The Washington times., 1929-09-09
K R A NJ [ R
MAKES
PLEA

Citizens Of Washington to-
day opened their fight against
the fare increase petition of
street railway and bus COM
panies. AS the hearings before
the Public Utilities Commits
sion on the petition went into
their seventh week the public
opened its formal case.
Apparently, the street-car riding
public intends to concentrate its fire
on the objective fare for school
children. Citizen witnesses today
seemed to show disposition In
favor Of granting an increase In
adult fare. IL they could obtain
s'more adequate service"
Kramer on Stand
The hearings today were punctu.
sated by another barrage Of obJec'
tions on the part of counsel for the
companies. The objection ran
principally to statements Of conclu-
sion by the witnesses. Counsel
were anxious that the objections
should not run as to testimony in
regard to the reduced fare for
school children.
Stephen E. Kramer, first assistant
superintendent Of schools, was the
first witness called by William
Nick. Clayton, chairman Of the
public utilities committee OF the
Federation of Citizens Associations.
Kramer made out telling case
IN favor of granting the reduced
fares for childrenA and stated that
the Board o. Education has formally
i commended the reductions as "a
distinct piece of social justice"
go Per Cent Ride
He made the point that the law
renuires children to go to school
until they are about 16 years old
ard that almost so per cent of the
q high.school children ride to school.
He expressed the opinion that II
the fare were reduced, many chill
dren would be enabled to ride who
kre now compelled to walk long dis
questioned by the Commission,
Kramer declared that he was Wiling
/ to nav an extra fare himself If by
thus doing he could send more chill
dren to school. Kramer pointed out
that staggered hours in the schools
had been tried here during the war
md that they had not been found
satisfactory 1t has been previously
suggested in the hearings that
shift in the school hours would re-
sSnnove some of the peak load of the
HI FIaherty Opens
THE hearing opened when Peoples
! Counsel Ralph B. Fleharty called u.
wv. Pullman, vice chairman OF the
public utilities committee of the
= Manor Park Citizens Association.
Pullman appeared principally to dis
II cuss service conditions and COM
8 plants. This brought an objection
from G. Thomas Dunlop, counsel for
the Capital Traction company. Clay.
i ton rushed to the defense of Pull
mans testimony and the objection
was overruled.
Pullman asked that the single
/ track Takoma Park line be made a.
double track affair and also COM
pIained about the~ schedule on the
line. He requested an fntercompany
transfer at Georgia Avenue and
Kennedy Street and complained of
linclean conditions on cars. Pull
man also came out in favor of a
reduced fare for school children.
Asks Two Reforms
Horace j. Phelps, chairman of
the public utilities committee of the
Petworth Citizens Association, read
a statement from his association
asking two reforms teach OF which
will decrease the gross return of the
companies"
These two reforms are half-fare
for children and the granting Of
inter-company transfers at several
points.
He stated that his association Is
"not opposed to granting an in
crease in fare. which might be
necessary to furnish adequate SER
vice."