Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-18
UTILITIES GROUP
WILL NOT OPPOSE
CH|LDREN'S RATE
Gen. Patrick Explains Stand
Regarding Reduced Fares
for School Pupils.
HEAD OF COMMISSION
OPPOSES FREE RIDES
Hanna Voices Opposition to Two
Year Clause in Merger
Measure.

Mai. Gen. Mason M. Patrick, chair
man of the Public Utilities Commission,
told the subcommittee on public utilities
of the House District committee today
that the commission would not oppose
a clause of the merger bill for the street
railway companies directing the COM
mission to reduce fares for School chill
dren. Hitherto the commission has OBJ
iected to this clause, preferring one
which would simply authorize but not
direct the reduced fare. Gen. Patrick
further stated that he as an individual
would vote for half fares for Scnool
children If given the power, but that
he would not favor allowing school chill
dren to ride free because under Sucn
a provision the cars would be "sWampeo
with children"
Hanna Voices Objections.
Renewed opposition to a clause IN
the bill providing that Ene present street
car fares shall remain in effect Tor Two
wears following the merger was voiced
by President John H. Hanna OF the
Capital Traction Co. Mr.. Hanna also
strongly opposed Section IL OF the pro-
posed merger legislation which pro-
vides that in requests for increases In
rates. finding of fact made by the COM
mission shall be binding upon the courts
and that If evidence is offered IN court
attacking the facts found by the COM
mission the court shall certify to the
commission a transcript of the new
evidence and allow the commission 10
days for reply before acting.
Mr. Hanna said positively that his
company would not merge II the nnI
were passed with either of the obJec-
tionable clauses in it. He read into the
record resolution adopted by his board
of directors to the effect that It would
not consent to merger should the Two
year fare clause remain in the bill.
He said that he would recommend
to the board of directors that II sec
ton IL, limiting the scope OF appeals
from the commission. were left In, they
should not merge with the Washington
Railway g. Electric Co. He said that
this clause attacked a fundamental con-
stitutional right of the company, and
that it had no part in the merger legis-
lation; that if his company agreed to
q merger with this clause in, it would
be prohibited from asserting its rights
in the courts.
Patrick States Stand.
Gen. Patrick said that the commits
sion had no objection to taking section
IL out of the merger bill so long as it
was passed as separate measure.
On the question OF reduced 1dIeS TOT
school children, Mr. Hanna testified
that his company would lose about
$4,000 a year in revenue If the fares
were reduced to one-half and about
$3.50, 600 if the children rode free. He
said that if the company were to assess
a higher fare for adults to make up fol
the loss on the children, it would be
compelled to ask for an additional 6-1C
of ! cent per adult fare.
Mr.. Hanna further estimated roughly
that If the companies merge and in ad-
dition are granted the 10-cent fare for
which they are now appearing in court
their return, plus the savings possible
through unified routing and manage
ment would probably not exceed 712
per cent on their aggregate valuations
and that the Supreme Court of the
United States had recently held 71a per
cent to be reasonable return In the
Baltimore street railroad case.
There were several witnesses waiting
TO testify when the committee adjourned
shortly after noon. 1t was decided to
meet again at 8 o'clock tonight in the
office Of the House District committee
Among the witnesses still to testify are
John j. Noonan, President William F.
Ham Of the Washington Railway &
Electric Co., Peoples Counsel Richmond
B. Keech and Henry w. Lynn of the
public utilities committee of the South
east Citizens Association.