Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-01
TRACTION COUNSEL
+. FIGHTS QUESTIONS
Commission and Attorneys
WrangIe Over Hartman's
Detailed Queries.
Continued From First Page.)

Continued From First Page.)
sion to order or to approve complete
unification, which is just another name
for a merger" declared Mr.. Bowen.
Congress reserves TIN right itself to
approve any such plan"
Commissioner Hartman then opened
his little black book, in which he has
several hundred written questions, and
proceeded with his examination of j. E.
Heberle, chief statiStician of the Capt.
tai Traction Co. Mr.. Hartman said
tkRS any question which Mr.. Heberle
HaI not able to answer might be an
swfeed by John H. Hanna, president of
tfk, company, who is also present under
These questions that I am going to
a. How," explained Mr.. Hartman, ARE.
il thu nature of a breakdown of total
figures which appear in your operating
expenses for 1923. First I would like
to ask vglat yod pay for life insurance
for empbyes."'
"oB.e,torG Mr., HebeTle answers that
would liBe to know whether the COM
> mission, intends to question the pro-
priety Of such payments?"
Propriety Not Questioned.
mo criticism is intended" said Mr..
ton of propriety as to the charging
of these items to operating expenses"
We'll, if there should be an inten-
ton to question the propriety of in
Guiding them in operating expenses"
put in G. Thomas Dunlop, counsel for
the Capital Traction Co., Il will enter
an objection"
After Mr.. Hartman had again dis
claimed that he was criticizing the
propriety of such a charge he directed
his question again toward Mr.. Heberle.
Il am unable from the records I
have here" replied the witness, Ito
show the amount of payments for
group insurance in the calendar year
1928"
Argument Over Maintenance.
Mr.. Hartman-Do you intend to
show that maintenance expenses have
been normal in 1925 to 1928?
Mr.. Hanna-No; unless there is some
evidence put in here to show that they
were abnormal.
Mr. Hartman-Was there not an ex-
traordinary rainfall in August, 1928
amounting to about 10 inches more
than the normal?
Mr., Hanna-That is true.
Mr.. Hartman-Did you have unusual
repairs on the smokestack of the
Georgetown power plant in 1923?
Mr. Hanna-That is true.
Mr.. Hartman-Do you intend to
prove operating expenses in these years
have been normal?
Mr.. Hanna-No, but now that the
question of abnormality has been
brought up I want to say that the an
swer made to the question on mainte-
nance expenses applies also to this
question.
Mr.. Hartnan-Did you have trouble
from snow in 1928 on your Third street
and Kennedy street line and substitute
bus for rail service?
Mr.. Hanna-That is true; We have
such trouble from time to time.
Car Barn Expenses Cited.
Mr.. Hartman-Was there any in
crease in your expenses for insurance OF
a car barn because it was leased to the
washington Rapid Transit Co.?
Mr.. Heberle-I can't answer that
question.
Mr., Hartman-As a matter Of fact,
didn't this increase amount to about
$1,000 year?
Mr.. Hannah there was any such in
crease it was offset by the increase In
revenue from the lease OF the barn 10
the bus company.
Mr.. Hartman-Did you have any I'M
usual damage suit expenses in 1927,
resulting in part from settlements for
an accident at Fourteenth street ana
Rhode Island avenue, and in part from
an accident which occurred In May
1924?
Mr.. Hanna-These figures are avail
able to the commission, but operating
expenses for injuries and damages are
based on accrualS.
Mr.. Hartman-But your accrual rate
was changed on account OF this?
Accruals in Excess in 1928.
Mr.. Hanna-It was increased because
the first years accruals were not Suf1-
cient to meet expenses.
Mr. Hartman-Were your 1928 &C
erualS for injuries and damages In eX-
cess of 1923 expenses?
Mr.. Heberle-The accruals for that
gear were $2,25191 in excess OF ex-
penditureS.
Mr.. Hartman-To what extent Is
Federal income tax included in OPP
Grating expenses?
Mr.. Hanna-Not at all.
Mr.. Hartman-We will take judicial
notice of the annual reports OF the
company to the commission from 1925
to 1928
Mr.. Hannah the question contem-
plates that we are hiding something
shall object to it. We are perfectly
willing to give you these figures.
Mr.. Hartman-It won't be necessary.
How do you allocate salaries of gen.
eral officers as to bus and rail opera
tions?
Mr.. Hanna-There is no such allo-
cation.
Maryland Taxes Included.
Mr.. Hartman-In your system" fig-
ures do you include taxes paid in
Maryland?
Mr.. Hanna--YeS.
Mr.. r4rtman-Also taxes on leased
Zines?
Mr.. Hanna-Yes.
Mr. Hartman-Are there any merger
costs in 1929 expenses?
Mr. Heberle-No. I'll be glad to
check that up.
Here Mr.. Heberle suggested that II