Evening star., 1947-12-03
Capital Transit
Opens Plea on
Rates
Stote Body Hears
Proposal for Scent
Uniform Zone Fare
By J. B. Zotmon
Sfor Stoff CORRESPONDENT

Sfor Sfoff 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, peoples
counsel for the commission, asked
for a 30-day postponement on com.
pletion of the transit company's
arguments to enable him and the
opposition to study the exhibits ane
to prepare their case more fully
The request was taken under advise
ment.
Jurisdiction Questioned.
Roscoe Walter, Rockville, anc
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 it was a
matter to be determined by the
Interstate Commerce Commission
This also was taken under advise
ment by the commission.
P. Frederick Dryer, 3911 Madison
street, Hyattsville, who said he rep
resented approximately so Hyatts-
vile residents, read a prepared
statement charging that the com.
panys service in the Hyattsville
Riverdale and College Park areas
Is unsatisfactory.
present service rendered" Mr.
Dryer said, "is 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 o1
improved facilities"
Company Statement Read.
The company's opening statemen
was made by F. Gloyd Await, attor'
ney for the company, who said thi'
is the transit company's first peti
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 compan.
for additional rate increases in th'
future.
such uniform fares" Mr.. Avail
declared, will provide a sound ba
sis for experience in the immediate
future upon which the company car
base additional changes in its Mary
land fares in order that such ma!
provide sufficient revenue to cove
all costs =" -..
The attorney explained tina
mounting costs in both natertal
and labor have forced the compan!
to operate at a loss in Maryland.
Wages Also a Factor.
He said the company intends tx
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 made fol
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 $588,000 6
year. These figures, he asserted, d.
not include any allowance for fail
return on the company's invest
ment.
The proposed new fare schedule
if approved, still would result in ar
operating deficit Of about $178,O0(
a year if there is no loss in thu
number of passengers carried or
the company's Maryland lines, Mr.
Await said.
A spokesman for the compan!
said the firms presentation woult
toke aho,1t two daVS