had been allo-
Gated to property value in Maryland.
Certain assessments on property Of the
company had not been included in the
valuation figures. Mr.. Heberle explain
ed. because the property itself was not
included in the present valuation for
various reasons. Some Of the prop
erty referred to, he said, had been dis
posed of.
Taking up long list of items. rang
ing from a few dollars to several thou
sand dollars, Mr.. Heberle explained why
some had been included and some ex-
cluded from the company's valuation.
Continued on Page 2, Column 81