Evening star., 1925-02-05
CR0SS-TOWN BUS
T0BE AUTHORIZED
Utilities Commission to Issue
Permit, But Undecided on
Which Applicant.

terday.
The question of whether the per-
nit will be given to the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company
or to the Washington Rapid Tran
sit Company, however. VIII not be
determined until early next week.
There were indications today that the
decision is more likely to go to the
railway company. The commission,
however. will not reach definite
conclusion for several days.
Certain legal points were raised in
the closing arguments yesterday
which must be passed on by Corpora
tion Counsel Stephens first.
The Burleith Citizens Association
had representatives at the hearing
yesterday to- impress upon the COM
mission the need for bus transporta-
tion from the section west of Wis
consin avenue and indorsing the ap-
plication of the Rapid Transit Com
pany to operate the line.
Oppose Joint Line.
Although the two street railway
companies have in the past estab-
lished bus lines jointly, the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company is
not willing to form a partnership
with the Capital Traction Company
in running the proposed cross-town
bus line.
This was developed at the after
noon session of the public hearing
yesterday, when John H. Hanna, vice
president of the Capital Traction
Company, announced that he thought
the proposed new route from Bur-
leith to the center of the city should
be a joint bus operation of the two
car companies. He vigorously op-
posed giving such line to the Wash
ingtop Rapid Transit Company.
Col. Bell, chairman of the commits
sion, asked William F. Ham, presi-
dent of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company, for an expression
of opinion on Mr.. Hanna's suggestion,
and Mr.. Ham replied that he would
have to protest against making the
new line a joint operation.
You stated, Mr.. Ham, that your
company was losing money on its
present bus lines" said Col. Bell.
Wouldn't you be willing to share
your losses with the Capital Traction
Company"
Declines "tO Share LOSS"
Mr.. Ham smilingly replied that the
offer was kind, but that he did not
expect the bus routes would always
be operated at a loss and that the
new route asked for might prove
profitable. He also argued that the
route he has asked for from Thirty
seventh and T streets to Tenth and
T. streets by way of Q street and X
street is practically all in territory
now served by the Washington Rail
way and Electric Co.
Throughout most of the day the
big question before the commission
was whether the new cross-town bus
line should be given to the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Co. or to
the independent bus company, the
Washington Rapid Transit Co. 1t
was not until the late afternoon that
the situation took on a new angle
by the plea of the Capital Traction
Co.
At the morning session yesterday
nearly all of those who spoke were
supporters of the Rapid Transit
Co.'S petition. In addition to sew
eral citizens associations the bus
company had in its behalf long pc
titions signed by persons along it's
proposed route, which would extend
from Thirty-seventh and T streets
northwest to Fifteenth and Mary
land avenue northeast.
Opposes Bleeding Car Lines.
At the afternoon session the situa-
tion changed somewhat. William
NICK. Clayton, representing the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations, took
the floor in defense of the railway
company's application.
Mr.. Clayton told the commission
that IL it continues ito bleed" the
street railway companies by author
izing bus lines the railway companies
will be forced either to curtail street
car service or increase the rate II
fare.
A merger, Mr.. Clayton continued, is
the ultimate goal of the people of
Washington, and he added that if a
merger existed there would not exist
the same need for new bus lines.
In his application for the cross
town bus lines air. Ham proposed to
charge the same rate of fare as the
street cars, with the difference that
a. 2-cent transfer to intersection car
lines would be issued only to bus
passengers paying the cash Scent
fare.
Would Issue Transfers.
In response to a query from Mr..
Clayton, Mr.. Ham said that he would
be willing to issue the 2-cent trans
fer to all bus passengers if the COM
mission ordered it.
President Ham of the Washington
Railway and Electric was on the
witness stand most Of the afternoon,
going into detail to show that the
"
on Wisconsin avenue has been op-
Grated at loss from the time it was
started until few months ago. The
Georgetown and Tenleytown he
testified. owes the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Co. $590,18765.
He also submitted figures to show
that the Washington Railway and
Electric system, as whole. is earn
ing only 4.16 per cent on a valuation
Ia
the transit company is allowed to run
the cross-town busses the loss of
street car passengers by the Wash
1ngton Railway and Electric would
take about $4,000 a year from the
car company's revenue
In summing up the case at the
close Of the hearing, Attorneys S. r.
Bowen and Edward Clifford for the
Washington Railway and Electric
Co raised question of the legal
right Of the commission to grant bus
franchises to the Rapid Transit Co.
on the ground that the utilities law
confines the commissions powers to
utilities that were in existence when
the law was passed.
Opposes New Loop.
Conrad H. syme, attorney for the
transit company, responded by point
Ing out that some time ago in a
previous case he had raised a similar
contention that the street railway
companies are not empowered by
their charters to engage in the bus
business.
Chairman Bell said the commission
would refer these legal questions to
Corporation Counsel Stephens for
opinion.
The street railway companies also
entered strong opposition to the