Evening star., 1923-02-22
TOCOLLECTDA
ION 0NE-MAN CARS
Utilities Commission May
Send Engineer to Other
+ Cities for Information.
WOULD DELAY VERDICT
Move Initiated by Col. Keller After
an Entire Day Devoted to
Hearing Testimony.
WOULD DELAY VERDICT

The Public Utilities Commission
will send it's traffic engineer, r. G.
Klotz, on an inspection tour of other
cities where one-man cars are In
operation before deciding the fate OF
that type of conveyance in Washing
ton.
This was intimated by Col. Keller,
chairman, as he left the District
building last night after listening all
day to testimony for and against the
car with combination motorman-
conductor.
Practically the entire afternoon ses-
sion was devoted to the presentation
of evidence by the Washington Rail
way and Electric Company to refute
arguments advanced by citizens as
sociations that one-man cars are un-
safe, uncomfortable ana SLOW In get
ting over the rails.
Hanna Not Opposed.
John II. Hanna. vice president of the
Capital Traction Company, made one
of the strongest witnesses for the
Washington Railway and Electric.
Although the Capital Traction is not
operating any one-rnan cars In tle
city, Mr.. Hanna told the commission
his company is not opposed to such
cars
.If we were in tho market for new
equipment today we probably would buy
that type of car" said the vice presl-
dent Of the Capital Traction Company.
u believe there are some of our lines
where one-man cars could be operated
today
William L. Ham, president of the
Washington Railway and Electric, pre-
sented voluminouS testimony 10 show
that one-man cars he is operating are
the most modern cars of that type in
the country. and that they are safe.
The president testified that the COM
pany will have seventy one-man cars
In service this year and should save
approximately $l50.000. In answer to
quest from William Mex. Clayton
of the Federation of Citizens ASSocia-
tiuns Mr.. Ham testified that this saving
would not make possible an Immediate
reduction in fare.
short of 6 Per Cent.
With sixty one-man cars in opera
tion last year, the Washington Ran :
way and Electric system fell snort or
& per cent return by 1915, SS639.
If one-man ears had not been used,
Mr. Ham declared, the company
would have closed the year 1887, 1865. .73
short of per cent on it's valuation.
Six per cent on the company's val
uation amounts to S1,Q55,501.29. The
company's income last year available
for return amounted to only SI39,-
5000.
Mr.. Ham presented an exhibit show
ing that during 1922 one-man cars
injured eighty-two persons. while
two-man cars injured 596. The per-
centage of persons injured in one
man accidents to two-man accidents
was 1877 per cent
Passengers are really safer in one
man car than they are in two-man cars,
Mr.. Ham asserted, pointing out that
boarding and alighting accidents are
cannot be started until the doors are
closed.
Mr.. Ham then gave figures to show
that if any time is lost by one-man
cars in getting over their routes 1t Is
fractional.
Answers Panic Argument.
Answering the fear voiced by citi-
cars, Mr.. Ham told the commission
that the worst panics known to the
street railway business have occurred
on open summer cars which have a
separate exist for each seat. The w.
r. and E. had such a disturbance on
It's Cabin John line some years ago,
he said
Mr.. Ham admitted that one stam-
pede has occurred on a one-man car
caused by the flashing" of the con-
troller. On that occasion fourteen
persons were injured. Since that time,
Mr.. Ham continued, the company has
taken steps to reduce the possibility
of the controller flashing and pub
Lefty has been given to the emer-
gency lever which opens the rear
door.
1--WE will be willing to take these
cars off If it can be proven they are
unsafe the president told the com
mission 1--WE have no desire to
operate unsafe equipment"
skeptical of Opposition.
Mr.. Ham said he did not believe
there was as much opposition to one
man cars as the citizens associations
would indicate. To support this state
ment he pointed out that trafhc on
The North Capitol-11th street line has
increased during the last year with
whole showed falling off in pas
Nj. Clayton objected to this argu-
ment, declaring that patrons OF the
order to get downtown, unless they
IRE willing to walk considerable
distance to a Capital Traction car.
The company called to the stand
Henry G. Bradley of the stone IL
Webster properties and c. f. Morgan,
vice president of the Brooklyn IN. Y.)
surface lines, to testify to the success
full operation of one-man cars out
side of Washington.
Attorney Harry NJ. Keyser Tor the
one-man cars to the stand and they
all testified that the cars are safe and
that 1t Is no trouble for an individual
to operate them
No Strain on Operator.
Does the operation Of this car
cause you any physical or mental
strain?' Attorney Keyser asked
Motorman c. F.. Cannon.
well, I'm still picking up weight"
The robust trainman replied with a
smile.
Yes, but you get SO cents more
\ day on which to eat" interposed
Mr.. Clayton.
In closing argument to the COM
mission, Mr.. Clayton stated that the
position of the Federation of >Citi-
ems Associations is that one-man
cars have their proper place in the
'uburbs, but should not be operated
in the center of the city.
Mr.. Clayton further contended that
since there Is to be no reduction in
fare as result of the use Of these
ears this year, the riding public
should have the right to say wheth-
EN- they want to ride in one-man or
two-man cars