Evening star., 1930-12-12
POWER TO REDUCE
PUPILS FARE URGED
Senate Committee Hears Car
Officials on Utilities Body
Question.

proposal to give the Public Utili-
ties Commission power to give school
children a reduced rate Of car fare, the
amount Of the reduction to be worked
out by the commission, was advanced
at the public hearing held by the SEN
ate District Committee yesterday sfter-
noon.
The pending bill, which has passed
the House, fixes a rate Of Q cents for
school children. Officials Of both street
railway companies told the Senate Com
mtttee they are opposed to Congress
nxing any definite rate, but would be
willing to see the necessary authority
veStedl In the commission to determine
the rate after hearings and investiga-
ton.
After more than an hour of discus
sion, Senator Copeland, Democrat, of
New York, advanced q suggestion that
Congress give the commission the
power and authority to decide the mat
Ter, provided the rate for school chill
dren shall not exceed half the regular
rate. No formal committee action was
taken, but Senator Copeland suggested
that the various interested groups con-
fer and try to agree on a revised bill.
Hearings 70 BE Printed.
Chairman Capper said he would have
the record of yesterdays hearing printed
and give absent committee members an
opportunity to study the testimony.
after which the question will be taken
up again.
William F. Ham, president of the
washington Railway & Electric Co., and
John H. Hanna, head of the Capital
traction, said the pending bill, fixing a
2-cent school rate, would put financial
strain on the companies. In substance,
the position OF the companies was that
rates should be fixed by the commission
after considering all the factors In
yolved, and changed from time to time
as conditions change.
Commenting on the new proposal adj
vanced by Senator. Copeland, Mr.. Ham
said he did not think it should con-
tain the limitation Of not to exceed half
fare.
William Mex Clayton Of the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations told the
committee the proposed substitute would
not mean thing to the citizens unless
1t contains the limitation originally gug-
gested by Senator Copeland.
Uncertainty Of Effect.
After the companies had presented
estimates of how their revenues would
De cut into by the pending 2-cent bill
members Of the committee asked Chair
man Patrick Of the Utilities Commits
sion If he had considered this in recon-
mending the bill.
The chairman replied that no one
can predict whether it will bring about
reduction or an increase in revenues.
He suggested that some children NAV
tide who do not ride now. It might re-
suit In overcrowding some of the line.
necessitating added service, he said, in
which case the question could be
brought before the commission for ac-
ton.
John Noonan, who has taken an ac-
tive part in sponsoring the reduced fare
Tor school children, made another ap-
peal for the pending bill. A request
that the age limit be raised at least. to
l8 years, to take in all high school pu-
pills, was presented by John p. Smith
and Mrs. Frost Mills of the Business
High School Parent-Teacher Associa-
ton and by H. Lee Smith of the McKin-
ley High School Parent-Teacher Asso-
citation.
E. D. Merrill told what the effect of
the bill would be on the Washington
Rapid Transit Co. If a transfer arrange
ment is included.
The committee did not have time to
take up Senator Capper's resolution
an investigation of food prices
in Washington. The question went
over until the next meeting.