Evening star., 1950-04-15
A.B.&W.S Seeks
New Fare Boost
To Offset Loss
Operating Deficit
Put at $4,000 in
First Quarter of so

The Alexandria. Bancroft &
Washington Transit Co. will seek
a new fare increase.
This was disclosed by Beverly
c. May, vice president and gen.
eral manager of the line which
operates between Washington and
Alexandria and Fairfax County.
He said higher fares are needed
to offset operating losses which
totaled $4,000 the first three
of this year.
A. B. & W.'S neighboring bus
line. the Washington. Virginia e.
Maryland Coach Co.. yesterday
acted to boost its treasury w. v.
q M. familiarly known as the
Arnold line. asked the State Cor
poration Commission TO refund
81 7,l08,l8 in road taxes which it
claims should not have been col
lected.
Fewer Passengers Blamed.
Mr.. May blamed a decline IN
passengers for his A.. B. g. w.
losses. He said less people are
using non-ruSh hour service. OF
l9l buses owned by the company,
lO8 are operated during rush
hours only.
1t was emphasized the company
has been losing money with the
present salary scales. Bus drivers
and mechanics have been on
technical strike since July. l949,
but have continued working under
State management. Any increase
in their salaries, said Mr.. May,
will have to be reflected in the
fare increase.
According to Robert T. Mitchell,
assistant general manager of the
A, B. & w. firm. the company
has made three wage increase of
fers to the union but all were re-
jected.
The first. he said. was a pro-
posal for hour boost
made prior to the expiration of
the contract last July 81.
Schedule to Be Filed Soon.
In September the company Of
fered a 5-centS-an-hour increase
and in December an offer of 5
cents to take effect Immediately
plus another cents effective July
81. 1850, Mr.. Mitchell said.
He added a proposed new fare
schedule will be filed within the
next three weeks with both the
Interstate Commerce Commission
and the Virginia Corporation
Commission.
Amount of the proposed fare
increase was not disclosed.
In requesting the road tax re-
bate, the Arnold line told the
sec it had paid taxes based on
mileage travelled over Federal
highways.
These highways are not a part
Of the Virginia highway system.
said the company. and therefore
the Virginia tax on this mileage
should be invalid.
The bus company operates over
Mount Vernon boulevard between
Washington and Mount Vernon.
and also over numerous roadwayS
around the Pentagon Building.
which are Federally operated.
Arnold Service Attacked.
The Arnold busline's service yes
terday was attacked by the Ar
lington County Board. which re-
quested the ICC to suspend the
company's operating privileges un-
less there is an improvement.
The board. official governing
body of the county. renewed a
complaint first made in l947 and
held in allegiance
when the company received fare
increase.
During the past few months"
the boards petition said, "the
company's drivers again have be-
come discourteous to the public:
patrons have been personally
insulted by the company's en-
ployes and in certain instances
passengers have been assaulted by
the company'S drivers. 1t ap-
pears that the company (is)
totally disregarding the interest
and needs of the public"
The board requested a formal
hearing on its complaints and an
order from ICC requiring "ade-
quate, safe and efficient service"