Evening star., 1925-06-21
CLAYTON SCORES
PARLOR CAR BUS
Takes Sarcastic Fling at
Proposal for 25-Cent-
Fare Line.

The application Of the Capital Trac-
tfon Co. for a "parlor car" bus line
from Chevy Chase to the Capitol at
stipulated fare of 25 cents Is vigor-
ously attacked by the Federation OF
Citizens Associations, which through
William Nick. Clayton, filed a brief
with the Public Utilities Commission
yesterday opposing the approval and
the granting Of the application.
Mr.. Clayton in his brief declared
the "only new comet" the proposal
Shoots across the transportation
heaven is a joy-ride for 25-cent
jazzer whose car or chauff1eur 1s
temporarily laid up for REPAIRS" and
that If the proponents had Thought
that what they seek to accomplish
could more effectively be put over by
offering fare of SO cents it would
have been as readily offered"
The bus line asked by the Capital
Traction Co., the brief protested, Is
mere duplication of service, differing
but slightly in character from its rail
service through territory now amply
and completely served by its present
street cars" Special attention Of the
commission "is here invited the
brief continued, "to the fact that no
claim is made that the present car
service operated by the company from
Chevy Chase to the city is poor, made
auate, insufficient or lacking in the
slightest in speed, character or equip
ment in its operations"
Opposed to Public Policy"
Further, the brief set forth, the par
lor car line proposed doesn't pioneer
new territory; it doesn't reach out
helping hand to sections neglected or
forgotten; it doesn't hold q hope for
lower fares: it doesn't promise to
ease up traffic conditions on the
Streets"
The grant Of the application lis op-
posed to public policy" the brief de-
clared, '"in that one of the great
duties imposed by Congress upon this
regulatory body is for the commission
to compel the public service COM
panies to operate economically at all
times, to save and conserve the peo-
pies money devoted to the upkeep and
operation of their properties, not to
eXtravagantly waste 1t in an expert
ment seeking to encourage snobbish
pride and un-American caste on pub
lie transportation lines regulated by
the state
Mr.. Clayton cited testimony of Leon
Arnold, president of the Washington
Rapid Transit Company, that the
proposed Chevy Chase line could be
operated on 10-cent fare and a good
profit made"
Fears Further Increases.
Mr.. Clayton said the question "can
this Chevy Chase line be operated as
proposed by the Capital Traction Com
pany on a 1O-cent fare and return.
even beyond that justified by the law,
earned" is answered "a thousand
times yes" by the sworn testimony
of the president of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company, the
president of the Washington Rapid
Transit Company and by the records
of the commission itself.
If the commission" declares the
brief. 'is ready to say that a rate of
return Of 80 per cent to a public util-
ity regulated by it under q law that
directs the commission to see to it
that the fare producing that return
must be just and reasonable to the
public is not enough, then let the COM
mission say on this case to the Cap
ital Traction Company we will award
you two and one-half times the fare
upon which your rival bus company
is now earning 80 per cent net, SO
that few lollipops and jelly rolls
living in an isolated section Of this
government reservation" may ride
undisturbed by the vulgar annoyances
and cheap discomforts sometimes Incl
dent to street car travel"
The brief concluded that II the
street car companies are going into
the business of "class distinction on
public tramwayS with 25 cents as the
hallmark of respectability, the ex-
ample set by the 25-cent group may
be tomorrow eclipsed by a 50-cent
group seeking to hold themselves aloof
from such poor skates and cheap pix
erS as can OnlV afford tn pav OK coptc
to pick their company"