Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-24
broddWdter
To Ask New
Increase
Blasts Commission
Action for Decline
In Transit Revenue

day looSed a blast of criticism
at the Public Utilities Commits
sion and confirmed that the
company soon would ask a new
fare increases.
Mr.. Broadwater said the fare
increase that went into effect
earlier this month has cut the
company's revenue. He asserted
it is a positive step" toward
public ownership and operation
of the company.
Sets Revenue Loss 7.8 Pct.
The fare increases, Mr.. Broad
water said. was expected by the
commission to give the company
an additional Sis million a
year. Instead. he said, in the
first week of the new fare scale.
revenue fell So per cent below
that of the comparable week of
last year and in the second week
1T declined 7.8 per cent.
There is no doubt that we
will soon have to approach the
Public Utilities Commission for
another fare adjustment" Mr..
Broadwater said. He said the
company faces an operating cost
increase of 81 million in July.
The commissions attitude, he
declared, seems to be forcing
public ownership, and the COM
mission appears to have no in
terest in the survival Of the COM
pany as a private enterprise.
If public ownership comes, he
said. the responsibility will lie
with the commission.
Raps Utilities Commission.
The text of Mr.. Broadwater's
statement follows:
News stories which have ap-
peared in the past few days in
dicating that Capital Transit's
revenues and passengers are de-
Ginning clearly indicate the lack
Of appreciation on the part of
the Public Utilities Commission
of the Importance of transit to
the welfare and prosperity of
our community.
"The new fare structure which
was put in effect over the COM
pany'S vigorous objections is a
positive step in the direction of
bringing about public ownership
and operation of Capital Transit
whether the p. U. C.sis or is not
cognizant, of chat fact. Il
THE new fare, contrary to esti-
mates of the PUS's staff and
the testimony of outside experts
engaged by the PUG. is misera-
BILE failure. They we'll fiat on
their faces. This verifies our
contention that the PUG is but
rendering a lip service to main
tanning Capital Transit in a
financially healthy condition. If
Capital Transit is to endure UNI
der private ownership and oper-
alton, a realistic rather than a
lip service approach is necessary
Calls Comparison Invalid.
1.-THE comparison of total pas
sengers for the first two weeks
under the present fare structure
with the same period last year
is not valid on its face. The
weekly pass, in effect at. this
time last year. had one basis for
the counting of passengers. the
weekly permit, in effect now, has
an entirely different basis for
counting passengers. However,
the revenue figures are the real
figures for the basis of COMPARE
SON.
"T'he PUG experts testified
that the present fare structure
would produce the increase in
revenues needed to meet the
higher expenses incurred last
year.
The new fare structure is de-
veloping, instead. a decrease in
revenues, So per cent less for the
first week; 7.8 per cent for the
second week, over the compare
BILE weeks of a year ago. It would
be almost a miracle to expect a
reversal of this to any signifi-
cant degree.
Thic is a far cry from the
trend expected by the PUG and
intended to develop $1,15O, 900 in
additional revenue. The PUG
made this recent rate order,
which is forcing the company
into a deficit operation and
therefore they cannot evade full
responsibility.
Expects New Rate Plea.
There is,,no doubt that we
will soon have to approach the
P. U. c. for another fare adj
justment. We face 81 million
in additional operating costs as
of July l, 1854. With the present
fare structure not producing
what the P. U. c. expected, it is
imperative that the company,
through no fault of its own,
must ask for more revenue.
1.-THE attitude of the p. U. C.,
up to this point, whether know
ingly or not, seems to be the
forcing Of public ownership by
substituting its own judgment
and that of outside experts for
the Judgment of the company.
We cannot subscribe to the con-
tinuation Of this policy without
accepting the fact that the
p. U. c. has no interest in q
survival Of Capital Transit as q
private enterprise. If public
ownership comes about, the re-
SpOnSibility must he nlaced II,