Evening star., 1944-02-03
CoffeetoAppea|
ToPresident for
Pub|icCounse|
House Budget Chief
For D. c. to Review
Transit Fare Case
BY DON S. WARREN.

All appeal LOT appointment OF a
peoples counsel to serve before the
District Public Utilities Commission
will be filed shortly with President
Roosevelt, under plans announced
today by Representative Coffee
Democrat of Washington, the new
chairman of the House District Ap-
propriations Subcommittee.
While voicing recognition of the
work and responsibilities of the PUG,
Mr.. Coffee said he was convinced
there was need for independent
counsel for the public in utility mat
ters, particularly since municipal Of
flcials were not elected and WASH
1ngton residents had no formal voice
in their government.
He revealed his intention of carry
ing a petition for a peoples counsel
appointment to the President while
planning a heavy schedule for con-
sideration of the Districts record
breaking 1945 budget requests, on
which executive hearings will begin
late in April.
Discusses Transit Fares.
He said it seemed to him there
was Justification for a reduction of
streetcar and bus fares, from SIPS
to 81 for weekly passes and from
three for a quarter to four for 80
cents for tokens, but emphasized
these were questions under jurisdic-
ton of the PUG.
Il have not made study of the
valuation, expenses or revenues OF
the Capital Transit Co., and I am
informed these matters are under
investigation now 1t just seems to
me that with the company now
packing it's cars and buses to ca
pacity, going and coming, and with
many lines running on short hauls,
present rates are too high even in
spite of increased wage and other
operating costs"
BY majority vote the PUG voted
last week to defer public hearings
on demands for reduced transit
fares until a formal investigation
of underlying data, started last year,
was completed. James H. Flanagan
PUG chairman, said public hearings
would be called sometime this sum-
mer.
Questions Under Study.
With Gregory Hankin dissenting
the PUG majority decided no useful
purpose would be served by order
ing hearings until basic facts,
which would stand up in court, had
been compiled on various questions
as to both local and interurban
service, raised by lower fare petit
tioners, which included the District,
Maryland and Virginia spokesmen
for the Congress of Industrial Or
CARNATIONS.
Questions being studied are fair
value, proper annual depreciation
charges, fair rate of return, and
reasonable, just and nondiscrimina-
tory rates to be charged the public,
along with transfers between the
Capital Transit Co. and the un-
affiliated suburban bus companies
serving Greaer Washington.
The position of peoples counsel
has been vacant during the most of
a decade. President Roosevelt has
failed to nominate for the post
though much of the time salary ap-
preparations have been available.
Coffee Explains Plan.
Mr. Coffee told The Star it is his
plan, at the forthcoming budget
hearings, to call for complete files
on the original budget estimates
Of all municipal departments and
services, so as to afford a knowledge
of their plans, what cuts or in
creases were made by the Com
nissioners and what changes were
included in the formal estimates
at the direction of the Federal
Budget Bureau. I'VE want to know
the whole history of the case" he
said, referring to past complaints
that some higher authorities had
deleted requests from the depart
mentS.
Before the committee hearings
start, he said, he plans to take the
Congressional group on a tour of
inspection of all important District
institutions. This would give the
committee a personal knowledge of
the needs Of Gallinger Hospital and
other city operations where con-
ditions or services have been in dis
pute.
Mr. Coffee also promised more
extended hearings would be granted
by his group for spokesmen for civic
and other public groups. They
should not be crowded into a one
day session, he asserted. He added
that it would be to the advantage
of Congress as well as the public,
for the committee to hear informed
individuals outline their requests
and protests.
He repeated his earlier declara-
tions that Washington's traffic
lights should be synchronized and
avoidable traffic blocks eliminated
and added this problem would be
considered fully at the hearings.