Evening star., 1947-12-04
kea@pIaI h5nSl
Presses Case on
Suburban Fares
Maryland Hearing
Told Company Loses
Money on Rates
By J. B. Zotmon
Stor Stoff Correspondent

By J. B. Zotmon
stor stoff Correspondent
BALTIMORE, Dec. 4.-The Cap.
ital Transit Co. today was to com.
plete arguments before. the Mary.
land Public Service Commission fol
approval Of its plan to establish uni.
form scent per zone fares on the
company's Maryland streetcar ane
buslines.
Under the proposal each of the
zones would extend approximately
IL miles. At present, they vary
from IN to more than 3 miles.
At the conclusion of the com.
pany's presentation, the commits.
sion is expected to rule on request
for continuation of the hearing te
enable the opposition to study the
exhibits and prepare its case more
fully.
Increase Due Next Thursday.
The proposed new fares are
scheduled to go into effect next
Thursday-30 days after the com.
pany filed application-unless the
commission orders otherwise.
Fred w. Cast and Mrs. Betty
Tayman, both of Cheverly, and Ar.
thur w. Brunei, Riverdale, leaders
of the opposition, expressed the hope
that the commission would grant a
delay in the hearing of at least a
month.
The commission also is expected
to act today on request by Philip
H. Dorse. jr., peoples counsel fol
the regulatory body, for postpone
emnt of the hearing scheduled Tues.
day on the transit company's pro.
posal to abandon the Beltsville.
Branchville shuttle streetcar line ir
Prince Georges County.
Company Shows Losses.
Most of yesterdays session was de-
voted to testimony by J. Edward
Heberle, company vice president and
controller, showing that the COM
pany is losing nearly 100000 an
nually on its Maryland operations.
Mr.. Heberle told the commission
that although the company has in
creased its service in Maryland by
58.8 per cent since 1945, it's reve-
nues have gone up only IA per cent
One of the more than a dozen
charts and itemized statements SUBJ
mitted by Mr.. Heberle showed that
even with the requested revenue in
crease of S409,466, the company still
would lose $178,688 a year.
If the Beltsville- -Branchville line
is abandoned and new fares ap-
proved, the companys annual op-
Grating loss in Maryland would
drop to s145,746, according to Mr..
Heberle
Figures on Year Basis.
Other statements showed that
S470.191 of the companys annual
operating loss of $588,154 in Mary
land results from bus operations.
The remaining $117,963 loss comes
from its streetcar lines, the state
ment showed
These figures, according to Mr.
Heberle, are based on revenues for
the 12-month period ended Sep
tember 80, 1947. He added that
passenger revenues in Maryland
represented Al per cent of the COM
pany's total revenues during that
period.
In the District of Columbia, he
said, the Public Utilities Commits
sion has allowed 71a per cent re-
turn. The company is operating
at loss there also, according to
E. c. Giddings. company vice presi-
dent.
Under examination by Mr.
Dorsey. Mr. Heberle said the opera
tions of the Q-1 and Q-3 buslines
in Prince Georges County were not
included in the loss statements.
The lines, which provided through
service from Riverdale to downtown
Washington, were discontinued last
month.
Hankin's Letter Discussed.
Mr.. Dorsey then quoted from a
letter signed by Gregory Hankin
former PUG member, which ap-
peared in The Star November Is
in which Mr.. Hankin said the
company has done pretty well
financially"
do you agree with that?" asked
Mr.. Dorsey.
Il certainly do not, was the reply
Isn't Mr.. Mankin considered an
expert on transit matters?"
Not by any one but himself Mr..
Herberle said
Mr.. Brunei attempted to bring out
In questioning tho witness whether
the company would increase its
Maryland revenues by providing
better service without having to in
crease its fares.
Another witness, o. Eugene Pen
ney, valuation engineer for the
company. estimated the present
fair value of property used and
useful" in the operation of the
company's Maryland lines at 3d.
367,064.
Earlier, H. Wilson Spicknall, pres
ident of the Hyattsville City Coun-
Gil, and Councilman Miriam L. Law
renee presented a resolution op-
posing the proposed new fares un-
less service is improved.
Also opposing the company's plan
was Frank Lastner, member of the
Greenbelt Town Council.
Green Granted New Trial