Evening star., 1949-11-29
Arnold Bus Line
CHALLENGED
AS Fare Witness
Arlington Protests
Testimony Unless He
Speaks for Stute

Speaks for State
The problem of whether Wash
ington, Virginia and Maryland
Coach Co. (Arnold Line) officials
are now spokesmen for the State
of Virginia, which seized their
strike threatened line on Novem-
ber 2, today faced Interstate Com
merce Commission Examiner j. j.
Williams in the fare increase
hearing.
The company, operating be-
tween the District and nearby
Fairfax and Arlington Counties.
has asked generally for a scent
fare increase in each of its zones.
Attorney Lester r. Conley rep
resenting the Arlington County
Board, which is challenging the
increase, yesterday afternoon made
a motion to throw out the testi-
mony of Bernard Wahle, the firms
general manager. unless he is
speaking for the State of Virginia.
Examiner Williams took this TN
der advisement. Mr.. Wahle YVES
slated to continue under cross
examination on the witness stand
today.
Under Commission Direction.
The Virginia State Corporation
Commission is now supervising the
lines bus operations, under orders
of Governor Tuck, operating un-
der the Public Utilities Labor Re-
lations Act. The company is act
ing as the operating agent for the
State.
The company's attorney, S.
Harrison Kahn, planned to confer
with Attorney General j. Lindsey
Almond of Virginia to clarity the
situation. Mr.. Kahn earlier had
told Examiner Williams none of
the company employees is qualified
to speak for the State of Virginia
or to say how long the State will
continue to operate the transpor-
tation system.
In an exchange late yesterday,
Mr.. Kahn accused Mr.. Conley OF
failing to prepare himself fully
for the hearing. The Arlington
counsel had asked permission to
postpone cross-examination of all
busline witnesses until the COM
pany had presented its entire
case. He said he wanted time
to examine the utility's exhibits.
Objects to Procedure.
Mr.. Kahn objected to any such
procedure, commenting that Mr..
Conley had failed to avail him.
self of commission facilities to OBJ
tain information he might need.
The examiner refused to grant the
postponement. -..--.-.---,.-
Mr.. Wahle said the company Is
losing more than 5000 a day.
taking into account the Sep
tember 8 labor arbitration award
giving workers increases Of from
10 to II cents an hour.
The witness said there Is q short
peak period here because of the
Government employees and he told
Examiner Williams:
If it were possible to shift the
Government hours Is or 80 min
utes in the morning and at night.
we could carry thousands more
with the same equipment.
State Not Paying Increases.
Mr.. Wahle disclosed the State
Of Virginia is not paying the ar
bitration award increases, but that
the company feels this is an obli-
cation, which it is carrying on its
books. The company applied to
the ICC for the fare increase on
the ground 1t does not have the
money to meet the pay raise
otherwise.
Based on the present situation,
operating costs cannot be reduced.
Mr.. Wahle testified. He conceded
it would be possible for the COM
pany to lease buses and pay q
monthly rental for them. He tes-
titled he has been trying to make
an arrangement with another op-
orator" whom he did not name, to
use his suses when they would
otherwise be idle to to reduce his
cost per mile.
The general manager said, I'VE
have lot Of nickel fares in Vir-
ginia that we feel should be 10
cents" He declared it may be-
come necessary to abandon some
Improbable lines. but he promised
rush-hour operations will continue
to get the people to and from work.