Evening star., 1925-06-10
'PARLOR CAR BUS"
DECLARED COSTLY
Too Luxurious for 1O-Cent
Fare, Utilities Body Is Told
in Company's Plea.

The Public Utilities Commission to-
day heard detailed arguments Tor ana
against the two applications OF the
Capital Traction Company and the
Washington Rapid Transit Company
10 operate a de luxe bus service from
Chevy Chase Circle dlasonaiy across
the CITY. The Capital Traction COM
pany is seeking to operate between
chevy Chase Circle and the Capltol
with a 25-cent rate of fare. The kappa
Transit Company followed TINS peti-
ton with a request to operate from
Chevy Chase Circle to Fitteenth street
and Maryland avenue northeast on
lO.cent fare.
John H. Hanna. vice president OF
the CapitaI Traction Company told the
commission today that The type OF
narIor car service which his company
proposes 10 render could not DE lur-
nished at a 10 cent fare
Mr.. Hanna vigorously denied re-
ports which he said he had hearo that
the application for his p3rior car puS
line al a 25-Cent fare was an opening
wedge to get higher street car rare:
Mr.. Hanna declared that the proposed
parIor car bus line was an experiment
70 he tried out with a view to meeting
what the company believes Is a need
for a high class Of service 10 accom-
modate people who now use private
automobiles in an effort to get ooWn-
town.
He said that such a bus line should
not be operated at the expense OF the
general car riders and for that reason
rhe rate OF fare was recommended 10
cover the special service proposed. HE
said that a separate record would De
kept Of the operation of his line.
To Have Smoker"
a no.
lor car bus would be the most luxuri-
ous the company could buy. would
nrovide for the seating Of only Il
passengers and might have glass
incIosed compartment Al the rear IN
which smoking would be permitted IL
is the company's plan not 70 permit
more passengers on the nus imam
there are seats.
He said this service would be COM
parabIe in city transportation to a
Pullman car service on q steam rail-
road. Mr. Hanna protested VIGOROUSLY
against the granting of the Rapid
Transit Company application on the
ground that il would be in direct COM
petition with the Capital Traction car
line and pointed out that the Utihties
Commission has in the past held that
such direct competition Is not In the
public interest.
Several residents of Chevy Chase,
including President Moore of the
chevy Chase Citizens Association
Proctor L. Dougherty and Fred >:
lincoln spoke in favor or the CapltaI
Traction proposal. They also inoorseo
another pending application by .the
CapitaI Traction Co. TO operate sepa
rate motor bus line over a cifculaF
route through the Chevy Chase sec
ton as a feeder to the car hne'
Law Fixes Capacity.
William Mex Clayton OF the Fed
grafton of Citizens Associa tion cross
examined Mr.. Hanna as 10 what addl-
tionsl expense there would he in tn,
operation of the parior car bus serV-
ice TO Justify the 25-cent fare. MI.
CLAYTON also asked Mr.. Hanna now
he could avoid passengers from BOARD
ing the parlor car bus after all the
seats had been taken Mr.. Hanna re,
plied that the Utilities Commission hss
the authority 10 AK the capacity Of
all public conveyances and could place
a limit of y on these busSes.
Conrad Svme. counsel for the
Rapid Transit Co. asked Mr.. Hanna
if the Capital Traction Co. would re
duce the parlor car bus fare from 20
to 10 cents II the company found, after
the operation had been started. that
the lire could not he run at 20 cents
Mr.. Hanna replied that the Capital
Traction Co would not make such
reduction, because the class of service
IL proposes to furnish couid not oe
furnished for 10 cents.
The commission will resume hearing
this afternoon, when it will consider
several proposed bus extensions OF
smaller nature in the vicinity OF Sher-
man Circle and Petworth.