Evening star., 1948-04-23
Maryland Fare
Boost Granted
Capital Transit
MiIe-ond-HoIf Zone
Charge Of 5 Cents
Authorized by PSC

Fare increases on Capital Transit
Co. lines in Maryland, costing riders
an estimated $400, 900 monthly. were
granted yesterday by the Maryland
Public Service Commission.
An order entered at Baltimore au.
thorizes a fiat scent charge for
each mile-and-a-half zone in Prince
Georges and Montgomery Counties
and allows elimination Of weekly
passes.
The Public Service Commission
provided a special rate for school
children of five zone tickets for Is
cents, but there was some question
today whether Capital Transit con-
sidered itself bound by this provision.
Trolley Line Retained.
In another order the PSC denied
the transit firms request for au-
thority to abandon the shuttle troll
ley line between Beltsville and
The commission said
continued operation was required by
public convenience and necessity
The commission authorized the
new fare schedule at any time after
May 2 but decreed that Capital
Transit give at least five days notice
of the change.
E. C. Giddings, a vice president
OF Capital Transit, said the legal
nature OF the fare proceedings was
such that the company would not
be required to sell the bargain price
school tickets If 1t waits until May
to revise the rates.
Mr.. Glddings explained that Cap
ital Transit filed new tariff simul-
taneously with the filing of a petit
ton for immediate relief" Under
the Maryland law, he said, the tariff
would have become effective auto
matically 80 days after its filing.
had not the PSC issued staying
order.
Not on Schedule.
The order gave the PSC time to
conduct hearings on the petition.
The commissions ruling, said Mr..
Giddings. is on the petition and not
on the tariff schedule. The COM
pany position is that it has the
alternative of accepting the ruling
which contains the school ticket re-
striction or waiting until the tariff
staying order expires and then ap-
plying the tariff.
The staying order, which has been
extended the limit permitted, ex-
pires May 9.
Mr.. Giddings said Capital Transit
officers will decide today which
course to follow.
Both the fare increase and the
shuttle trolley abandonment were
fought vigorously by Maryland pa
irons of the transit lines. Organ
lied opposition was centered in
Prince Georges, which stands to
bear the burden of the higher
charges.
Claims S5SS,000 Loss.
The company contended it lost
$588 900 last year on its Maryland
operations. The new rate schedule,
which goes into effect five days
after Capital Transit notifies the
PSC and the public, will add an
estimated 100000 to the firms an
nual revenues.
Taking note of what 1t called an
"ominous warning" in the COM
pany's original petition, the COM
mission said it hoped further rate
increases would not be necessary
1t ordered Capital Transit to make
every possible economy
The utility originally had said the
new fares would provide basis for
additional changes In its Maryland
fares in order that such fares may
provide sufficient revenue to cover
all costs"
The commission added that it
hopes the company will see the
wisdom of making certain that the
character of the service provided by
it Is sufficient to avoid justified
criticism
1t is common practice, the PSC
noted, for carriers ito provide for
the transportation Of school children
at fares somewhat less than avail
able for persons who are employed"
The commission dismissed survey
of 3,l40 persons taken by Prince
Georges citizens as mot helpful"
The survey tried to show what times
and how many persons used street.
cars, how many used automobiles
and what people might do If fares
were increased.