Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-02
New Equipment Promised
/ When Utilities Body Curbs
IS Cut-Rate Cabs.
HANNA SEES POSSIBLE
j ZONE FARE OR PASSES
Says Improvements Require Regu'
lation TO Remove Handicaps
in Crowded Streets.

This ~ me second OF series OF
articles discussing the problems con-
fronting the street car companies OF
Washington The merit article piH ap-
pear tomorrow.
The Capital Traction Co. stands
ready TO improve Its service and pur-
chase new and modern equipment as a
means OF stimulating street car riding
according to John II. Hanna, president,
Just as soon as the Public Utilities
Commission takes definite steps to
throttle the competition of unregulated
and cut-rate taxicabS
Mr.. Hanna said his company also
might be willing 10 go step further
and experiment with the zone fare or
weekly passes, plans already adopted in
a number OF other cities TO win back a
part OF the riding public lost TO the
motor vehicle.
But right now, with no indication
from the commission OF what 1t pro-
poses to do, II anything, Mr.. Hanna
declared his company Is holding all
plans in allegiance II has the funds TO
purchase new equipment, he said, but
does not feel justified in spending in
the face Of uncertain conditions.
Mr.. Hanna, a veteran in traction
company operation and management,
is one of those whose outlook on the
street railway situation in Washington
Is rather gloomy under existing condi-
tions. His company is suffering heavy
losses, principally on account of the
taxicabS, and he foresees little inn
provenent unless drastic and definite
steps are taken to curtail taxicah COM
petition.
Part Of City COMMERCE.
The street railway companies, in his
opinion, are an integral part of Wash
ington's commercial life and therefore
must continue to exist. As a mass
TRANSFORMATION unit he said, they can
not Be strapped, because motor buses
and taxicabs are unable to supplant the
service of the street car in mass trans
portation.
With continued inroads by the taxi
cabs into the revenues Of the car COM
panies. Mr.. Hanna believes that even
tually the public will be forced to take
over the operation and maintenance of
the traction lines or else they will have
TO be subsidized In some other way.
The companies, he said, cannot 60 on
forever losing money, and from the
present outlook there is little hope of
relief.
Evidence brought out at the recent
taxicab hearing before the Public Utili-
ties Commission, Mr. Hanna pointed
out, showed concluSively that the exist
ing situation is resulting in large eco
nomic loss, since the taxicab drivers
as well rs the car companies are not
making money. The only beneficiaries,
he said, are the companies which own
the cabs and rent them to the drivers.
Aside from the unrestricted taxi com
petition, Mr.. Hanna feels that some Of
the ills of the street railway companies
are due to the lack of cooperation on
a14A - - s.&E aan-1
The policy OF the present commission,
he declared, has been antagonistic
rather than cooperative.
Fought by Commission.
The commission, Mr.. Hanna ex-
planned, fought the companies in nearly
every move they made for Self-better-
ment, forcing them to turn to the courts
for relief. Another example of the
lack of cooperation, he declared. oc-
CURED during the merger negotiations
several years ago, when the commission
had an amendment tackled to the bill
authorizing a consolidation of the
street railway systems which would have
restricted the right of the companies
60 appeal to the courts from the deci-
sionS Of the commission.
Mr.. Hanna is firmly convinced that
the street car companies can be re-
stored to profit-maktng utilities with
sympathetic encouragement from the
commission, as well as the public. He
feels has company, at least, is in posi-
ton to improve its service, purchase
new equipment and make car riding
more attractive, but that It must have
some assurance taxicab competition i
to be kept within reasonable bounds.
For some time the taxicabS have
been drawing passengers away from tn,
car companies, but the condition be
came serious in July. Mr.. Hanna said
when the taxi operations started a rate
war. In that month the losses OF tht
Capital Traction were heavy, amount.
ing to $S7,9S4. In August the losses
amounted to SAT $40 and in September
they jumped to S4s 900.
Crowding Of Vehicles.
Mr.. Hanna declared the large mum.
Der OF taxicabs added 10 the already
heavy street traffic in many cases fur.
/ niSheS more vehicles than the street.
can economically and properly handle
I In recent count at certain locations
he said. out OF 1904 taxicahS observed
} only $3.50 were carrying passengers. j.
This congestion, Mr. Hanna contends
4. Is slowing up street car operations anC
causing delays OF from . to Is minutes
I These delays, he said. were determined
by observations, and represent the tim
Tie CATS were OI SNICNNlSs
Traffic lights also contribute some
what 10 the delays. he declared. bu
where traffic is very heavy they prob
ably are more OF help than a hin
drance Lights at points where tram
is relatively small. however, he said d
cause q delay.
Whether the weekly pass system o
the So-called zone system of fares woul,
aid the companies in improving thei
financial condition Is a matter of con
lecture. according TO Mr.. Hanna. Hi
company. however he said, might eX
pertinent with them definitely 10 ascer
tain the result If the taxicabs ar
fibrought under control Either of theS
tplanx. he said, might increase car rid
1 ing 10 some extent, but II Is doubtful
! whether the revenues would be i'm
proved materially, because of the lowe
rate Of fare that would prevail.
In some Of the cities where the pas
system has been adopted It has aide
the companies. Others have not bee
benefited. Milwaukee is one of tn
cities where the system has been sue
ceSsful- 1t has increased non-pea
riding IS, riding during the hour
that intervene between the morning an
afternoon rush periods. The non-pea
load was brought up high enough
make up Tor the loss in the peak loaS
To be really successful in Washing
ton, Mr.. Hanna thinks, the pass syS
1 tenn would have to be worked out be
tween the two car companies to max
the passes interchangea BILE. II woul
be extremely difhcult. however
pointed out, TO determine the props
division Of the revenues between II
companies.