Evening star., 1946-05-14
0PA Asks Suspension
OF Arnold Bus Rate
Rise Pending Hearing

The Interstate Commerce Com
mission today was considering a re-
quest by the Office of Price Admins
tration for suspension of proposed
fare increase on the Arnold-op-
Grated buslines pending a hearing
In a letter to the commission yes
terday, OPA Administrator Porter
said the bus companys proposal
would raise the present 10-cent cash
fare in zone l to Is cents or two
tokens for Is cents. The increase
would become effective May % un-
less the ICC orders it suspended
pending a hearing.
Meanwhile, protests by approx
mately rs individuals and repre-
'sentatives of Arlington civic groups
against the increase were taken un-
der advisement by the Arlington
Public Utilities Commission follow
ing public hearing last night.
Porter Criticizes Proposal.
Sharply criticizing the proposal as
having serious inflationary conse-
quences," Mr.. Porter charged that
the bus company has not furnished
the OPA with the basic financial
data specified in the regulation re-
lating to its earnings and expenses.
He also asserted the company
has failed to present any infor-
nation tending to establish that it
is in need of additional revenues,
or that the proposed fares will be
just and reasonable under the pro-
visions of the Interstate Commerce
Commission or that existing fares
do not and will not produce an
adequate return"
Declaring that the company's re-
quest for increased fares is based
on current wage negotiations with
the union, Mr.. Porter pointed out
that the exact amount of its addi-
tional wage costs has not been de-
termined by the three-man board
of arbitration in the company
union dispute nor has it been
approved by the Wage Sterilization
Board"
Opposition Is Unanimous.
"The carriers patrons should not
be required to pay the increased
fares" Mr.. Porter said, 'in the
absence of clear showing by the
carrier that it cannot continue to
earn a fair and reasonable return
under existing fares and that it is
operating its property under eco
nomical and efficient management.
Such showing can only be made
upon a public hearing"
Opposition to the proposed in
crease was unanimous at the Public
Utilities Commission hearing. while
George A. Parker, a member and
former chairman Of the Public
Utilities Committee of the Arling-
ton Forest Citizens Association.
said the fare raise would drive
customers away from the bus COM
pany."
Asserting the Arnold business oper-
ates on IAN uneconomical basis -
Mr.. Parker said he seriously oues-
toned" If the Arnold Co. has the
right to continue to serve this
community in the poor manner
which they do. He referred to con-
tinual overcrowding of buses and
the operation of buses of inadequate
size. He suggested they might be
replaced by the Capital Transit Co.
He said he believes the COMPANY
with the best service and lowest
rates should get the franchise.
Wants Probe Of Union Demand.
Edward w. Kelly of the Westover
Citizens Association favored an in
vestigation of union demands for
pay increases amounting to $266 900
annually for approximately $50 en-
ployes. He stated he protested the
rate increase from this standpoint.
c. G. Van Schelven, speaking as
an individual, presented the COM
mission with petitions containing
253 signatures of bus riders protest.
ing the increase. They we're OBJ
tained, he said, on his regular bus
trips to and from Washington YES
terday.
j. Ninian Beall, Arnold attorney,
told the commission that approxi-
mately $4,000 out of 10000 daily
riders would be affected if the in
crease became effective.