Evening star., 1937-11-07
CITIZENS DEMAND
NEW HEARINGS ON
CAR TOKEN RATE
"Six for so" Fare Receives
Strong DisapprovaI of
Federation.
CARRUTHERS ELECTED
TO HEAD ORGANIZATION
Plea to Limit 1889 D. c. Budget
to Size of Current Appropria-
tion Is Endorsed.

Voicing disapproval Of the "whole-
sale" rate of six for so cents fixed
last week for sale of street car tokens,
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions last night called on the Public
Utilities Commission to grant a re-
hearing Of the transit rate and valua-
ton case. The vote was 48 to 80.
The Federation also elected L. A.
Carruthers. veteran civic leader, as
its president TO succeed Thomas z.
Lodge, who declined to stand for re-
election at the end of his second term.
During the street car rate discus
sion, particular attention was directed
by most Of q large number of speak
ers against selection of the rate of
six for 50 cents, instead of three for
rs cents, although the resolution vas
not restricted to that point.
Clayton Critical Of Commission.
Criticism Of the action of the COM
mission on many grounds came from
William NICK. Clayton. chairman Of
the Public Utilities Committee of the
Federation. but half dozen delegates
took issue with some of his arguments.
Some protested the commission action
was unacceptable only as to the whole
sale token rate it adopted. In view
OF the public clamor raised against
the commissions decision. the margin
OF the vote was regarded by some as
small.
The Federation indorsed the declar-
ations previously made by its officers
and its Fiscal Relations Committee,
urging the Commissioners and Con-
gress TO limit the size of the 1899 Dis
trict budget to a figure no higher than
the total appropriated for the present
fiscal year, except for the estimates
of the Highway and Water Depart
ments which are supported out of
special revenues which are placed in
separate funds which cannot be spent
for other purposes.
At the same time, Mr.. Lodge warned
in his annual report that "eon-
certed effort" probably would be made
soon to divert some of the special
highway funds to purposes foreign
to development of the highway sys-
tenn. The Federation already has
opposed such practices.
Protests Lack Of Valuation
Mr.. Clayton attacked the decision
of the Public Utilities Commission
from many angles. He protested that
the commission had failed to make
the North American Co.-majority
stOckholder in the Capital Transit Co.
and in the Potomac Electric Power
Goa party to the transit case. He
protested also that the commission
had not yet fixed formal legal waltz
alton for the transit company's prop
erty, limiting its finding to a state
ment that the value was mot less
than s23.O00.O .OOO.'
Another argument was that the
commission did not give the 're-
qulred" consideration to evidence Of
the greatly impaired service being
rendered by the company. Mr.. Clay
ton declared the commission order
contained the plea of confession and
avoidance" On this point, he said
The commission admits the de-
ficiency in service of the company, but
pleads the poverty Of the company,
and cites the commendable generosity
with which Washington bankers re-
sponded when this d. C. son of ths
North American Co. passed its bat
tered and tattered hat around for
contributions to purchase a few new
street cars and buses, and then the
commission points its accusing finger
at the North American Co. and thun-
der Why don't you pony up?' and
there it ends"
Backs Rehearing Request.
Harry s. Wender, delegate from
the Southwest Association, agreed
with the request for rehearing, but
insisted that the federation remem-
Der the commission had achieved two
things long demanded by civic
groups; uniform fares and universal
free transfers. He explained also that
while the token fare was raised there
is decrease in the fares for riders
on numerous bus lines He praised
members of the commission as men
of character and integrity, who had
given long study to the problem.
Mr.. Wender also voiced fears that
If the transit rate and valuation case
,caa rsrrTzrNc De-