Evening star., 1955-07-08

The tuH teri of Public Utilities Commission state
"ent on transit strike negotiation point fOlloOs:
This statement is made by the Public Utilities Com
mission in order to clarity its jurisdiction and and
to insure that misconcepon to these matters may
the parties directly in the Capital Transit
Co strike to overlook possible of settlement
The Public Utilities Commission a regulatory body
having under its Jurisdiction among other utilities with
public franchise the Capital Transit Co. The streetcar
and bus drivers of the Capital Transit Co. presently
strike The labor relationships between management and
the employees of the Capital Transit Co. not subject to
the control of the Public Utilities Commission.
Prior to the time the employees of Capital Transit Co.,
above referred to- went strike the management
Capital Transit Co. filed with the Public Utilities Commis
sion petition asking for increase in the token fares
from five for 80 cents to five for 95 cents and asking for
the elimination of the existing permit system Hearings
on this petition were begun with testimony from the
Capital Transit Co. the 21st day of June and
on the oath day of June subject to the call of the chairman
This recess had for the purpose of allowing experts
on the part of the Public Utilities Commission to examine
the testimony given and exhibits offered with view of
having counsel for the commission croSs-examine the
company witnesses, after which will again be
had for the purpose of examining testimony thus elected
SO as to properly present pertinent testimony and
hbits on behalf of the commission.
Then subject to rebuttal testimony, the commission
will examine all of the evidence and hand down its decision
to the requested fare increase The determination of
proper rate in such this is semijudicial
process requiring full consideration of complex issues
The commission is obligated to weigh all factors and to
arrive at carefully considered decision based the
merits of the Management is presumed to be well
aware of time required in such proceedings, which
normal elements of public utility regulations
In the present preceding no evidence has been
adduced by the company the demands of its employees
for increase in wages and other fringe benefits Thus the
present hearing in way involves the question of the
possible cost to Capital Transit Co. of any settlement with
its employees Moreover, the commission has right
power to such possible future costs long
as they are in the realm of speculation
II and when management and the striking employees
to negotiated agreement between themselves, it
would be within the rights of the Capital Transit Co. to
present the increased costs to the commission and to
request the commission to give immediate effect to rate
increase designed solely to Offset the increased labor
costs incurred in the contract
The commission considers that it does have the
thorty to hear such appeal by the company and to
grant such relief may be warranted pending the
peton of the full rate 1t S of course, expressly
understood that the hearing the increased fare petition
pending will be then carried forward with all dispatch
and conclusion reached based upon all factors in the
evidence
The commission believes that the possibility of nan
cia relief in the present crises other than by way of in
creased adult fares, should be exhausted