Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-04
House Unit 0ks
Pupil Fare Bill
Measure Would Let
P. U. c. Decide Rates
BY HAROLD b. ROGERS

ny hAROLD d. nOOEINo
Legislation to empower the
Public Utilities Commission to
fix the rate of fare for school
children on public transporta-
ton here at mot more than
one-half the cash fare" was ap-
proved today by a House District
subcommittee. 1t was sent to
the full committee for action
tomorrow morning.
If approved by the full COM
mittee and sent to the House
floor the bill would come up for
a vote by the House itself next
Monday.
The subcommittee vote came
after public hearing this
morning where three witnesses
strongly recommend the bill and
two opposed it.
The present school fare of
3, cents has been in effect since
1881, proponents of the legisla-
ton testified. and is now the
lowest school child fare in the
United States.
Sees Fare Increase
Chairman Mclaughlin of the
Public Utilities Commission.
which asked for the legislation,
said today:
IF the legislation is passed it
will probably result in a fare
increase"
Mr.. Mclaughlin said public
hearing would be held first. how
ever. and added he could not
state whether the increase would
be to the full permissible amount,
which at present would be 10
cents. The Board of Education
has not opposed the bill.
Testifying for the bill, spon-
sored by District Committee
Chairman Mcmillan, Democrat,
of South Carolina were Mr.. Nc
Laughlin, who has been nomi-
mated for District Commissioner;
Vice President E. c. Giddings of
Capital Transit Co., speaking for
]. A. B. Broadwater, transit
president. and Donald McCor-
mack, of the Washington Board
of Trade.
Two Oppose Measure
Opposing the measure were
Mrs. Josephine Calvagna, presi-
dent of the Parents Association
of st. Aloysius School at North
Capitol and K streets NV, and
Mrs. Gertrude Evans, executive
secretary of the Progressive
Party. These opponents pro-
tested because of the increased
burden falling upon low-income
families.
A provision virtually identical
to the Mcmillan bill is included
in a so-called omnibus bill re-
lating to the Public Utilities
Commission, now awaiting action
by the Senate itself. The omnibus
bill with its school fare section
has been approved by the Senate
District Committee and sent to
the floor, following public hear
ing.
Mr.. Mclaughlin said the COM
mission strongly favors the bill
because the three-cent fare for
school children throws the fare
system out of balance. He testi-
fed that in effect the adult rid
ers are substituting the school
child's fare.
Calls Fare Inequitable.
Capital Transit Co., he told
the subcommittee is mot earn
ing a fair rate of return so that
IN effect the stockholders them
selves are virtually helping to
substitute the children's rides"
The Scent fare, he said, speak,
ing for the commission, sis very
lnequitable and we cannot see
any justification for it at ALL"
subcommittee Chairman Klein.
who later voted to send the bill
to the full committee said that
he did not want to see the WASH
ington city government saddled
with operating a transit system.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Nc
Laughlin's testimony, Mr.. Klein
expressed hope that because of
Just such legislation as the pend
ing one that Washington would
nave some form of home rule.
1T is ridiculous to take the
time OF Congress to legislate on
such local affairs" he declared.
CI