Evening star., 1947-10-03
TwoGroupsSeek
Reconsideration
OF Bus Fare Rise
Review by Full ICC
Of fArnoId Line Order
Asked in Arlington

Vt VV ~
Asked in Arlington
Reconsideration by the full, IL.
member Interstate Commerce Com.
mission of an order granting 1ns
creased fares on virtually all lines
of the Washington, Virginia d
Maryland Coach Co. (Arnold Lines)
will be asked by at least two Airing.
ton groups.
Division 3 of the ICC, which hans
dies motor carrier rate cases, yes.
terday issued the order providing the
raises which gave the company
practically everything it asked in
hearings last June. The order pro-
vided the new fares could 60 into
effect on one days notice to the ICC
by the company.
This was amended later In the day
by the 1CC to require 10 days
notice. The action followed q peti.
ton for a two-weeks' "stay" on the
effective date filed by Francis j.
Ortman, Arlington Bus Riders AS
sociation president. The petition
had the concurrence of the Arling-
ton Public Utilities Commission and
Colonial Village, Inc.
New Petition Due in 10 Days.
Had it not been for Mr.. Ortman's
petition, the new fares would have
gone into effect tomorrow because,
1t was learned, the Arnold Lines
yesterday filed the new tariff to
become effective October 4. The
company had announced yesterday,
however, that a decision would be
reached next week" regarding the
effective date of the new charges.
Mr.. Ortman said petitions for
reconsideration would be filed with
in the next 10 days on behalf of his
association and the PUG. It was
thought Colonial Village and the
Arlington Civic Federation, which
had opposed the increases, also
would join in the requests.
LAS. it stands now,' Mr.. Ortman
said, "the Arnold Lines have won
a complete victory in the case. They
are getting everything they asked
for"
New Fares Under Order.
Under yesterdays order, cash
fares are increased cents in the
first, second, third and fifth zones
and 10 cents in the fourth zone.
Fares in the sixth zone, the ICC
ruled, remain the same A system
of tokens, selling four for so cents.
is put in effect by the order and
will be, used in all zones in lieu Of
the first cash fare, with two ex-
ceptions.
The tokens do not apply between
Fairfax and Washington and inter-
mediate points on the line via Chain
Bridge and Virginia route 1913. Nor
will they be used between Washing
ton and the Pentagon, the Navy
Annex and the Virginia ends of
Memorial and Highway Bridges z
Rides to the Pentagon are not af-
fected and the transfer agreement
with the Capital Transit Co. Is not
disturbed by the order.
Order Refers to Protests.
In yesterdays order, the COM
mission referred to protests made at
hearings on the increases last June,
saying the principal argument of
opponents to a fare increase was
that "the service was and is SO un-
satisfactory that the present fares
are excessive for the service rem
dered."
THE company conceded the serv.
ice was bad and breakdcWns fre-
quent," the commission continued.
that trips missed because of break
downs were not made up, and that
passengers might easily nave waited
an hour or more for service. p" = ="
THE company maintains, however,
that the service is improving largely
because of the new equipment but
that it can become satisfactory only
with an increase In fares
When Manuel ]. Davis, Washing
ton attorney, acquired control of the
company, the ICC stated, he main
tanned Individual ownership of tho
terminal but Immediately took ad-
vantage of the fact to increase the
rent"
Lease Held Exorbitant.
"The present lease, if continued
in effect for 10 years would gross two
and one-fifth times Mr.. Davis total
cash investment. This is clearly ex-
orbitant. The ideal readjustment of
this transaction would be to transfer
ownership of the terminal to the
corporation and charge to expense
the normal costs of ownership"
The commission estimated, on the
basis Of a reported daily average of
10000 passengers, that each increase
of i cent in the fares would in
crease company revenues by approx
imately $4,000 month. A 2.5 cents
increase in token fares, assuming
that all riders used tokens, would in
crease revenues about $25,000 .
month, the commission found.
I'm our opinion an increase of this
amount is not excessive" the COM
mission stated