The Washington times., 1929-07-31
ALL PL ANS
OF LINE
lP|SE

8 Amazed and bewildered rep
resentatives Of the Capital
Traction Company today were
Struggling to weather the re-
lentless probe of the com
pany's valuation figures and
divert the attention Of the
Public Utilities Commission to
their plea for higher street
car fares.
Their efforts thus far have been
III vain. Harieigh II. Hartman,
lawyer.n1ember Of the commission.
cdnfinued today to hurl question
after Question at S. u Hsherle, as
sistant to the president Of the tracs
tiosi company
And all OF the questions thus far
have been directed ct the financial
methods Of the company and the
manner Ii which the SIS 100000
valuation figure was fixed.
The traction company claims that
it cannot make j fair return on the
$26,O00, 900 unless the commission
allows 4 cash fare OF 10 cents, with
fosir tickets for 80 cents on its
lines.
since the hearing started Monday
fhe commission has plainly indicated
Ahat ii does not intend to sit by
and allow the traction company to
build up its case without opposl-
stion.
That Is what puzzles the traction
Representatives. Last year they ap.
peared before the conniission, and
asked for an increased fare.
with very little trouble they built
up very strong case, 50 strong
fhat che chairman OF the commits
nion was quoted al having said the
4are increase could not be denied.
Merger negotiations were being
made in Congress At that time. so
the commission dismissed the com
panyss petition for higher fares and
told officials to come back again Il
the merger failed,
Meantime, the personnel of the
conmission changed. Maj. Gen.
F'asor, M. Patrick took the place of
3 John w. Childress as chairman of
the commission and Hartman sue
Kceeded Harrison Brand, jr.
Figures Incorrect
The new commission refuses to
believe outright that the local trac-
tion companies need higher fares
ITO operate at a profit. 1t has limited
that revaluation or unification of
the lines of the Capital Traction
Accompany and the Washington Rail
way and Electric Company might
solve the problem.
Since the hearings started Hart
man has been striving to show that
the valuation figures Of the Capital
Traction Company are higher than
they should be. Yesterday he
pointed to number of specific
cases where amounts for replace.
rnert, upkeep and reproduction were
incorrectly listed on the company's
books.
Most of the cases involved small
amounts, but Hartman said he used
them to illustrate points he will
bring out later.
SO far-reaching has his study OF
the accounts of the company been
that yesterday Hartman called upon
Heberle to account for an Incorrect
listing OF an item of Sc spent for
license tags.
RevaIuatiOn Right
The commission has authority now
e revalue the Capital Traction Co.
over the protests of its owners.
Ii Hartman, Patrick and Snginser
r.ommissioner William B. Ladue
lind anything to lead them to be-
sieve that the present valuation
figure Of the company, set by the
- a 1a IN 1O0S fa
high. they will not hesitate mo-
observers agree. o.
John j. Hanna, president Of the
company, said yesterday that the
mistakes in the company's books
discovered by Hartman were not
made with any intention OF padding
the accounts.