Evening star., 1948-07-15
Fare Rise Seen
Despite Transit
Hearing Recess
PUG to Study Books
Of Company, Hear
Opposition Aug. a
By Jerry O'Leary, Jr.

Public Utilities Commission hear.
ings on the Capital Transit Co.'S
request for higher streetcar and bus
fares will be resumed on August
for opposition arguments, but it
appeared certain today that the
PUG will grant fare increases with
in months time.
Chairman James H. Flanagan
ordered the recess late yesterday
after two days of testimony by COM
pany witnesses and q flutter Of op-
position testimony by six persons.
During the interval, PUG experts
will examine company books and
records and the three-man commits
sion will study the evidence.
Three interveners-the Federation
of Citizens Associations, the Amer
ican Veterans Committee and
Americans for Democratic Action
will be permitted to cross-examine
Capital Transit witnesses and in
troduce their own when the hearing
is resumed.
Capital Transit seeks a f1ve-cent
cash fare increase from 10 to is
cents, restoration of tokens at two
for quarter and an increase of the
weekly pass price from $3.50 to
$1.85.
Struggle Over Recess Time.
Opponents of the proposed fare
increase waged a strong fight to set
the recess period for a month,
while Attorney F. G. Await, repre-
senting the company, sought only
q To-day adjournment. Peoples
Counsel John O'Dea pleaded that
three weeks is insufficient time for
him to examine the Capital Transit
evidence. He was supported by
Attorney Benjamin c. Sigal, repre-
senting the ADA.
The appearance of only six op-
posing spokesmen came somewhat
as letdown, inasmuch as upwards
of 10 organizations had notified the
PUG of their wish to appear against
the proposal Notable among or
ganizationS failing to show up for
yesterdays session was the Com
munist Party.
One opposition witness, the Rev.
T. Ewell Hopkins, pastor Of the
First Baptist Church of West
Washington, speaking for the Pro-
gressive Party, demanded that the
PUG make rigorous" examination
of the Capital Transit accounting
system. He declared the proposed
increase would work the greatest
hardship on the low-income workers.
Others Oppose Increase.
Miss Gertrude Evans, speaking for
the Washington Industrial Union
Council (CIO) also opposed the fare
increase. So did Mrs. Helen Shon-
ick of the Kitchen and Pastry
Workers Union; Mrs. Asho Grain,
League of Women Shoppers; Orville
Dick, International Association Of
Macninists and Mrs Frances Klaf-
ter, Washington Committee for
Consumer Protection.
Supporting the fare increase were
John v. Case, an economist, and
Mrs. Grace Van Casteel, mem
ber of the Georgetown Citizens
Association.
A compromise increase was pro-
posed by Leverett A. Meadows.
president of the Manor Park Citf-
zens' Association. He suggested
12-cent cash fare. five token for
55 cents and a $165 weekly pass.
Company witnesses included j. E.
Heberle, vice president and con-
troller, and E. D. Merrill, president.
Both men testified that Capital
Transit needs the fare increase to
meet increased costs of operation
and equipment, to provide for nec-
essary expansion and to make the
company attractive to investors.
They said the company will go into
the red in the next year, If the in
crease is not granted.