Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-07
TRANSIT OFFICIALS
SEEK ECONOMIES
Award of Wage Raise to
Increase Expenses About
100000.
BY HI. b. ROGERS.


economies to help adjust their finan-
cial situation, John H. Hanna. presi-
dent of the company, said today.
The first step in this direction was
filing of application with the Public
Utilities Commission as soon as the
award was announced, of application
for permission to make savings on the
new street cars, by changing them
from two-man cars to one-man cars.
This would save the salary of one
man on each of the 20 new cars now
in operation.
These cars, Mr.. Hanna explained,
are built to be operated either as
one-man or two-man cars, and can
readily be operated by one man acting
both as motorman and conductor
In addition to this, Mr. Hanna said
today, I'VE may go to the commission
to ask their help in effecting savings
in other ways to make up for the
additional expense to which the COM
pany has ben put by the wage de-
cision. The wage award has placed
us on an entirely different basis"
June Report Delayed.
This wage matter was disclosed to-
day to have been the cause for delay
until yesterday in filing the Regular
June report of the transit company.
The report was completed on the basis
of figures available and the company,
as soon as it learned the award was
to be made public, pasted to the top
of its official report small "addenda,"
which explained the operating eX-
penses and net income would be sub
ject to adjustment back to April l
and that the amount for June was
estimated at about $4,000.
June was a big month in traffic,
largely because of the Shrine con-
vention here, Mr.. Hanna explained
today. Figures for July are now being
compiled for the next report to the
commission. Since previous monthly
reports since April / are already on
file. it is likely, Mr.. Hanna explained,
that the wage increase back to April
] will have to be actually accounted
for in the next report so that the next
report cannot begin to show the earn
1ngs of the June report of yesterday
Additional Steps Due.
What kind of economies will be
sought by the company from the Pub
lie Utilities Commission next in addi-
ton to taking one man of each of the
new cars, Mr.. Hanna did not disclose
today, but he indicated clearly that in
the interest of economy his company
will take some more definite steps
soon.
The question of an increase in the
depreciation item for the company
still is pending before the commission,
but the prospects are that it may be
some time before this can be decided.
Reroutings due to the merger, and
new plans still are costing the COM
pany substantial sums, Mr.. Hanna
pointed out, and the wage increase has
laid another burden on the financial
structure. But efforts are being made
for the future with traffic on the steady
upgrade so that the company may
hope some day, after rerouting changes
are over and new economies installed,
to look forward to increased earnings.
Fail to Share Hopes.
Predictions by others of the savings
expected Immediately from the merger
never were shared by either himself
or William F. Ham, former president
of the Potomac Electric Power Co. and
the Washington Railway g. Electric
Co, Mr. Hanna emphasized He said
they realized the immediate results of
the merger would be expense to the
company instead of economies. At
the present time he estimated there
was some economy in mileage through
Terouting.
History of the transit companies,
not only in Washington, but through
out the country, shows that their
traffic declined to low point esti-
mated to be about July, 1888, but from
then on there was general pickup.
The merger here in December, 1888,
with it's universal transfer and pass,
caused an amazing increase in traffic,
which still appears to be on the
upgrade.
Opens C. B. g. @. Office.
F. F. Crabbe of Denver, Colo, has
established an Office as general agent
of the Burlington Route, in the
Woodward Building. Mr.. Crabbe, who
says the West is getting an increasing
business from the East, was former
assistant general freight agent of the
Colorado & Southern Railway Co.,
subsidiary of the Burlington Route
Walter S. Pratt, jr., was receiving
congratulations today from his many
friends in the financial district upon
his selection as president of the
Equitable Cooperative Building As
ISOLATION to succeed the late John Joy
Edison. Mr.. Pratt emphasized that
there would be no change in policy in
operation of the company. Mr.. Pratt,
a member of an old Washington FAM
lily, was educated here, Is a member of
the local bar, and we'll known in
financial and civic circles of the city.
South America Gains.
Substantial gains during the second
quarter of the year were made in
credit and collection conditions in
Latin American countries, according
to the Foreign Credit Interchange Blu
reau of the National Association of
Credit Men, which yesterday released
details Of its twenty-seventh regular
survey, conducted among the member
firms of the bureau who are active
In exporting to those countries.
Federal, State and local units OF
government are drawing one-seventh
of their total tax revenues from land
transportation, with taxes on owner
ship and use of motor vehicles reach
ing a total. of $1,264,729, 900 in 1884,
while railroad taxes aggregated $780,
498, 1894.
These facts were revealed in a re-
port issued by the National Highway
Users Conference and based upon
compilations by the United States Bu-
reau of Public Roads. the Interstate
Commerce Commission, the American
Automobile Association and the Bu-
1850, DoiIxx,or Economics IF the