Evening star., 1947-11-11
Maryland sc.
Calls Transit
Fare Hearing
Additional S275, 900
Yearly Is Sought by
Capital Company

NoPitdl NomPony
The Maryland Public Service
Commission will hold hearing
December 8 on the Capital Transit
Co.'s application for increased fares
in Maryland, which the company
estimates will bring in an additional
SITE, 900 year.
Frank Harper, secretary Of the
commission, said today the body
will make full investigation of the
company's application at the hear
ing. Officials Of the counties af-
fected and individuals will be given
an opportunity to testify, he said.
The hearings will be held in Balti-
more.
At the same time the company
asked for the increased Maryland
fares, it asked for permission to dis
continue the streetcar shuttle line,
Route "a, between Branchville and
Beltsvilie.
The commission in Baltimore set
this down for hearing on Decem-
ber 8.
Would Be Effective Dec. IL.
The new tariff the company filed
with the commission yesterday
would provide the rate increases go
into effect December IL.
This would involve the waiver of
q law requirement for 30-day notice.
William A. Carson, chairman of
the Board of County Commissioners
of Prince Georges County, said the
county authorities will not oppose
the higher Maryland fares before
the Public Service Commission.
II think, however, we will write
the Capital Transit Co. a letter stat
ing that we don't think the people
at this time should be taxed with
another increase" he said
He pointed out Prince Georges
County residents who work in Wash
ington already are paying the higher
District fares. The increase in the
District, from three rides for 25
cents to straight 10-cent fare and
from $125 to $3.50 for the weekly
pass, went into effect May II.
In stating the fare increase will
not be opposed before the commits
sion, Mr.. Carson added: "The Capt.
tai Transit knows how much the
service is costing them"
Federation in Opposition.
Louis A. Day, chairman of the
public Utilities Committee of the
Prince Georges County Civic Fed
Grafton, said, however, that organi-
zation will oppose the fare increase
at the hearing.
We'll 60 over there in body" +"
he said. But we don't expect much
consideration from the commission,
because we haven't been given much
consideration in the past.
Brooke Johns, chairman Of the
county commissioners in Montgom-
cry County, declined to forecast
what the action of the commits
sioners of that county would be,
But he said the commissioners will
meet today.
Were going to talk 1t over" he
said.
The new fare schedule would
place the suburban fares on a
straight scent cash fare for each
zone of about IL miles measured
from the District line.
Wide Variety of Fares.
At present there is a wide variety
Of fare arrangements. On some
Maryland lines, passengers now
purchase weekly passes at IS cents
a zone, communication tickets or cut
rate single trip tickets for as low
as, cents.
In some instances the passenger
may enjoy a decreased fare under
the new rates. On the East River
le-Cheverly line, for instance, the
cash fare is 10 cents over q dis
tance more than 11s miles. Those
beyond liz miles will continue pay
ing 10 cents, but those within the
1h-mile zone will pay only cents.
Here is an example of the in
crease q resident in a fourth zone
would encounter.
On the Garnett Park Line, LIS,
the resident in the fourth zone now
pay cents a zone. However, he
may buy 100 zone tickets for SO,
making the cost cents zone. But
the Scent tickets are not good for
the fourth zone, in which cents
must be paid, making the trip to the
District cost IA cents. Five round
trips week between District des-
tination and the fourth zone would
cost $1.4o beyond the county line
and 81 in the District, total of
$24o.
The rider now might otherwise
buy for $3.50 weekly pass good for
any number of rides in the District
and in the suburban area out to the
fourth zone.
Would End Zone Passes.
Under the new rates, there would
be no zone passes. The five round
trips a commuter would make
would cost him So.
Capital Transit said its operations
In Maryland resulted in losses OF
$425, 900 a year before Is cents an
hour wage increase was granted by
an arbitration board. The new
1areS, the company SdlQ, Woulu Hot
put the Maryland operations in the
black but would cut the loss to
around s150,00o.
In announcing the plans for in
creasing the Maryland fares the
company made no mention of any
plans to seek another fare increase
in the District. During the wage
hearings before the arbitration
board, the company said that, in
view of deficits met by the company
in some months of the past and
fcreseen for some months of the
future, a fare increase application
was probable even If wages were not
raised.
The wage increase granted will
add $2,310,000 to the total operating
expenses year, the company said.
The company has pointed out
that, with the exception of some
recently established lines, the Mary
land fares have heen UNCHANGED for