Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04
Action on Capital Traction
Plea for Increase to Be
Resumed Tomorrow.
VALUATION CLAIMS
TOUCH OFF FIREWORKS
Commission to Rule Tuesday on
Motion to Make w. r. 7.
Party to Case.

The second week of the hearing be-
fore the Public Utilities Commission on
the petition of the Capital Traction
Co., for higher carfare will start at
10 O'Clock tomorrow in the hearing
room on the first floor of the Dis
trict Building j. B. Heberle, the
company's chief statistican, who is its
first witness still will be on the stand.
Although Mr.. Heberle is the. official
II. Hanna, also is under oath, and from
time to time answers the questions put
to his subordinate.
The company already has introduced
Is exhibits, or sheets of statistics in
support of its claim that it is earning
less than the fair return on valuation
to which the law entities it, and that
the rates sought-10 cents cash. four
tokens for 80 cents-will enable the
company more nearly to approximate
a fair return.
Exhibit Controversy.
The now famous exhibit l, showing
the company'S valuation as fixed by
the Court of Appeals at slightly under
SIG, 000,0 900 as of January /, 1925, and
showing net additions by reason of new
equipment, property, and requirements
since that date, has been the subject of
most of the fireworks which made last
weeks proceedings stand out in COM
pariSon to the rather tame nature OF
valuation cases heretofore.
Reading from a book in which he
had typed hundreds of questions, Com
missioner Harleigh H Hartman. one of
of the commission, several times
strained the tempers and patience of
the company'S witnesses and counsel.
The first day and half were spent
in the board room on the fifth floor,
directly under the roof on hot days.
The rest of the time was spent on the
first floor, to the accompaniment OF
tattoo of the Capital Traction Co.'S
compressed air hammers replacing
tracks on Pennsylvania avenue. These
tracks eventually will be charged to
capital account, and may be the sub
ject of further wrangling in later rate
cases.
Hearing To Stretch Into Fan.
According to present prospects, the
hearing will stretch on we'll into the
Fall. After Mr.. Herberle has completed
his presentation. punctuated by ques-
ton of Citizens Associations. The
be cross-examined by Peoples Counsel
Ralph B. Fleharty and by William
NICK. Clayton, counsel for the Fedora
ton of iCtizens' Associations. The
company then will have other witnesses,
eneineerS and accountants, who Will De
subject to the same process. Then the
Washington Railway and Electric Co,
also petitioning for the fare increase
will start its case.
Witnesses for the commission Will
follow, with testimony as to the prob
able economies to be effected by re-
routing of lines with reciprocal use OF
trackage, and also as to the proDaole
effects of other rates of fare than those
sought by the petitioning companies.
Summing Up To Follow.
Then will come summing-up argu-
ments. and the commission will decide
the case. The care with which the
case is being conducted leads to the all
most certain conclusion that the COM
panies will take the matter to court
should their pleas be refused. which
would much further delay settlement
of the case.
Much of the delay encountered in
answering detailed questions by Mr..
Hartman last week viii be obviated in
future under the terms OF an agree
ment whereby he will suspend his line
of questioning on detailed entries IN
the various accounts until the company
has had time to transcribe all the
entries on six of the accounts In ques-
ton and submit them as exhibits. Sew
eral score of the questions asked last
week were not answered, pending
further study of the company's books.
but answers to the questions Will be
read some time this week.
On Tuesday, the commission viii an
nounce its ruling on motion by VIII
liam NICK. Clayton to make the Wash
ington Rapid Transit Co. party to the
case. The decision was delayed In
order to. allow George P. Hoover, coun-
sci for the bus company, to consult
with the company's owner, Harley P.
| Wilson, who was in New York when
the request was made.
One of the commissioners tomorrow
will leave the hearing long enough to
conduct another public hearing on
request by the Forest Hills Citizens AS
ISOLATION for the establishment of safety
zones for both car stops on Connecticut
avenue at Albemarle street. The three
commissioners then will read the record
Of this hearing and decide the case.