Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-09
WITNESSES URGE
HALF FARES FOR
SCHOOL CHILDREN
Better Street Car Service
and Transfer Facilities Also
Are Advocated.

Half fares for school children, better
street car service and more transfer
facilities were stressed today by wit
nesses at the car fare hearing before the
Public Utilities Commission called by
Peoples Counsel Ralph 3. Fleharty
and William NICK. Clayton, counsel for
the Federation of Citizens Associations
The witnesses did not concentrate
their attack on the higher fares sought
by the Capital Traction Co., and two
of them even said that under certain
conditions they would not object to
some increase in fare.
e. w. Pullman, vice chairman of the
public utilities committee OF the Manor
Park Citizens Association said that his
organization wanted the Capital Trac-
ton Co. to double-track its line from
Fourteenth and Kennedy streets to Ia
koma Park, and to institute express
service on Fourteenth street between
H street and Colorado avenue. He also
asked for free inter-company transfers
at Georgia avenue and Kennedy street,
where, he said, he frequently had OBJ
served many persons transferring and
being called upon to pay two fares. He
asked for a half fare for school children
during the school session, including the
Summer session, and complained that
the Capital Traction cars frequently
were in dirty condition.
Says Extension Promised.
Mr.. Pullman said that E. D. Merrill,
president of the Washington Rapid
Transit Co., had promised the assoc,a-
ton an extension Of bus service into
its territory along New Hampshire
avenue If they would support an in
crease in bus fare to 10 cents and agree
to pay to the company any losses 1t
might sustain by reason of the institu-
ton of the service. He also said that
President John H. Hanna Of the Capt.
tai Traction Co. had promised to
double track the line from Fourteenth
and Kennedy streets to Takoma Park
if the merger negotiations at the past
session of Congress should fail, but
that the promise had not been kept.
Horace j. Phelps, chairman Of the
public utilities committee of the Pet
worth Citizens Association, said that
his association wanted free intercom-
pany transfers at several points, par
ticularly at Georgia avenue and Ken
nedy street, Seventh street and Georgia
avenue and at Florida avenue and
lexington place northeast from the
GeOTBla dNeIluC lAL1c.
Fails to Oppose Increase.
The association desired half fare for
school children and better service, he
said, and was not opposed TO such In
crease of fare as may be found neces-
sary. The association favored the move
of the commission to compel the COM
panies to operate tracks jointly with
out awaiting the consummation OF
merger.
Stephen E. Kramer, first assistant
superintendent of schools, said that the
Board of Education several times had
approved the institution of half fares
for school children as matter OF civic
Justice. He said that by law. child
is compelled to go to school practically
until he is Is years old. which means
normally until he Is In his second
year of high school.
Usually in the seventh year OF grade
school, Mr.. Kramer said. the child
is called upon to leave his neighbor-
hood grammar school and travel an in
creased distance to a junior high
school. In many cases, he said, chill
dren are compelled to walk distances
which in reason they should not be ex-
pected to walk In order to comply with
the law.
Kramer willing to Pay.
Speaking as a citizen, and not as a
representative Of the Board of Educa-
ton, MIR. Kramer said he would be will
ing to pay q higher fare himself, II by
doing so he could assure a lower fare
for children In the same way that he
Is willing to pay taxes so that the
children may be able to go to school
free.
Mrs. William r. Bannerman, legis-
lative chairman of the District of Co
lumhia Congress Of Parents and Teach
ers, put that organization on record as
favoring half fares for school children
Better service and half fares for
school children also were asked by Dr.
George H. Richardson, president Of
the Federation of Civic Associations;
james G. Yaden, chairman of the COM
mittee on education Of the Federation
of Citizens Associations and director Of
the washington Rapid Transit Co, and
David w. Babp, secretary OF the FEEDER
--:~- cf Citizens Ase1Aiaftors.