Evening star., 1933-11-25
M..,h.. af the Associated Press.
Free Bus Transfers.

In the matter OF Tree llahoieio W
tween street cars and busses and OF unl-
form rates of fare on street cars ana
busses. there Is pretty good argument
on both sides of the question. That was
demonstrated during the hearings on the
merger resolution. But If free transfers
between street cars and busses are not
ordered when the new company begins
pperation of the merged lines on Decem-
ber /, the conclusion should by no
means be reached that the street car
operators have won their argument and
the issue has been settled.
II should be far from settled. Grant
ing the merit of arguments for the
retention of the transfer charges in
some cases and for continuation of the
hodge -podge of rates charged on the
different varieties of busses, the pubic
has the right still to expect the benefits
OF Wiping them out.
Feeder" and trunk bus lines, in
conjunction with the street car service
have developed gradually into a confus-
ing system, the ramifications OF which
are known to few. The result is a tansle
that may require time to straighten out
In a manner equitable to the public as
we'll as to the companies. Some OF the
bus lines were established at the urgent
solicitation OF citizens whose communl-
ties were inaccessible-by mass trans
portation services-without them. Some
Of the lines were established by system
of partial subsidy from the real estate
developers and have been continued In
operation after the subsidy ceased. Some
of the bus lines are operated at loss
equal to twice the cost of operation. In
some instances it is probable that cltl-
zens prefer the higher fare, plus the
nuisance" transfer charge, to doing
without the bus lines. If their opera
ton becomes too great handicap, the
inclinat ton on the part of the company
will be not to start any new ones. To
the street car companies, some of the
bus lines are bears held by the tail and
1t is dificult matter to decide whether
the pain OF holding On Is greater than
1t would be to let CO.
On the other hand, if the merger Of
the companies does not succeed in
eliminating some, if not all, of the
transfer charges, and substituting
uniform rate of fare throughout the
District, enabling one to reach desti-
nation quickly and conveniently with
one payment Of a reasonable fare, the
merger will not succeed altogether in
popularizing street car seryice-which
is one Of the things that it is supposed
to do. The revenue derived from trans
fers between busses and street cars is
not as large as the savings to the new
company as the result of passing to the
taxpayers some of the charges borne
In the past by the companies,
The weekly pass systems proposed BY
the new company represent a desirable
step toward abolisfing street car-bus
transfer charges and insugurating a
uniform rate of fare. This experiment
will be watched with great interest
The general community hopes it will
succeed. The results should be the oc-
casion for formal examination later by
the Public Utilities Commission to de-
termine the justification for continuing
the nuisance" transfer charges still
existing While there are always spe-
cial circumstances governing decisions
In each case, as a general proposition
feeder bus line should be merely an
extension Of regular street car service,
to which the passenger Is entitled to
benefit by payment of single fare;
while those who use the trunk" or
cross-tovn bus lines should be entitled
TO the same transfer privileges enjoyed
by those who ride the cars. The new
company may have right to a rea-
sonable period of actual operation ex-
pertinent. 1t is assumed that there are
many operating problems that cannot
be solved on paper. But If the new
company Is to obtain the patronage 1t
seeks the aim must be to end as much
as possible the causes for dissatisfaction
with the regime which it succeeds.
l.