Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-25
Traction Heads Lauded
For Good Service Here
10 the Editor of The star:

have no financial interest whatever
in any street car or bus company, but
/ am interested in fair play" and in
good transportation facilities for Wash
| ington. We know the peculiar din
culties under which our street car conn
panies have been operating in recent
years. All-night parking has created
thousands Of private automobile own.
ers. This Is. perhaps, q wholesome sit
1ation, although the beauty Of our city
is marred and almost unbearable con-
gestion Is caused on many OF our
streets.
In the last year cheap taxicabs have
been allowed to roam our streets in UNI
limited numbers, practically without
any regulation. Congress and other
authorities have either refused to assist
In curing the evil or profess an inability
to do 90. No one seems TO have dared
to actively champion any such re-
lief. Many, II not most, Of the cabs
are without financial responsibility, and
any passenger in them or pedestrian In
jured by such cabs has no redress.
When a bill requiring taxicsbs to show
some sort Of financial ability to meet
damage claims came UP for considera-
ton in the Congress, understand that
it was passed over with q comment by
legislator that the street car COM
panies were in favor Of its passage.
Next followed o requirement that the
street car companies pay about $780,
600 to change their tracks in the viein-
ity of the Capitol and Union Station.
This change will not only fail to add
anything to their revenues but will, 1t
is stated, reduce their revenues by
reason of making their lines less ac-
cessible to the Capitol. The street car
companies have agreed to perform the
work and not delay the Improvements
with court action.
Then followed requirement, which
has been the Joy Of all public lead
ers' and agitators, namely, the Scent
school fare. The street car companies
have stated that each ride costs cents
or more. The traction industry is at
present the least able to bear such an
added expense, and yet it has been
singled out to financially aid the chill
for this nominal fare. Undoubtedly
many Of them have parents who can
well afford the regular fare. One
wonders why 1t Is not as logical to
demand that electric light and gas
service be furnished at half cost to
families with children. Nevertheless,
the traction companies have expressed
their willingness to obey the order Of
the Public Utilities Commission with
OuO SoAeCstt pIOVlucQ JLldb any 1urBleF
loss which they may sustain from their
already slender revenues be made up in
some other way. That seems reasonable
enough, since we cannot have our cake
and eat it also.
incidentally, the increase in fare last
Summer, to obtain which the car COM
panieS were forced into expensive court
litigation and for which they were Cruz
Gifted, amounts to less than cent per
ride for all except very occasional pas
sengers. 1t also has some virtue in that
less investment at one time is re-
CURED than under the old schedule.
Probably for the reason that street
car fares require constant payment of
money in driblets, the traction ccm-
panies from time immemorial have been
the butt Of agitation by so-called pub
lie leaders" 1t is a cheap and easv
way to arouse interest in the average
citizen, who does not have the time or
inclination to thoroughly study the sit
uation.
In spite of all of these handicaps, the
street car ofncials seem to have kept
their heads and tempers and quietly
continued to furnish good service. I'M
doubtedly If given half a chance they
would give even better service. Their
companies have never paid excessive
odd
There must be breaking point some.
where and before our traction service
degenerates under the strain let us de-
clare . moratorium" at least for
while, upon such agitation. BY this I
DO net mean that legitimate Complaints
as TO service given and suggestions for
bettermsnt thereof should not be MADE.
l realize that this viii probably 30
an unpopular suggestion in some GUAR
ters, since the spreading Of such pror-
aganoa has been for years a most non
ular pastime AS have already stated
nave absolutely no financial interest
IN any OF these traction or bus lines and
am not relative or $50 far as I know
acquainted with any Of their officials.
am, however, most certainly inter
ested in good transportation facilities
Tor our city. It is obvious that street
car transportation Is q positive necee.
slty in . city the size Of Washineton
ana viii continue to be so for many
years to come. A view OF our down.
town streets in q rush hour makes this
Iact apparent. Let's give our traction
companies q chance for a while ana
play fair HASELL w. BUR0WTN.
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