Evening star., 1947-09-27

Despite the fare increase, the
number of Capital Transit Co. pas
sengers dropped less this year than
it did during the average prewar
spring decline, according to testi-
mony of transit workers in the hands
of an arbitration board today.
At the same time, the AFL union,
representing 1000 company en-
ployes seeking a IS per cent wage
boost, told the board yesterday that
Wasllington's living costs are ex-
ceeded only by those in Newark,
N. j., among cities in its class.
The board, which sat at the Ra-
leigh Hotel, also was informed that
streetcar operators and bus drivers
here are getting less pay than those
in other large cities.
Meets Again Monday.
The board will meet again Mon
day, when the union will present
evidence on wage rates for public
utilities employees here and elsewhere.
Board sessions began last Monday
in an effort to write a new contract
to replace that which expired
June 80.
Meanwhile, the transit employees
are working under the old contract.
The union, which is expected to end
it's case early next weei.,tasks that
any arbitration award be retroactive
to July l.
The board yesterday afternoon
heard evidence on transit employees
wages in other cities. The unions
case showed: Compared with the
Capital Transit, rate Of $120 an
hour for bus drivers and streetcar
operators, a top rate. OF. SLAP an
hour is paid in Detroit, Chicago and
Seattle and will be in Pittsburgh
after November /; s1.36 in San
Francisco, $780, in Springfield,
Mass; $1.35 in Los Angeles and San
Diego, Calf. and Worcester, Mass;
$1.30 in Providence, R. L., and st.
Louis: $1.23 in Atlanta, Ca, and
$l.21 in Birmingham, Ala.
Eli L. Oliver, union spokesman,
put into the record figures intended
10 show the high cost of living here.
Gives Examples.
He used Was ington cost of living
figures for June, 1947. as a base of
100 and told the board only Newark,
with costs per cent above those
in the Capital, is more expensive
place to live among cities of around
the million population mark. Mr..
Oliver said, in 1e45. Washington and
San Francisco living costs were the
same, but that now they are 2 per
cent lower in the California city.
He said, in June, Los Angeles costs
were per cent lower than Wash
ington's, and Chicagos l per cent
lower.
Citing annual reports of public
bodies, Mr.. Oliver de-
clared Washington has more revenue
per vehicle mile than any
other metropolitan area of over
/ 100000 population. Washington,
he added, also had more passengers
per vehicle hour. although it was
tied with Boston in this category.
He declared Washington in 1916 had
the greatest number of revenue
producing passengers, compared
with the number of operating en-
ployes, of any city in its class.
Mr.. Oliver cited the May II fare
increase given the transit company
and said, in the face of this, the
company lost fewer passengers dur
ing the spring than It did under
the pattern set before the war.
Mr.. Oliver put into the record a
study, based on Census Bureau fig
ures, showing the Washington Met
ropolitan District is most likely to
retain its wartime growth. This was
based on figures showing prewar
population increases.
A September II story from The
Star, quoting the annual report of
the Minimum Wage and Industrial
Safety Board for the fiscal year
1947, was placed in evidence. This
showed an increase of 10000 in pri-
vate employment here.
When a company spokesman sug-
yested this shows employees dropped
by the Federal Government are
going into private industry here, Mr..
Oliver declared the number of Fed
eral layofis was less than the gain
In rrivate industry