Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-12
WHY Not Talk It Over?

Another proposal for union bus ter
nninal in Washington, one of about
two-score such schemes discussed in the
last few years, has been laid before the
Public Utilities Commission. Accord
ing to ths reports, the latest PROPOSE
ton has small chance of getting any
where. The commission takes the
view, on advice of counsel, that it could
route buses past such terminal, but
could not compel its use by the various
competing lines serving Washington
Until 1. ere is some definite guarantee
that these lines would use the terminal,
the project will not attract the invest
ment of private capital, upon which de-
ponds its realization.
It is unfortunate and in some respects
disgraceful that the bus terminal ques-
ton has been allowed to drag along as
long as it has. Several separate agencies,
representing the Government in one
form or another, are, or should be, in
terested parties. The Public Utilities
Commission, the traffic department the
Park and Planning Commission, the
Public Buildings Commission, have
something to gain by the establishment
of an adequate bus terminal in Wash
ington. Yet none of them has seen fit
to take the necessary leadership in
movement designed to establish the ter
minal. Buses ccngest the trafac at
loading points and in their movements,
willy nilly, through the streets. The bus
companies themselves, engaged in a
competitive enterprise, give little
thought to the convenience of any but
their own patrons. Bus company men
can tell stories Of means resorted to in
an effort to prevent passenger from
riding on any but their own vehicles.
And of course the city and the bus
riding public suffer in consequence.
One difficulty has been in finding
capital interested In the bus terminal
project. Another has been the ill-de-
fined amount Of control possessed by
the regulatory bodies over interstate
buses. Possibly the greatest handicap
has been the inability. or the refusal, Of
the competing bus lines 70 join in any
movement that might assure the eree-
ton Of such terminal.
II the bts companies themselves were
willing TO enter some agreement as to
use Of central terminal, convenient to
downtown Washington, the chief diff
Guilty might be surmounted. But none
Of the public agencies interested in the
plans for Washington's growth. the traf-
&c problems or the transportation prob
lens has apparently seen at II take the
first step TO bring the pus companies
into line The first step, obviously,
should be conference between the in
terested governmental bodies in Wash
ington and the bus companies. At such
q conference the representatives Of the
Government could outline some of the
conditions 10 result with progress on
the great public building program; the
street changes, the shifting center of
the working population, the Instability
Of making most available to this public
the necessary means Of transportation.
The bus companies could be asked to
CO-OpeTdge. ana IL Is uIlItaSOIldUlS 10
suppose that there is no method left to
the Public Utilities Commission and the
municipality for getting rid Of situa-
ton that under present conditions is
becoming intolerable, or that the use of
force is denied, if persuasion fails. 1t
Is ridiculous to believe that buses are
going TO be permitted indefinitely to
establish their curbstone stations in
congested districts, to the detriment of
smooth-running traffic and tn the in
convenience Of everybody who wants to
ride q bus, provided they are given a
chance to go somewhere else.
AS an experiment, such a conference
should be called. either by the Public
Utilities Commission or the District
Commissioners. Nothing is TO be gained
by letting the matter slide along forever,
with constant emphasis being placed
upon the difficulties.