Evening star., 1948-01-15
Fare Boost HEARINGS
Postponed Indefinitely y
By Maryland PSC
By WiIIiom A. MiIIen
Stor Stoff CORRESPONDENT

BALTIMORE, Jan. 15.-With rep
resentatives of Montgomery and
Prince Georges County split over
fare increased proposed for those
areas by the Capital Transit Co.,
the Maryland Public Service Com
mission has postponed indefinitely
public hearings on the matter be-
cause of a crowded docket.
The action was, taken yesterday
and Chairman Charles Bosley said
Peoples Counsel Phillip H. Dorsey,
jr., will notify those desiring to be
advised when they are resumed,
probably within three weeks.
Montgomery County spokesmen in
the transit company case pleaded
only for low uniform fare for
Maryland school children and did
not oppose other increases the COM
pany has asked for.
Changes Protested.
Prince Georges County representa-
tives, however, vigorously protested
the new rate schedules filed by the
company with the commission, set
ting up a uniform zone system with
scent fares. This opposition is
headed by Gregory Hankin, former
chairman of the District Public Util-
tiles Commission.
Company officials claimed Mont
gomery County riders have been
carrying" the Prince Georges
County passengers by assuming an
undue share of the firms financial
burden, now sought to be equalized
Chairman Bosley told Mr.. Han
kin at one point he was wasting
time and said the hearings were
getting nowhere" Mr.. Hankin re-
peatedly hammered away at the
contention that company figures
did not reveal the true situation.
Hearing Recessed.
The hearing recessed with ]. Ed
ward Heberle, company vice presi-
dent and controller, on the witness
stand under cross examination by
Mr.. Hankin, who argued he wanted
the company to produce basic data
on which its exhibits are based. Mr..
Heberle testified the company
charges the proper amount of ex-
penses to Maryland operations, as
shown in its exhibits.
The company has agreed to make
available to Mr.. Hankin some of it's
records on various angles of the
case, including valuation expenses
and officers salaries and duties.
At one point Mr. Hankin declared
the company has failed to make out
a case and said he wanted to know
if Marylanders should support the
large transit company organization
In the District, which he said was
out of proportion to services rem
dered.
The commission overruled Mr..
Hanken's request to put an electric
meter on the Branchville trolley line
to determine the amount Of power
consumed. Chairman Bosley said
the commission did not think the
company should be put to that ex-
pense at this time.
Brooke yehns Testifies.
Yesterdays session was marked
by the appearance on the witness
stand of Brooke Johns, president of
the Montgomery County Board of
Commissioners, and County Super
visor Irving G. McNayr. Both said
they are vitality interested in con-
tinuing the Montgomery rate of 100
rides for So for school children.
They also declared they did not
object to a fair rate of return on
the compaisy's investment, adding
they were sure the commission
would protect the public interest.
Albert E. Conradis, public utilities
agent for Montgomery County, said
he would have more testimony later.
Prince Georges residents attend
ing the hearing included Walter F.
Mulligan, president of the Prince
Georges County Civic Federation
and chairman of the County Joint
Transportation Committee; Fred w.
Cast, federation treasurer and
member of the committee; Mrs.
Betty Tayman, chairman of the
Transportation Committee of the
County Federated Women's Clubs,
and Louis A. Day, chairman OF the
federation's Public Utilities Com
mittee.