Evening star., 1926-10-26
SEE THROTTLE UPON
| GREATER CAPITAL
lnterfederation Conference
Delegates Demand Better
4 Suburban Lines.

That all greater Washington devel-
opment plans might as well be torn
up and thrown into the waste basket,
the Government cease to make ap-
propriations for this purpose and the
minds Of people turned to more profit
able pursuits, if the Public Utilities
Commissions Of the District of Colum-
bia, Maryland and Virginia continue
to ignore one of the cardinal princi-
pies of city development-e5ta
ment of adequate trunk transporta-
ton systems from outlying communi-
ties into the heart of the Capital-WaS
the declaration Of speakers at last
nights meeting Of the Interfedera-
ton Conference. This conference is
composed Of delegates of the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations of the
District of Columbia. the Montgomery
County Civic Federation and the
Arlington County Civic Federation.
The denial Of downtown privileges
TO bus lines serving territories that
now are only indifferently served by
street car cOmpan MES was the particu-
lar target of Maryland delegates, who
declared that certain deSirab BILE sec
tions, which must play a large part
in the greater Washington idea, are
being throttled by inadequate com
munication. The policy of the District
commission in denying downtown
rights to suburban bus lines is cost
ing the merchants of Washington
great sums yearly and throwing a
blanket of discOuragement over subur-
Tan development, il was charged.
Present Facilities Attacked.
Maj. r. B. Lawrence, secretary. and
Oliver owen Kuhn, president, of the
Montgomery County Federation, led
the attack on existing facilities. Maj,
Lawrence declared that the whole
problem was costing the merchants
heavily and that there would be
builded a new suburban shopping
area in Maryland if present transpor-
tation policies continued. He cited
the diSadVa ntages of the present
transportation facilities in the general
northwest Bethesda area and the dis
couragementS TO property holders
forced to depend upon present facili.
ties. He likewise cited the fact that,
owing to the peculiar position of the
District Utilities Commission, bus
lines could not be expected to operate
without losses.
Oliver Owen Kuhn declared that it
is absolutely agreed among members
Of the National Park and Planning
Commission and their consultants
that in any city planning work
adequate through Transportation
facilities must be provided so that the
city may grow logically and normally.
In other cities the question of quick
and expeditions traffic to the suburbs
is one of the very first problems con-
Sidered and invariably. save in the
National Capital, this problem is given
hlp NV mil
boards and other organizations with
authority over transportation eXten-
sion. he said
THE National Park and Planning
Commission might as we'll tear up its
plans if the present SyStnm Of
thrOttling communication lines by
denial of downtown terminals is con-
ttnued," he declared Bus lines can
not he expected to live unless given
permission to pick up passengers
over their entire route.
Plenty of Routes, He Says.
business in no city can profit to
the fullest unless there be free and
unrestricted traffic to outlying sec
tions. If established transportation
lines are giving desirable service they
should be helped in large measure,
hut If these services are Indifferent to
the advantages of suburban growth
under the plans established for a
greater Washington. then the Public
Utilities Commission should grant
privileges TO interests which really
are desirious of accommodating the
people, and thereby accommodating
the business interests of Washington.
There are plenty of streets north and
south down which bus lines might
operate. It is not necessary that they
parallel car lines. as has been stated"
William Nick. Clayton declared that
there was no law by which the
utilities body WAS compelled to deny
downtown privileges To new trans
portation lines thereby protecting