Evening star., 1948-08-14
PUG Fare Rise
Ruling Expected
After Sept. |
Tempers Flare at
Final Hearing on
Capital Transit PIeo

The Public Utilities Commission Is
not expected to rule before Septem.
ber ! on the Capital Transit Co. Is
request for streetcar and bus fare
Increase.
The final session of the hearings
on the petition, which began on
July 13, was held yesterday after
noon, accompanied by the display OF
bad feelings on all sides which has
been apparent throughout the pro-
ceedings
PUG Chairman Flanagan ruled
that attorneys opposing the fare in
crease, and Peoples Counsel John
O'Dea, will have until August q to
file briefs.
Compromise Proposed.
The transit company wants the
10-cent cash fare to be increased to
IS cents, with tokens at two for Is
cents, and the price of the weekly
pass, now $150, raised to $1.85. A
counter proposal offered by v. A.
McElfresh, PUG auditor, would raise
the fare to l3 cents cash, three tok-
ems for 35 cents, and would increase
the cost of a weekly pass SITS.
Charles H. Houston, colored law
yer and former member of the
Presidents Fair Employment Prac-
tices Committee, yesterday accused
the transit company of not "at-
tempting in good faith" to hire
colored streetcar and bus operators
during the war.
Mr.. Houston said the company
could overcome its employment
difficulties and provide better serv-
ice, if it would employ colored
operators. He pointed out that,
during the war, only one Negro
actually got a chance to man a
streetcar, and his opportunity failed
when white streetcar operators re-
fused to take him on training trips.
mo attempt was made by the
transit company to break through
this resistance" he declared. No
attempt was made to discipline the
employees or to ask supervisory en-
ployes to train the Negroes"
Merrill Defends Actions.
E. D. Merrill, Capital Transit Co..
president, took the stand later In
the day to deny Mr.. Houstons ac-
cusations. He said the company
had acted in good faith, but the
experiment had failed.
The hearing was closed promptly
after all the witnesses present had
been heard, despite attempts by
Harry R. Booth, counsel for the
Washington Committee for Con-
sumner Protection, to have 1t con-
tinued after Labor Day so he could
obtain more witnesses.
During these attempts by Mr..
Booth to prolong the hearing, tenn
pers began to show again, as both
Mr.. Flanagan and PUG Member
James w. Lauderdale tried to pin
him down as to whether he had
other witnesses and who they were.
'I have no further witnesses at
this time" Mr.. Booth said several
times.
Finally, Mr.. Lauderdale, red IN
the face, shouted: .
Now, listen. I've heard that for
the last time. Get up on your feet
and tell me if you have any wit
nesses to call at any time"
Booth Reads Statement.
Mr.. Booth took exception to the
outburst and said all he wanted
was a reasonable opportunity to
answer and wanted to read a short
statement. He finally was allowed
to read it.
In it he charged that the transit
company, under efficient manage
ment. could show a profit on the
present rates; that under the re-
quest rate schedule, the return to the
company would be exhorbitant, and
that the company's allegations that
business is falling off are erroneous.
He said he needed more time to
get witnesses to prove these points.
1T is perfectly obvious that you
have no further witnesses" Mr.
Flanagan said.
Mr., Booth, however, did produce
several women, associated with the
Washington Committee for Con-
sumer Protection, who testified
briefly. Then after Mr.. Merrill
testified, the chairman adjourned
the hearing.
Afterwards the consumers group
issued a statement condemning the
"unwarranted and vicious attack
on Mr.. Booth by transit company
lawyers and PUG members. The
statement said the PUG was not
locking out for the interests of the
people and were shocked" that any
one would oppose the fare increase.