Evening star., 1937-06-25
CITIZENS At ODDS
+. ON SERVICE GIVEN
BY TRANSIT FIRM
Direct Disagreement Over
Proposed Fare Increase
Marks Hearing.
INCREASE IN PRICE
OF PASS is FAVORED
Georgetown Units Spokesman
Also Approves Purchase
of 0ne-Man Cars.

of One-Man Cars.
Failing to agree on unified position
as to the request of the Capital Transit
Co. for an increase in its token fares,
spokesmen for civic and business or
CARNATIONS today gave the Public UtA-
ties Commission variety of views on
fares. the weekly pass. use Of one man
street cars and transit service.
There was direct disagreement among
spokesmen for some groups over the
proposed fare increase and over the
request of the Federation of Citizens
Associations for adoption of Scent
street car and bus fare for an expert
mental period of six months.
The first witnesses, representing COL
ored civic organization devoted most
OF their attention to protests that serv-
ice to their communities was made
quate.
FavOrS Pass Price Increase.
Later, Milo H Brinkley. represent
ing the Georgetown Citizens Associa-
ton, declared his group favored the
increase in the price of the weekly
passes and said he did not see how
there could be lower fare than the
present rate for tokens, since the COM
pany was not able to make a reason
able return on the existing price Of four
for 80 cents. His group, he said, ap-
proved the action of the commission
in permitting the company to buy As
modern one-man street cars and use
them to replace old two-man cars.
Theodore S. Grape voiced the oppo-
sition of the Federation of Business
Mems Associations to any increase in
fare. Under questioning by company
counsel, he insisted there were more
ways to make money than merely to
increase prices
George A. Corbin Of the Manor
Parks Citizens Association insisted
that street car service was impaired by
automobile traffic and automobile
parking
1t was the beginning of testimony
by representatives of street car and
bus riders, some of whom, under lead
ership OF William NICK, Clayton, legal
representative Of the Federation Of
Citizens Association. were prepared TO
make an attack on the request of the
concern for boost in its token rate
from 7i2 cents to 834 cents.
The first witnesses, however, did not
give complete support to the Clayton
program OF attack, devoting most of
their attention to discussion of lack
OF through service for their communi-
ties and to the type of equipment
provided.
Presents Personal Study.
Robert A. Pelham, member Of the
Howard Park Citizens Association
and the Federation of Civic Associa
tions. presented a personal study in
which he undertook to show that his
community does not have through
service which its population merits.
Il don't care whether the transit
company is owned by the North
American Co., the South American
Co. or the African Co." Pelham said
What l want is service. and I blame
the Public Utilities Commission more
than the company"
Woolsey w. Hall, president Of the
colored federation, in a brief state
ment, explained that since the insti-
tuition Of the Takoma bus line the
need has arisen for service providing
stops at U street
Lieut.. Col. Howard D. Queen OF
the Army Reserve Corps urged the
need OF better service for communi-
ties in the far northeast section and
said that the population in the Capital
View area had tripled recently and
that better service was needed.
The request of the Clayton group for
adoption of scent street car and
bus fare for an experimental period
Of six months probably will be shelved
by the commission as the result of
testimony given late yesterday by Fred
A. Sager, the commissions chief ac-
countant. Sager figured the effect OF
scent fare would be 4 deficit for
the company
His estimates of reductions in COM
ptAiAJ SoA AAAAAASo "SlC sledtel IIldIl LIlCES
which had been offered previously by
j. E. Heberle, vice president of the
company.
Sager told the commission his cal
culations indicated that the adoption
Of a scent fare with free transfers
between lines would result in a re-
duction of s2,258.551 In the net oper-
ating income of the company from the
figure estimated to result this calendar
year If the present fares were con-
tinued. The company spokesman had
estimated the reduction would amount
to 81 1,906,89O.
If the commission ordered a, g.
cent fare without any transfer privi-
leges, Sager said, the estimate of the
reduction from the earnings would be
$1,303,877. The company estimate was
$6O4,195.
With a scent fare and a 2-cent
transfer. Sager said the reduction
would amount to s1,444,863, whereas
the company estimate of the reduction
was $1,2l2,119. With a scent fare
and a 1-cent transfer, the reduction
was figured by Sager at s1,857,748
and by the company at $1,559,454.