Evening star., 1950-05-26
ICC Will Hear
Plea for Higher
Pentdgon Fare
Baltimore Decision
Has No Affect on
Capital Transit Case

Higher bus fares between the
District and the Pentagon became
possibility today when the Inter-
state Commerce Commission
agreed to hearings on the subject
At the same time, it was indi-
Gated that the Capital Transit
Co.'S request for higher District
fares will not be affected by an
adverse decision yesterday on a
similar Baltimore proposal.
The ices decision to re-ex-
anime District-Virginia rates was
based on petitions of the Alexan-
dria, Bancroft & Washington
Transit Co. and the Washington,
Virginia & Maryland Coach Co.
These companies wish to raise
the single-ride fare from the
Pentagon and other Virginia
points to the District from 10 to
is cents.
Want End of 16-Cent Fare.
They also wish to abolish the
present 16-cent fare charged when
the Capital Transit Co. also is
used on a trip. Under present
arrangements, Capital Transit now
receives Z cents and the Virginia
companies 9 cents of the fare.
In a similar proposal, Capital
Transit also is asking ICC that
Pentagon-bound passengers be
forced to pay Is cents to Virginia
transfer points. Thus if both petit
tions were allowed, the District
Virginia passenger might pay 80
cents instead of the present 16
cents.
The Defense Department has
asked for public hearings to justi-
fy the increases. The bus COM
panies take the position that the
conditions of 1947 no longer exist.
At that time the joint fare was
ordered at the request of the Army,
which said high-cost transporta-
ton was making it difficult to fill
low-salaried jobs.
Capital Transit Hearings Over.
AS to Capital Transit's request
for general rate increase here,
the PUG pointed out that final
briefs have been filed and the
record closed on lengthy hearings.
For that reason, the Baltimore
decision yesterday will not obtain
here.
The Baltimore Transit Co., like
Capital Transit, asked fiat fare
of Is cents. an increase of cents.
Following the denial by the Mary
land Public Service Commission,
the Baltimore company today ap-
pealed to the Circuit Court of
Appeals, complaining of "unlaw-
full action" The company said it
could not operate with losses of
about So million year.
Until final decision is reached,
the company asked the court to
order the increased fares into
effect.
VCChtJ Il ass ASSuCs
In addition to the cash fare in
crease, Capital Transit has re-
quested permission to sell tokens
at six for 80 cents and permission
to abandon the weekly pass.
Present fares are 13 cents cash,
three tokens for 35 cents and a
weekly pass for SITS.
PUG Accountant V. "A. Nc
Elfresh and Peoples Counsel John
O'Dea have recommended the
15-cent cash fare, four tokens for
SO cents and weekly passes
for $2.25.
District officials are interested
In the Baltimore decision and in
dicate they plan to study it.
The Maryland PSC suggested
the Baltimore company stave off
bankruptcy by improving service
to attract more customers, work
out a system of rates that would
charge more for long rides, seek
relief from heavy taxes and try
to effect some economies.
Increased fares would lead only
to resentment among passengers
and further decreases in passen-
ger traffic, the Maryland body
commented.