Evening star., 1925-06-11
DELUXE BUSL|NE
GRANT IS LIKELY
Capital Traction Application
Decision Not Expected
for Several Days.

Although the Public Utilities Com
mission Will not render a decision for
several days. indications today were
that the application of the Capital
Traction Co. to establish a parlor car
bus line from Chevy Chase Circle to
the Capitol will be granted.
There were two main contests be-
fore the commission at the hearing
yesterday. In one, the Capital Trac-
ton and the Washington Rapid
Transit Co. were pitted against each
other for the privilege of running a
novel type of de luxe bus service from
Chevy Chase. In the other the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Co. and
the Rapid Transit Co. were battling
for bus extensions into the Petworth
section and Sherman Circle.
There were no intimation at the
District Building today as to how the
commission would decide the Petworth
case.
The two street railway companies
have been protesting to the commits
sion for the past two years against
what they regard as unfair en-
croachments by the Rapid Transit.
but they were more emphatic than
ever yesterday in opposing further
extensions Of the independent bus
lines.
SO-ScHt NdtC.
In opposing the Capital Traction s
parlor car bus proposal yesterday,
William NICK. Clayton of the Fedora
ton Of Citizens Associations centered
his objection on the 25-cent rate Of
fare. The Rapid Transit Co, through
Attorney Conrad H. Syme. told the
commission 1t would run a de luxe
bus service over practically the same
route to the Capitol and thence east
ward to Fifteenth street and Mary
land avenue northeast for 10 cents.
John H. Hanna, for the Capital
Traction Co., insisted the kind Of
service his company is planning could
not be rendered for 10 cents, and
pointed out that the people of Chevy
Chase were in favor Of the Capital
Traction application.
The commission received several
letters protesting against certain por-
tions of the route over which the
Capital Traction proposes to operate,
and 1t is probable that If the parlor
car line Is authorized some changes
will be made in the route.
At the afternoon session Of the
hearing yesterday William F. Ham.
president of the Washington Railway
and Electric Co., reiterated the OBJ.
jections he has previously raised
against the granting of further ex-
tensions to the Rapid Transit Co.
Mr.. Ham presented exhibits show
ing how street car traffic has been
declining and declared that II inde-
pendent bus competition Is permitted
to go on one of three things is likely
to happen, namely, an increase in
fare, abandonment of some of the
transportation facilities or impairment
of service. Mr.. Ham also introduced
evidence to show that the street rail-
way lines were responsible for the
growth of the suburban sections be-
fore buses were started.
Attorney Syme, In arguing for the
applications of the transit company,
contended that growth and increase
of property values has occurred In
other cities and is not peculiar to
Washington.
The Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Co. is applying for an extension
of its Park road bus line from Rock
Creek road and Randolph street,
north on Fourth street to Webster
east to third. south to Varnum, west
to Fourth street and south to Rock
Creek Church road.
The Rapid Transit Co. is seek.
ing an extension from Sixteenth street
to Spring road, east to Kansas ave-
nue., to Sherman Circle, to Illinois
avenue, to Longfellow street and
thence back to Sixteenth street.
There was little discussion of the
proposal Of the Capital Traction Co.
to run a loop bus line through the
Chevy Chase section as a. feeder to
the Connecticut avenue car line.