Evening star., 1947-12-03
Capital 1}ns&]S
Opens Plea on
Maryland Rates
Stute Body Hears
Proposal for Scent
Uniform Zone Fare
Rv 4 7aSnan
By J. B. Zotmon
Stor Stoff Correspondent

BALTIMORE, Dec. 3.-The Capital
Transit Co. today began arguments
before the Maryland Public Service
Commission here to support its pro-
posal for uniform 5-cent-per-zone
fares on its Maryland streetcar and
bus lines.
The hearing room was filled to
capacity with company officials and
representatives of civic and trans
portation organizations, principally
from Prince Georges County.
Immediately after the hearing
opened, Philip Dorsey, people, S
counsel for, the commission, asked
for a 3o-day postponement on COM
pletion of the transit company's
arguments to enable him and the
opposition to study the exhibits and
to prepare their case more fully.
The request was taken under advise
ment.
Jurisdiction Questioned.
Roscoe Walter, Rockville, and
Louis A. Day, chairman of the
Public Utilities Committee Of the
Prince Georges County Civic Fed
Grafton, then contended that the
commission did not have jurisdic-
ton in the case and that 1t was a
matter to be determined by the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
This also was taken under advise
ment by the commission.
P. Frederick Dryer, 39ll Madison
street, Hyattsville, who said he rep
resented approximately so Hyatts-
vile residents, read a prepared
statement charging that the COM
pany's service in the Hyattsvllle
Riverdale and College Park areas
is unsatisfactory.
Present service rendered" Mr.
Dryer said, lis a good so per- cent
under prewar standards. The re-
sultant savings all have gone to the
transit company while the public
has received nothing in the way OF
improved facilities"
Company Statement Read.
The company's opening statement
was made by F. Gloyd Await, attor-
ney for the company, who said this
is the transit eompany's first petit
ton for rate increases in Maryland
since it was organized in 1888.
At the same time he left the dool
open for requests by the company
for additional rate increases in the
future.
Such uniform fares Mr.. Await
declared, will provide a sound ba-
sis for experience in the immediate
future upon which the company can
base additional changes in its Mary
land fares in order that such may
provide sufficient revenue to cover
all costs ~"
The attorney explained that
mounting costs in both materials
and labor have forced the company
to operate at loss in Maryland.
Wages Also Factor.
He said the company intends to
show that on the basis of the r.
month period ended October 81, the
company's operating expenses ex-
ceeded revenues in Maryland by
$457 900. He added this was be-
fore any allowance was mace lot
increased costs resulting from the
recent arbitration award granting
wage increases to employees.
With these wage increases, Mr
Await pointed out, expenses exceed
revenues by more than S56S,OOO a
year. These figures, he asserted, DC
not include any allowance for tan
return on the companys invest
ment.
The proposed new fare schedule
II approved, still would result in ar
operating deficit of about S178,0O(
year If there is no loss in the
number of passengers carried or
the company's Maryland lines, Mr.
Await said.
A spokesman for the company
said the firms presentation woule
take about two days.