Evening star., 1939-07-01
Fare Boost Denied
To Two Bus Lines
In Nearby Virginia
Fuirfux Auto RuiIrood
Is Allowed Increase
In |. G. G. Order

Is Allowed Increase
In |. c. c. Order
The Interstate Commerce Com
mission today denied scent fare
increases to the Washington, Vir-
ginia and Maryland Coach Co.
(Arnold Line) and the Arlington
and Fairfax Motor Transportation
Co., which operates bus routes be-
tween Washington and nearby Vir-
ginia. At the same time, similar
application by the Arlington and
Fairfax Auto Railroad Co., was ap-
proved, but the commission eX-
pressed doubt that the competitive
situation would allow the last
| named to boost it's charges.
In denying the proposed increases
which have been pending for manv
months, the commission said in
effect that no showing to justify
the advance had been made.
The fare increases denied We're
these:
Arnold Line - Washington TO
points in Virginia within the 10
cent zone, except Rosslyn, to Is
cents, and the 15-cent fare between
Washington and Glencarlyn to 20
cents.
Transportation Co.-Five cent in
crease between Washington and Ar
lington Cemetery and East Falls
Church and intermediate points, and
in the fares of school children travel
ling between Washington and Vir-
ginia points. Certain proposed re-
ductions in children's fares and
other revisions in the tariff cover
ing transportation of children were
nullified by the denial of the in
crease.
Auto Railroad Proposal.
The Auto Railroad proposed S
cent increases in 10 cent fares and
certain communication fare changes.
The lines had proposed to put the
increases in effect last May, but
after extensive hearings in which
patrons vigorously protested the
charges, the advances were suspend
ed until August 7, next.
Spokesman for the Arnold Line
contended the higher fares were
needed to meet outstanding loans
and obligations. increased operating
expenses, to pay adequate salaries
to officers and purchase equipment
demanded for the growing Virginia
community through which it oper-
ates
One witness for the company said
that the narrow margin of earnings
could be converted from a profit to
loss ''by the loss of a single pas
senger" on each scheduled run.
Increase in Passengers.
To the contrary, the commission
decision points out, "protestants call
attention to the fact that the Arnold
Line has transported each year more
passengers than it carried the pre-
ceeding year. They take the position
that, with economical operation,
with proper charges for depreciation
and maintenance, with the elimina-
ton of the Washington Winchester
line, which was operated at a loss,
and giving consideration to the prob
able increase in passengers that
reasonably may be expected to be
carried as a result of the probable
growth in population of the COM
r11J1nifioc carJrol b1, ln
the present fares are adequate"
The Arlington and Fairfax lines
bus and electric--Which are under a
common operation set up a plea for
need along the same lines as that
of the Arnold Co.
In the Arnold decision, the Com
mission said:
1T is not possible from the record
to ascertain the value of the prop
erty which the Arnold line devotes
to the public use and on which it
is entitled to obtain reasonable
return. The result of it's operations
during the period January /, 1885
to March 81, 1888, shows satisfac-
tory improvement. The territory in
which respondent operates has been
and Is growing rapidly in population.
The record warrants the conclusion
that the improvement in earnings
will continue and that, as supple
mented by the amounts reserved for
depreciation, they will furnish ample
means for financing requirements
and the credit necessary for such
additional equipment as will be
needed for expansion.
"The operations of the trans
portation company" the commits
sion said, with the exception of
the first nine months in 1882, have
resulted in profit, and the pros
poets for continued improvement
appear good. AS in the case of the
Arnold line, the territory in which
the company operates has been and
is increasing in population"
The auto-railroad, the commits
sion says, is somewhat of an ex-
pertinent, and 'is in serious need
OF larger revenues"
Allowing the proposed rates to be
put into effect if desired, the COM
mission says, however, that as a
practical matter" they can be ap-
piled. Ofncials of the company had
expressed the same viewpoint.