Evening star., 1938-05-29
.R[|NGTONB0ARD
ENTERS DISPUTE
OVER BUSFARES
Acts to Protect Interests of
County at Hearing on
Proposed Increase.
SESSION BEFOREI.C.C.
is SLATED WEDNESDAY
Hanrahan and Stoneburner Are
Authorized to Appear at
Meeting in Capital.

With public hearings scheduled
Wednesday before the Interstate Com
merce Commission in Washington on
the request of two bus companies to
increase their fares between Arling<
ton County, Va, and Washington, the
County Board entered the controversy
yesterday by authorizing representa-
tives to appear ito protect the coun-
tvs interests"
While the resolution adopted by
the board did not voice opposition to
the proposed increases, the action
was taken as result of requests of
civic groups and other interests which
are fighting the proposed raise in fares.
The bus companies involved are the
Arlington & Fairfax Auto Railroad Co.
and the Washington, Maryland e. Vir-
ginia Bus Co. They filed notice with
the I. c. c. of proposed increases to
become effective earlier this month";
The existing rates of 10 cents were
to be raised to Is cents. The COM
panies contend increased operating
costs as well as higher costs of ma
terials are, among ether things, caus-
ing them to seek the increase.
Storm of Protest.
Immediately after the. petitions
were filed, however, a storm of pro-
test arose from citizens associations,
the Chamber of Commerce, large
scale housing developers, real estate
men and private citizens who would
be affected. Nearly so protests have
been filed with the I. c. c..
At the meeting of the County Board
yesterday, County Manager Frank 6.
Hanrahan and Clifton Stoneburner,
traffic engineer. were authorized to
appear at the I. c. C. hearings.
1T is needless for me to point out
the importance of adequate and rea-
sonable transportation facilities to any
community" Mr.. Hanrahan said.
THE population has increased in
leaps and bounds during the last
several years and it appears to me
it is highly desirable to do what rt
can to hold our fares as low as pos
Sible'
Mr. Hanrahan also called attention !
to the notice of the Arlington & FAIR
fax firm to increase rates between cer-
tain points within Virginia. which has
been filed with the Virginia State Cor
poration Commission. A hearing has
been set following the commissions
refusal to grant the raise until the
company could show justification for
its request. This hearing has been
set for June 6 at 1890 am. in Rich
mond. The board also authorized Mr..
Hanrahan and Mr.. Stoneburner to rep
resent the county at that hearing.
Counsel Employed.
One of the leaders in opposing the
proposed increase in rates on the
Washington. Maryland & Virginia line
is the Colonial Village Civic Associa-
ton. which has employed counsel to
represent the group at the I. c. C.
hearing, and which already has filed
detailed brief opposing the change.
Harold W. Miller, president of the
Colonial Village Association. asked tbs
board to appoint representatives to at
tend the hearing and introduced
Charles Trammell, jr., counsel Of the
association.
Mr.. Trammell asked that the county
officials be prepared to present official
figures on the increased population,
street paving and lighting and other
facilities which would tend to increase
the transit companies earning power
to compensate for higher operating
costs.