Evening star., 1948-08-11

Clash at Transit
Fare Hearing
PUG Counsel Charges
Foe of 13-Cent Plan
Delays Proceedings
By Jerry O'Leory, JE

By Jerry o'Leory. il.
The Public Utilities Commissions
hearing on the Capital Transit Co.'S
request for higher streetcar and bus
fares erupted into another violent
argument between counsel today.
The clash between Assistant Cor
poration Counsel Lloyd B. Harrison.
counsel to the PUG, and Attorney
Harry R. Booth, representing groups
opp1ing the fare increase, occurred
during croSs-examination of v. A.
McElfresh, executive accountant and
auditor of the PUG.
Mr.. McElfresh was being ques-
toned by Mr.. Booth on his proposal
for substitute fare plan-a straight
13-cent cash fare, three tokens for
35 cents and a SITS weekly pass.
This would be an increase of cents
over the present cash fare, but
cents less than the company has
asked.
Booth Is Challenged.
A series Of questions had been put
to Mr.. McElfresh when MIR. Har-
rison leaped to his feet and shouted
that Mr. Booth had been retained
by the Washington Committee for
Consumer Protection only to delay
this case
Il won't take that! Mr.. Booth
shouted back.
You will take it," Mr.. Harrison
retorted, unless you can prove
otherwise. ] charge you are de-
liberately delaying this case"
I'm tell you why was retained
in this case" Mr.. Booth declared.
Il first decided not to accept it,
but then I was told that you had
stated in open court a week ago
Monday that the PUG had already
decided to grant this fare increase"
3-Judge Hearing Recalled.
He referred to a statutory three
judge hearing at District Court in
volving a controversy between the
transit company, the PUG and the
Interstate Commerce Commission on
whether the company need accept
joint Virginia. Washington fare
tickets.
Mr.. Harrison hotly denied he had
made such a remark.
NeWSpG permen, who were present
at the court proceeding. recalled
that Mr.. Harrison had mentioned
the possibility of a fare increase for
Capital Transit but said that he had
declared it was pending before the
PUG and had not been decided.
Mr. Booth declared he would call
Mr.. Harrison to the witness stand
to state just what had been said
at the court hearing.
Il am not witness here" Mr..
Harrison said.
"I'll make you one Mr.. Booth
replied.
Argument Is Stopped.
At that point, PUG Chairman
James H. Flanagan raped sharply
for order to end the pickering and
ruled there would be no further
argument.
Mr.. Booth then terminated his
cross saying he had
gone as far as he could with unfair
and constant" interruptions from
counsel.
Today's clash was the third time
in the two-week hearing that vio-
lent arguments have fiared over
the company's proposal to increase
cash fare from 10 to IS cents, REIN
state tokens at two for quarter
and increase the weekly pass from
$1.50 to $185.
Previous Clash Cited.
One of the previous clashes oc-
Cured yesterday when Mr.. Booth
asked Mr.. McElfresh If he had
broken down accounts between
the District and Maryland revenues
of the transit firm in making his
estimate of the situation. Mr.. Nc
Elfresh said he had not because Of
the number Of assumptions in
volved.
| Are you in the habit of ignoring
questions that involve accounting
difficulty?" Mr.. Booth wanted to
know.
Raymond Sparks, one of Capital
Transit's attorneys, interrupted the
cross examination at this point to
charge Mr.. Booth with deliberately
asking questions calculated to slow
up the hearing.
Denies Delaying Case.
| Mr.. Booth retorted: Il resent that.
I am well known as a defender OF
the public interest"
| Mr.. Harrison broke in to accuse
Mr.. Booth of delaying the case.
Just as he did in today's flare-up.
A few minutes later, Mr.. Booth
and Mr.. Flanagan engaged in a
brief furry. Mr.. Booth had asked
the witness to compute the revenue
Capital Transit would receive from
a 13-cent fare as applied to 1947's
volume of traffic.
II don't think the commission Is
interested in making such an ASST
nine calculation as that" Mr.. Flan-
again said.
II am sure the commission has
broad powers" Mr.. Booth started
to say, but Mr.. Flanagan interjected:
The chairman will not argue
with you. Get along with the cross
examtnation.'
Mr.. McEfresh testified he believes
the fare proposed by Capital Tran
sit would be too high. His own pro-
posai, he told the PUG, would bring
the company less than the author
tied rate OF return, but he added
that service cuts might reouce COM
pany expenses to compensate for
the lower return.