Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-14
CAR FARE INCREASE
PLEA APPROVED BY
CAPITAL DIRECTORS
Traction Company Officials
Leave Action Up to Exec
utive Committee.
MERGER PLAN HALTED
ONE PETITION FOR RAISE
Request Expected to Be Made
Again Soon, Probably Before
April II.

The board Of directors Of the Capital
Traction Co. today authorized its exec
utive committee to make an applica-
ton for increased car fare on the Capt.
tai Traction cars at any time 1t saw fit.
The company applied for an increase
last Summer while merger negotiations
were pending. After public hearings
on the case, the Public Utilities Com
mission last october dismissed the pc
tition for higher fares without preju-
dice to the company's right to renew it
after March 5, 1929, with the idea in
mind that If merger legislation were
enacted, it would be unnecessary to con-
slider the petition. Congress went
through its session, however, without
passing the legislation and it now is
in order for the company to renew its
petition.
President John H. Hanna of the
company. said after the meeting ended
that the executive committee did not
intend to do anything Immediately.
OF course" he added, I'VE still have
petition pending and do not intend
TO recede from 1t, not for moment"
Delegation Of Power Cited.
Although no hint could be obtained as
to when the petition is to be expected,
there Is strong probability that it will
be made before April II, which is the
day for the next meeting of the board
OF directors. If the intention had been
not to act before that day, there would
haVn In L..
board to have delegated it's power in the
matter to the executive committee.
The members of the committee. other
than President Hanna, are George E.
Hamilton, chairman Of the board of di-
rectors; G. Thomas Dunlop, the COM
panys counsel, and e. j. Stellwagen,
The Capitol Traction Co.'S original
petition for higher fares, based on the
ground that the company was earning
less than a fair rate of return on its
valuation of $4,000 900 as fixed by the
District Court of Appeals. asked fol
fares at cents fat rate, with no token
rate, or else 10 cents cash, tokens
for 80 cents. During the hearings the
company representatives said that they
would prefer the 10 cent fare with the
token rate If possible.
Status Of Commission Given.
II the application should be made
soon, 1t would find the Public Utilities
Commission with only two members, the
term of the third, Col. Harrison Brand,
jr., having expired March 4. when the
Senate failed to act on his nomination
for a new term by President Coolidge.
The remaining two members both
have said that If the application should
be made, it would be considered but
whether the case would be gone through
with until the third member is appoint
ed, is in doubt In case of q tie vote on
any major question there would be no
precedent to fall back upon to settle
the question. The law gives any one
commissioner power to hear the case
and makes a majority vote of two out
Of three binding.
During the hearing of the last ap-
plication, the Washington Railway &
Electric Co. was ordered by the COM
mission to be made party to the petit
ton. with the understanding that any
increase given to one company should
apply equally to both.