Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-22
CONGRESS PASSES
scent FARE BILL
Head of Capital Traction Co.
Warns Any Loss Will
Have to Be Made Up.

Final action was taken in both
branches Of Congress yesterday on the
bill to establish a reduced fare of not
more than 3 cents for school children
on street cars and buses.
Commenting on the subject last
night, John H. Hanna, president of the
Capital Traction Co., renewed the posi-
ton taken before the Utilities Com
mission that If reduced school fare
results in loss in revenue, the company
will expect the loss to be made up in
some other way
Mr.. Hanna said that he had made
the point at the congressional hearings
that Congress after giving the Public
UTILITIES Commission power to fix rates
should leave this power with the COM
mission. He was not willing to say
whether II Congress departed from this
policy and itself fixed a definite rate
for school children, his company would
oppose the move on legal grounds.
Expect TO Make Up Loss.
THAT is legal question, on which
am not prepared to speak," he said,
and besides that we do not really
know what may happen and 1 prefer
10 cross our bridges when we come to
them.
Il can say, however, that we will
insist that whatever rate of fare for
school children is finally fixed if it
results In a loss Of revenue to us, our
company will expect this loss to be
made up in some other way. This
was the position we took before the
Public Utilities Commission at their
nearing on the subject and We are still
OF the same mind"
Ratification Of the conference report
on the reduced fare bill sent that
measure to the President. The House
adopted the report without debate on
motion OF Representative Mcleod, act
ing chairman of the District Commit
tee. after Chairman Capper had steered
1t through the Senate with brief dis
cusSion.
Representatives of the street car and
bus companies will confer with the
Public Utilities Commission Tuesday
regarding the practical details Of estab,
fishing the school fare. Among the
points to be discussed will be the iden-
tiflcation of school children and
whether the fares shall be paid in cash,
ticket or token.
Not Arbitrarily Set.
The bill does not automatically fix
tHe scnool rate at cents, but directs
the Utilities Commission to establish
reduced rate at not to exceed 8 cents
Although Senators Tydings, Demo-
crat, Of Maryland. and King, Democrat,
OF Utah. both urged that the bill be
sent back for further conference yes
terday they emphasized that they were
in favor of reduced fare for school
children, but felt that the commission
should be given more leeway in de-
termining the amount of reduction.
A motion by Tydings to recommit the
bill was defeated on rising vote, after
which the report was agreed to-
Tydings has expressed a. fear that if
the 3-cent maximum specified in the
bill should prove confiscatory it might
be set aside, and thereby prevent
reduced fare. Senator King favored
as low rate as possible, but argued for
the principle of allowing the commits
sion to fix 1t.
Senator Capper pointed out that the
House originally approved a 2-cent
fare, which the Senate changed to not
more than half the adult fare. He
said half the adult token rate would
be 3s4 cents, and that in conference
an agreement was reached on not more
than cents.