Evening star., 1943-09-09
1rdns-Potomac
Extra Bus Fare
Called Needless
Expert Tells ice
Cost Should Be
Same as in D. 6.

A War Department consultant on
transportation who heads bus line
in suburban Philadelphia. testified
today at the Interstate Commerce
Commissions hearing on trans
Potomac bus fares that Capital
Transit Co. service to the Pentagon
Building in Arlington can be main-
tanned at the same average cost as
other services of the company within
the District.
The witness, Merritt H. Taylor
president of the Philadelphia Sub
urban Transportation Co., said he
had made studies of the transporta-
ton facilities to nearby War and
Navy buildings. He said he was
convinced of the fairness of charging
Government employees taking street.
cars or buses within the District to
the Pentagon the same fare charged
for travel within the District.
Under the present system. an ex-
ira scent fare is charged Washing
tons passengers who use the special
shuttle service to the Pentagon, and
no transfers to that area are issued
on District fares. Capital Transit
officials have maintained the scent
fare does not cover expenses for this
special service.
Taylor Cross
Mr.. Taylor was cross examined
for more than an hour by counsel
for the four transit companies in
volved in the hearing.
Mr.. Taylor was asked by E. Bar
rett Prettyman, counsel for the
transit company, whether he thought
1t was operating at a profit over its
Pentagon shuttle line. The witness
replied: II believe So"
At another point Mr.. Taylor said
that the Pentagon and the Gravelly
Point areas logically could be con-
sidered a part of the District" in
the establishment of trans-Potomac
bus rates.
Financial operations of the COM
panies, as interpreted by an Office
OF Price Administration utilities
analyst, were part of the record to-
day, but whether they would re-
main so depends on final ruling
of the ICC.
The full commission has deferred
flnal decision on the controversial
question of whether overall finan-
cial figures of the companies has
any bearing in the case. Counsel
for the War and Navy Departments
which are seeking a reduction in
fares to the Pentagon Building and
other military establishments across
the Potomac, maintain they do.
Move Is Opposed.
Counsel for the transit compa-
nies, however, have objected strenu-
ously to the introduction of figures
including income tax returns. The
hearing was halted two weeks
ago when ICC Commissioner Will
liam Patterson granted the Gov
ernment time to file exceptions to
his ruling that the financial figures
were not material to the inquiry.
With the full commission appar-
emily not ready to rule on the mat
ter, the Government was allowed
to call the OPA analyst yesterday
and hear his testimony, subject to
striking out should the commission
later rule that it is irrelevant. The
witness, David Kosh, gave his anal
ysis OF earnings of Capital Transit
the Alexandria, Bancroft g. Wash
ington Transit Co., the Washington
Virginia G Maryland Coach Co. and
arlington 81 Fairfax Motor Trans
portation Co.
Drawing on information he said
came from the District Public Utili-
ties Commission and the ICC, the
witness estimated the local transit
company's operating revenue fo,
1912 at $24 ,045 1868 and net income
after deductions for operating ex-
penses. depreciation and taxes-at
50, TIA, ,488.
A, B. 81 w. revenues were listed
by Mr.. Kosh as $2.240,8 ,897 and net
income. after deductions. as S241 1854
He testified that w. v. g. M. operat-
ing revenue last year was 81 1853 .154
and net income was Sill, ,096. A. & F
revenue for the year amounted to
$3T8,474 and net income, I21 ,812, ac-
cording to testimony.
Preceding Mr.. Kosh to the stand,
J. E, Heberle, vice president and
controller of Capital Transit, said
the company paid normal and sur
taxes last year amounting to 81 SOC, =
500 and excess profit taxes totaling
$601 ABB