Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-11
Plan for Higher
Fares for Pupils
Being Studied
Utilities Commission,
In Recess, to Report
After August l8

EbNSs N0S oSA ~
The Capital Transit Co. rate
increase case was in another of
its recesses today, with the Dis
trict Public Utilities Commits
sion studying, among other
things. a proposed 140 per cent
increase in fares for school chill
dren.
Commission Chairman George
E. c. Hayes announced August
10 as the tentative date for re-
Stunning the sessions. which be-
gan before the strike and will
still be in progress after the
strike ends.
Mr.. Hayes, with the agree
ment Of opposing counsel. said
he may either advance or delay
the date, depending upon
whether there is a break in the
strike deadlock. The August Is
date was set deliberately be-
yond the deadline by which
President Eisenhower must act
on pending legislation lifting
the Capital Transit franchise.
Ear as We Can Go"
Speaking for the commission
staff. Assistant Corporation
Counsel Lloyd B. Harrison told
the chairman:
We've gone as far as we can
go in replying to the company S
presentation"
The staff cannot complete its
own case until the money issues
in the strike are settled and the
company resumes operation. Also
as far as both company and
commission staff are concerned,
the proceedings are stalled until
the President acts on the
franchise measure.
If he signs it, the commission
won't have to consider data
establishing a rate of return to
the company. The bill provides
there won't be any return to
the stockholders in the one year
interim before the franchise
cancellation becomes effective.
If the legislation is vetoed, by
signature, or pocketing. rate of
return must be established by
the body.
The school fare is another
complication for the rate-makers.
AS is the case with the unre-
solved union wage question, a
school fare boost must be figured
in the expense and revenue pic
ture of the company.
The introduction of these cost
and income elements into the
rate case means that both COM
pany and commission staff must
scrap most of their computations
made to date and start from
scratch. Obviously both sides
must know how much revenue
an increased school fare will
realize and how much will have
to be paid in wage and other
money benefit increases before
any proposals to increase regu-
lar fares can be made.
Really Puzzled
Capital Transit Counsel F. G.
Await summed up the present
status of the case yesterday
when Chairman Hayes asked for
his views on resumption date.
u am really puzzled what to
say" Mr.. Await shrugged.
At. any rate. he added, he will
prepare for cross examining
commission witnesses on their
testimony to date in time for an
August 10 resumption.
The school fare increase was
recommended by Edward A.
Roberts. engineering consultant
retained by the District Public
Utilities Commission.
Mr.. Roberts made the sugges-
ton when the commission staff
asked his views in the light of
the final enactment last Tuesday
of legislation authorizing an in
crease in school fares up to one
half of the adult fare. This is
now 20 cents per ride. School
fares are 3 cents.
Mr.. Roberts specifically urged
a 71a per cent ride charge for
school children. He pointed out
that the average school fare
among 80 large cities comes to
one-half the amount charged
adult transit riders.
Calls 10 Cents Too Much.
He said, however, that he
does not now favor a l0-cent
school fare in Washington since
this amount would be more thar
three times greater than the
present fare and would create
too muc hpublic resistance.
Figuring that each penny OF
increase in this charge would
produce 100000 in additions
passenger revenues. Mr.. Rob-
erts estimated that the total adj
ditional revenues that would be
realized by ia cent fare would
come to 100000 annually. The
present three-cent charge
brings in 100000 gross annual
revenues.
Mr.. Roberts urged that a seri-
Gus study be made of the posi-.
bilities for adopting a system O!
paying for mass transit rides or
the basis Of distance travelled.
Cash Fares Compared
Mr.. Roberts. the third witnes!
to take the stand since the com.
mission staff began its direct
case yesterday. declined to stat,
whether he favors zone-fart
system here. But, he pointed
out, a number of other citiel
throughout the country have
adopted 1t.
Elsewhere in his testimony II
the public hearing On Capita
Transit Company's pre-strikt