Evening star., 1925-02-04
HUNDREDS attend
BUS LINE HEARING
M. R. E. Co. and Transit
Company Argue for Right
to Cr0sstOWn Service.

10 CTOSSIOWtl SeIVlGS.
Before several hundred people II
the board room of the District Builo-
ing today the Washington Railway
and Electric Company and the WASH
ington Rapid Transit Co. engaged II
spirited contest on the question o.
which company should operate the
proposed cross-town motor bus line
In opening the proceedings Leor
Arnold president of the transit com
pany, and Conrad II. Syme, his at
torney, asserted that the railway
company did not apply for cross
town bus route until a month after
the bus company had done so.
Replying to this, William +. Ham
president of the railway company
read excerpts from decisions rem
dered by the commission in 1922, ir
which the commission frowned or
the further development of bus lines
in competition with existing railway
companies. Mr. Ham further quoted
the commission as having laid down
the rule at that time of giving the
street railway companies any future
bus lines that might be found neces-
Sary.
Petition Is Withdrawn.
At the outset of the hearing At
torney Syme withdrew the petition OF
the Rapid Transit Company to run
motor busses on Wisconsin avenue
from Georgetown to the District line
Mr.. Syme explained this application
was filed by the bus company follow
Ing reports that car tracks might be
removed from Wisconsin avenue. He
said he had since learned there was
10 intention on the part of the rail-
way company to do away with tracks
on Wisconsin avenue, and therefore
The bus application was withdrawn.
This left before the commission one
main question. namely, whether the
railway company or the bus company
should be given the right to run a
bus line across the city east and west
The proposal of the transit COM
pany is to run busses from Thirty
seventh and streets in Burleith, to
Fifteenth and H streets northeast, by
way of Q street, Twenty first street,
New Hampshire avenue, K street
Twelfth street. H street, Massachu-
sets avenue. past Union Station, and
thence east to Fifteenth and Mary
land avenue.
The proposal of the Washington
Railway and Electric Co, is to run
busses from the same starting point,
over substantially the same route to
Thirteenth street. thence south to z
street, east to Tenth street in the
downtown section, with a short ex-
tension northward of it's existing
Potomac Park bus line, to connect
with the proposed busses at K street.
Want Railway Line.
Before debate on the croSs-town bus
line began Chairman Bell stated that
the sentiment Of the people seemed to
be for retention of the railway line
on Wisconsin avenue. The chairman
said 1T was important that this ques-
tion be settled promptly, because
work is to begin soon on the reloca-
tion Of the tracks on that avenue in
connection with the paving of the
roadway by the District in the Spring.
Maj. W. L. r. Covell,. assistant to
the commission, announced that
there were on file II petitions signed
by 2,447 persons favoring the transit
company's application for the cross
town bus line. He also said he had
one letter objecting to the use Of Q
street for bus operation.
Attorney Syme placed on the wit
ness stand Col. c. 3. Hatch, repre-
Senting manufacturer of motor
busses, to testify that this concern
would back the transit company in
obtaining equipment for the cross
town line if granted.
Maj. Covell read a letter from the
Georgetown Citizens Association ia
voring retention of the car line on
Wisconsin avenue, restoration of the
lcent transfer privilege which
formerly existed between the two
railway companies at Wisconsin ave-
nue. and NJ street, and establishment
of bus line to afford service to
Burleith, lying west of Georgetown.
Plea by Arnold.
President Arnold based his plea on
the ground that his company was the
pioneer in the motor bus business In
Washington and that the Washington
Railway & Electric Co. has pursued
n policy of applying for new routes
asked for by the bus company.
When Mr.. Ham took the stand to
present the application Of the rail-
way company, he explained that he
was first invited to discuss the ques-
tion with officials of the commission
IN January 8. and THAI five days later
he filed the application. He declared
that the railway company pays seri-
Gus attention to the decisions Of the
Utilities Commission, and that the
d, commission clearly indicated in deci-
sions several years ago that 1t did
not believe in a multiplicity of lines
leading into the heart of the city.
He said the commission laid down
a policy that the legitimate field for
motor busses was in the creation Of
lines in areas not served by trans
portation and asserted that the pro-
posed crosStown lines of the Wash
ington Rapid Transit Company would
parallel street car tracks and cross
those tracks at four points. He also
cited the action Of the commission in
1929 in denying the application of
The United Transportation Company
20 run a bus line from Fifteenth and
H streets northeast to Twenty-f1rst
and b streets northwest
- Had Offered Service.
Mr. Ham then recalled several oc-
casions on which he has advised the
commission that his company stands
ready to establish additional bus
lines where the commission deems
them necessary.
The president of the railway COM
pany called attention to the respon-
sfbility of the railway company in
paying salaries of crossing policemen
and the paving of track spaces,
which duties are not imposed on a
ausH company. He argued that the
railway company has been serving
Georgetown with transportation
since 1872, when horse cars were in
operation.
The hearing will continue through
out the afternoon to get the views of
the persons who crowded the board
room.
90
Man was born to rule the world.
and along came woman.
wa Mra u NJ