Evening star., 1937-06-03
TRANSIT CO. ASKS
TOKEN FARE HIKE:
HEARING ORDERED
Demands Will Be Discussed
Before Commission
Starting June ID.
CITIZENS FEDERATION
DUE TO BATTLE MOVE
Already Had Laid Plans for
Attack on Withdrawal of
81 Street Car Pass.

Demands of the Capital Transit Co.
for an increase in its token fare from
four for 80 cents to four for 35 cents,
filed late yesterday with the Public
Utilities Commission, will be discussed
at public hearings before the COM
mission, beginning June IA
The company filed its amended fare
petition just as the commission was
preparing an order for a hearing on
the company's original request of last
Summer for an increase in token fare
to three for Is cents.
The notice was changed and the
hearing set for June IA. Promises OF
a determined battle over street car
and bus fares have come from the
Federation Of Citizens Associations,
which is opposed to any increase in
fare and is prepared to insist that
service is not adequate.
The federation already has laid
plans for an attack on the company
for its withdrawal early in January
of the use of the ST weekly street
car pass. William NICK. Clayton,
chairman Of the federation'5 Utili-
ties Committee. has declared he will
endeavor to show the company could
make more money by continuation of
the 81 pass. Its withdrawal leaves
available the sl25 pass, which is good
on either buses or street cars.
Request Is Unexpected.
The request Of the company for a
higher boost in the token fare than
was asked last Summer was unex-
pected. After the original petition
was filed the commission announced
it would not consider the fare boost
until after it had completed hearings
on the valuation of the merged street
car company. These hearings prob
ably will end this week, and the de-
cision is expected soon.
In support of their request for the
higher boost in token fare, company
officials yesterday argued that the
wage costs Of the company this year
have been boosted by $4,000, due
primarily to an increase Of 3 cents an
hour granted recently to operators Of
one-man cars and buses and en- in
crease OF cents an hour granted to
! operators of two-man cars.
| In addition to this, compay officials
argue, 1t stands to pay some s150.00O
more in taxes this year than last.
Explanation Of Request.
In explanation of the company re-
| quest, E. D. Merrill, president, stated:
Since the filing on June 49, 1886.
Of the petition of the Capital Transit
| Co. for changes in rates the COM
pany has found it necessary to again
increase wages of employees, effective
April l, 1887, which involves a further
increase of operating expenses of ap-
proximately s228,OOO per annum.
In view of the meager returns re-
celVed by the company at the time of
filing the original petition and by rea-
son of the aforegoing increase in
wage rates, the relief prayed for in
the original petition is insufficient
and will not afford this petitioner
I that which 1t should have if it is to
properly and efficiently function and
| If 1t is TO have the necessary revenues
to partially meet the wage increases.
1T is therefore imperative to
amend the petition by substituting
in the first prayer a token rate Of
8a4 cents for the token rate therein
prayed for of 8la cents, and the petit
ton is hereby so amended"