Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-22
Troffic Light as Buses
Roll Again in District
Continued From First Page

CONTINUED from First Page
cars we're moving as though
nothing had ever happened.
But buses from Maryland
points such as Silver Spring
Takoma Park and -Four Corners
were bringing only about one
fourth Of their normal loads this
morning. he said.
1t was obvious that many
riders were clinging to strike
born habits. and 1t would be
some time before they returned
to mass transportation. How
many Of them have learned to
do without the service altogether
IS something time alone can tell.
On Capital Transit lines in
Maryland (which also resumed
normal operation - passengers
rode today at pre-strike rates Of
10 cents for the first zone and
Z cents in subsequent zones. Pre-
sumably. some fare increases will
be sought from the Maryland
Public Services Commission. but
3. G. Giddings. Capital Transit
vice president. said the company
has not decided on amounts or
when to file the request.
May Drop Case
\ In view of the fare increase
granted by the Commissioners,
Capital Transit requested the
PUG to dismiss hearings which
were to have continued today
on the company'S May 81 petit
ton for higher fares.
The company had asked for
D-cent tokens, continued 20
cent cash fares and abolition of
the weekly permit.
The public utility commission
ers told F. Gloyd Await. special
Capital Transit counsel on rate
matters. they would take the
matter under adviSement. Since
the PUG recommended the fares
introduced today, it was consid-
cred likely they will drop the old
case.
Mr.. Await said he believed the
commissions Jurisdiction in this
case has ceased except for the
recommendation of certain
changes to the District Commits
sioners. This was presumed to
mean any recommendation the
P, U. c, might make should the
company ask for another fare adj
justment next fall.
Spiegei at Hearing
The P. U. c. session was length
ened by the appearance of George
Spiegel, a Government depart
ment attorney, representing the
Citizens Transit Improvement
Association.
Mr., Spiegel. whose interview
ton recently was responsible for
an appellate court decision ques-
tioning the P. U.C.'s method of
calculating a fare increase last
year. challenged the new fares
just instituted.
Mr.. Spiegel said he did not
understand how the fare in
crease could be made by the
Commissioners on recommended
ton of the PUG. "a quasi
judicial party"
Commission Chairman George
Z. c. Hayes denied Mr.. Spiegel
access to records of the recon-
mendation to the Commissioners
and told him he could apply to
the city heads if he liked.
Lloyd B. Harrison, assistant
Corporation Counsel assigned to
the P. U. c., said the fare in
crease authority was covered by
the transit bin passed by Con-
gress and not by the P. U. c.
statute.
Calls Action Unlawful
1.-THE only authority you have
II you have any is under this
law" retorted Mr.. Spiegel. Your
position of withholding the docu-
ments is clearly unlawful"
Mr.. Spiegel then demanded to
know if he had read newspaper
accounts correctly-that one
PUG member had dissented from
the new fare increase idea. Mr..
Harrison answered:
Mr.. Spiegel has no right to
inquire into the thinking of the
commission. If the commission
members want to comment. it
Is up to them.
Commissioner Robert M. Wes-
ton. who had opposed the fare
recommendation. did not speak
up.
Mr.. Spiegel concluded it all
was "a shocking proceeding"
District Engineer Commits
sioner Thomas A. Lane said the
fares authorized as the basis
of the strike settlement are es-
timated to produce an addition
al s1.38 million a year
These revenues were estimated
by the Commission in recon-
mending new fares to the Com
missioners to cover an estimated
$l.2 million in company labor
expenses.
The new fares were announced
by Commissioner Samuel Spencer
at l:l2 am. yesterday, at the
close of a hectic 10-hour nego-
tiating session which also in
cluded signing of a new labor
contract between Capital Tran
sit and the 1900 striking union
transit workers.
The new labor contract, ac-
cepted by the union member
ship Friday night. provides a
15-cent pay raise package. PEN
sion increases and numerous
fringe benefits.
These were highlights of yes
terday's long-awaited strike set