Evening star., 1939-06-22
Prince Georges
Transit Decision
Expected Next Week
Maryland Utilities
Commission Begins
Study Of Hearing Doto
BY JACK ALLEN,
Star Stan CORRESPONDENT

Star Stan Correspondent
BALTIMORE, June 22.-Plunging
into a maze Of charts, maps, sched-
ules, petitions and other data, the
Maryland Public Service Commits
sion today began a search for solu-
ton to Prince Georges County's
street railway and bus problems.
The decision of the commission
which took the Capital Transit Co. S
plea for permission to reorganize its
county setup under advisement at
the close Of two-day hearing late
yesterday, is expected to be reached
next week.
Commissioner Edmund Budnitz
said today that one important
phase of the study will be visit
early next week to Prince Georges
County which he and Commissioner
Steuart Purcell, with whom he sat
in the hearing, will make to inspect
transportation conditions person.
ally. They will be accompanied by
Peoples Counsel Joseph Sherbow
and State engineers.
I'VE probably will be in a position
to give our verdict within a brief
time after the inspection" he de-
clared. 1--WE anticipate no undue
delay"
Commission Has Own Survey.
1t was also learned today that in
addition to the voluminous file of
technical exhibits introduced in the
hearing the commission has before
it a study of the proposed changes
made by the commissions own engi-
neering staff.
Another document which may
have bearing on the finding is a
letter from L. C. Major, regional
manager of the Pennsylvania Grey
hound Lines, applying for permis-
sion to take over bus operations
which Capital Transit Co. hopes to
abandon.
Information comes to U.s." the let
ter reads. that the Capital Transit
Co. has made application = to
abandon its local rights between
Laurel, Md, and Riverdale, Md.
If said information is authentic,
and the commission should permit
said abandonment, we would like
very much for this letter to serve
as our application for said local
rights in question"
The letter was received by the
commissioners shortly before yester-
days session, which ended with a
parade to the witness stand OF
commuters and civic leaders who
voiced opposition to any of the con-
templated changes.
Included were Walter F. Mulligan.
G. D. Anderson, Harvey L. Vincent.
Capt. r. T. w. Duke, Fred w. CAST.
Carl Yagle, Louis A. Day and Mayor
John N. Torvestad of Colmar Manor
Firms Reports Attacked.
They attacked the company s
financial reports attributing the pro-
posed revisions of service to "meaeer
earnings" and a necessity for re
ductions in operating costs" and
further charged the changes would
cut off several communities without
service, inconvenience commuters
and result in "overcrowding" of
buSses
Several witnesses said they felt
the proceedings are a forerunner to
application for fare increases.
Mr.. Mulligan declared District of
Columbia Public Utilities Commits
sion figures show 948 per cent in
crease in net income for the first
four months of 1899 over the cor
responding period last year.
He said the companys quarterly
return this year was Sl63, ,7O494. as
compared to s84,O3463 for the pre-
vious year
The witness told the commission
the company has now virtually COM
pleted program of building up its
equipment and in the future should
oe on a firm financial basis"
His testimony was intended tn
break down that of Dean j. Locke
staff engineer for the transit COM
pany. who previously had told the
commission "meager earnings"
make the proposed changes neces-
sary.
Commissioner Purcell declared be-
fore Mr.. Locke completed his testi-
money yesterday that mo testimony
has been introduced to show what
savings would be effected by the
changes"
Claims S130,OOO Loss.
questioned by G. Thomas Dunlop,
traction company attorney, Mr.
Locke then declared the company is
losing approximately $4,000 an
nually in Prince Georges, and the
deficit could be reduced to 100000 a
year If the commission grants per-
mission to revamp the bus and rail
service as planned by his firm.
Mr.. Locke said his company also
Is losing money on its street railway
lines in Prince Georges, but declared
he did not have these figures be-
cause the proposed changes do not
involve curtailment of streetcar
service in the county.
Pressed for an answer by COM
muters engaged in the cross-exam-
ination, Mr.. Locke said he would
supply the figures to the commission
within a few days.
Mr.. Anderson said the proposal to
discontinue direct transportation
between Edmonston road and Balti-
more boulevard would practically
isolate residents of the eastern met
ropolitan area from Hyattsville.