Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-08
CITIZENS DEMAND
MORE, HANNA SAYS
Passengers Should Pay for
Service Wanted, Declares
Traction President.
Continued From First Page.)

off If we got more revenue from in
creased fares"
At this point Mr.. Fleharty called at
tention to the increase in the passenger
traffic on the Chevy Chase Coach line
on which the fare Is IS cents.
Yes, and that points to a possible
remedy for some of our troubles" said
Mr.. Hanna. There are many persons
who will use our bus lines and street
cars If they are given better service
something like the Pullman service on
the steam railroads. I believe our pas
sengers would increase If we could
furnish different grades of service with
higher rates for those who are willing
to pay them for better buses.
THE people want something better
than We are giving them. If we could
afford to furnish different grades of
service I think our business would go
up. I know, If we could assure q seat
to every passenger on our cars, much
Of our trouble would be over.
I'VE are not fooling ourselves. We
know why people don't like. to ride on
our street cars. They don't like to
stand up. but we can't help it.
1T manifeStly is impossible at the
present rate of fare to furnish seat for
every passenger. I doubt If We could
do it at any rate of fare. but We could
furnish special service for those willing
to pay for 1t, as in the case OF the
Chevy Chase coach line"
Speed Fans Favor Buses.
Mr.. Hanna said that one reason why
passengers liked to use the Chevy Chase
coaches, aside from their comfort, was
their speed.
II do not know any way to increase
ST. f,aS oid
THE speed of our cars has been de-
creasing, due to the traffic lights and
other causes. I am not arguing against
trafic lights, but / am calling atten-
ton to the fact that they have reduced
the speed Of public transportation"
MIR. Hanna said in answer to QueS-
tions by Mr.. Clayton, that he had paid
$4,000 to the washington Motor Coach
Co. for four BUSES and for the coach
companys business. He said that the
Capital Traction Co. did not operate
sightseeing busses. although they did
send lecturers with some parties who
chartered their busses for sightseeing
purposes. He said the business of
chartering the buses had been very
profitable, and that the company ex-
pected to buy more buses for charter
purposes in the near future.
In answer to questions, by Mr.. Riegel,
Mr.. Hanna said that the average daily
revenue on week days, except Saturday,
during 1928 was $12,268: on Saturdays,
1t was $12,804, and on Sundays, $7,926.
For 1924, the corresponding figures for
week days except Saturday were $12.-
926; for Saturdays, $l4.086, and for
Sundays, $8,777.
w. r. T. Is Made . Party.
The Washington Rapid Transit Co.
was made party to the rate case with
the Capital Traction and Washington
Railway g. Electric Cos. by an order Of
the commission issued yesterday after
noon after an executive session. The
action was taken as the result Of a
motion made last week by William
NICK. Clayton, on behalf of the FEEDER
alton of Citizens Associations.
When his motion was argued Tues
day of this week, Mr.. Clayton gave
notice that he would ask for q waltz
alton Of the Washington Rapid Transit
Co. II 1t should be made party to the
pending case. On that occasion, George
p. Hoover, counsel for the Washing
ton Rapid Transit Co., opposed the
Clayton motion. It also was opposed
by attorneys for the Capital Traction
and Washington Railway Il Electric
Cos.
The commission in its formal order
approving the Clayton motion, yester-
day gave the bus company the re-
quired To-day notice, stating that the
commission WIN give consideration to
the presentation of evidence as to the
washington Rapid Transit Co.. on Fri
day, August IT,"