Evening star., 1952-08-22
Board
Delays Hearing
On Transit Fare
Will Resume Sept. 3
To Permit Study on
Proposed Increase
By WiIIiom A. MiIlen

NdP1LdA AIhuSIG 70. Iare increase
hearing to September 3 to permit
opponents to study testimony and
get more information.
After two opponents took the
witness stand at the close Of the
company's case yesterday after
noon at the Silver Spring Armory,
the commission announced the
case will resume at 1890 am. at
the commissions headquarters In
the Munsey Building in Balti-
more on September 3. Some 80
citizens attended yesterdays ses-
sion, brought to Silver Spring for
the convenience of the public.
Scent Increase Asked.
The company is seeking an in
crease Of 3 cents in the fare q
passenger must pay in the first
zone Of his ride in Maryland.
This would boost the present cost
of z cents to a dime for the first
zone, regardless of where it is
located.
The commission declined to re-
quire the company to make q
survey Of the origin and destina-
ton Of streetcar and bus pas
sengers. as requested by opposition
spokesmen.
But it granted their request for
additional information to be fur
nished by the company. The op-
ponents are seeking to cut down
the company's claimed losses in
Maryland, which total nearly
100000 yearly. They want
figures on ALLEGATION of profits
and losses as between the COM
pany's District operations and
those in Maryland.
Attorney George Spiegel, 1913
Northampton drive. Silver Spring,
who represents a number Of civic
groups, got commission permission
to obtain extensive information
from the company. This includes
totals for each Maryland in
trastate line in money and pas
Sengers, bus hours and streetcar
hours, and changes in service by
months since January l, 1949.
Attorney Is Chided.
Commission Chairman John H.
Hessey chided Mr.. Spiegel for
not being ready to go ahead with
cross examination yesterday
afternoon. The chairman said
Mr.. Spiegel had obtained COPIES
OF the company's exhibits in adj
vance from CTC Attorney r.
Gloyd Await.
Mr.. Spiegel said he was going
to make a strong protest" against
the commissions procedure.
MIR. Spiegel said he appeared
for the Montgomery County Civic
Federation. the Allied Civic Group.
Inc, Of Silver Spring and the
Prince Georges County Civic Fed
Grafton.
Peoples Counsel Joseph Allen
urged that a destination-and-
origin passenger survey be made
to determine the financial stu
alton as between the District and
Maryland. But Attorney Await
said the company would have to
hire expert checkers and such a
survey would take long time and
cost between $4,000 and SOS, 900.
Survey Not Permitted.
MIR. Allen even offered to have
the survey made, but Chairman
Hessey said such evidence would
not be permitted in this case be-
cause of the diversity of jurisdic-
ton over the company.
Commissioner Wilmer Fell Da-
Wis, at one point in the proceed
ingS. brought out that the present
owners Of the Capital Transit Co.
paid 81 to So million for property
that the company now says is
worth SIS million.
Robert E. Harvey, vice president
and controller of Capital Transit,
testified that based on present
values. the company's property is
worth SIS million. He said that,
based on original cost, the COM
pany's property altogether cost
$40 million.
He added that the company lost
$480, ,427 in it's Maryland intrastate
passenger service for the year
ended June 80. The operating loss
would be cut to 1922 ,525 annually, =,
Mr.. Harvey told the commission,
If the proposed fares of 10 cents
for the first zone of carriage are
made effective. He estimated a
10 per cent drop in passengers, II
the new fare is effective.
Mrs NJ C. Nixon of Brentwood
testified she thinks 10 cents is tool
much to pay for a ride.
Mrs. Frank Emmet. 13 Williams
lane, Chevy Chase, told the COM
mission if the increase is granted,
it will mean a Jump Of 233h per
cent over the past six years in
the fare.