Evening star., 1927-08-28
0ne-Man Cars.

In unanimously adopting a reso-
luton unfavorable to the extension
of the one-man-car service In this
city. the Citizens Advisory Council
has undoubtedly expressed the pub
lie feeling on this subject. The
council requests the Public Utilities
Commission to adhere strictly to the
policy of the former commission in
refusing to permit an increase in the
number of the conductorless cars.
This action was taken after a study
of the question by members of the
commission.
There are two reasons why the
Washington people do not want more
one-man cars than are at present
in operation. One is that these cars
do not give adequate service The
other is that it is felt that this ex-
pedient of economy is deterrent to
the consolidation of the two traction
systems. a consummation which is
greatly to be desired from the public
point of view.
A good many years ago there was
a strike on one of the street car
lines in this city-not a strike of
operatives. but of patrons. The line
in question was run on a one-horse
basis, cars being drawn by a single
animal and operated by one man
each. This man not only drove the
horses. but he made change. sold
tickets and supervised the deposit
OF fares in the box. The patrons of
the line. after an unsuccessful pc
tition to the company for a two-man
service, which would relieve them
of the necessity of paying their own
fares and would incidentally give
them better accommodations, went
on strike and, though entering the
cars. refused to deposit their fares.
The strike continued for several
days and was finally successful. the
company agreeing TO order larger
cars to be manned by two men each.
This parallel is not to be regarded
as an incitation to organized oppo-
sition to the oneman car in Wash
ington. but is merely cited as an
illustration of the natural demand
of the public for adequate street
railway service. Those were the
days of horse cars, which were toll
Grated because there was no better
means of traction power. save the
cable system, which was locally used
on some lines. In a few years, elec.
trio traction having been developed
meanwhile. an effort was made to
install the overhead trolley system
in Washington. and it was fought
vigorously and finally successfully
by the community. with the result
of the eventual installation of the pres.
ent system Of underground con.
duits. which is the best and safest
and least disfiguring of all. But the
fight for this method was hard one.
The companies were disinclined to
adopt the more expensive method
and various substitutes were pro-
posed. not sincerely but in fact
aimed to demonstrate that there was
nothing available but the overhead
trolley.
The course of rapid transit de-
velopment In Washington has been
toward the best available. The one
man car is not the best mode. 1t
is a cheaper and less efficient means
of public transportation than the
standard mainly in operation. That
is why there is opposition to the
extension of the one-man service.
If only by means of its enlarging
the one-man service is an applica-
tien for a higher rate of fare to be
avoided, it follows that this system
is urged, not for the public con-
venience but for it's cheapness.
The Citizens Advisory Council is
on solid ground when it protests
against any cheapening OF the serv-
ice when the possibility remains of
merger Of the two systems with the
consequence of an equalization Of
financial conditions and the possi-
bility of adjusting the fares to the
actual equitable requirements of the
corporation.