Evening star., 1934-01-17
DISCUSS PROBLEMS
IN TRANSPORTATION.
Speakers at Board of Trade
Session Deal With D. c.
and u. S. Situation.

Problems confronting local and ma
tional transportation we're reviewed by
speakers at the January meeting Of the
Washington Board Of Trade In the
Mayfiower Hotel last night.
Joseph B. Eastman. Federal co-or-
dinator OF transportation. the principal
speaker. outlined the vast program of
work now under way in his ONCE, pre-
dieting that new methods of charging
for transportation service on railroads
probably would grow out Of studies now
being made. He emphasized that the
position Of labor must be safeguarded
In any waste elimination program
formulated for railroads
The Washington taXlcab situation
was assailed by Col A. B. Barber, man
ager of the transportation and COM
munication department Of the United
States Chamber OF Commerce, who said
that 'in this field Washington furnishes
the horrible example of the country
rivaled only by New York
Act Hampers Economies.
First figuring on the effect Of the
new Capital Transit Co.'S pass system
on street car patronage and revenue
were IlldOe kIlUNll dL llle Injecting py D.
H. Hanna, president of the merged
company, During December, he said,
the revenue OF the company increased
per cent over December. 1882. and
the volume of passengers carried
jumped Is to 20 per cent, comparing
the two months
Eastman revealed that restrictions Of
the act creating his office, with respect
to dismlssalS in effectlng economies
has made it impossible to proceed very
far to date with the reduction of waste
in transportation, but exhaustive studies
are under way in every field and
definite recommendations probably will
be forthcoming in the near future. The
act, he pointed out limits the reduction
OF employment to certain level.
The Government official predicted
that new method Of charging for service
probably would result from compre-
hensive study of the freight load Of
the country now nearing completion.
He said he believed we are on the
verge of great changes in railroad equip
i1lent and service"
Studies Are Under Way.
Committees OF railroad officials and
transportation authorities have been
appointed in various regions throughout
the country. Eastman said and studies
now are well under way covering motor
trucking. freight charges. passenger
traffic, cost Of service, marketing of the
railroad service, equipment, etc.
Whatever regulation Is imposed on
our mass transportation services" he
said, should be for the public need
and not for the protection of any par
ticular field of transportation.
If We do nothing else. the fact that
SafI d. Hoi,1 acHa for iy,fN
ton never before assembled Is In itself
helpful"
Col. Barber paid tribute to the organ
lied effort Of the Capitals trade and
civic groups in settling the problem OF
Washington's street car service.
Referring to the unregulated taxicab
situation, he said
For long time the seriousness Of
our taxicab problem was not apparent
to the average observer. Certainly it Is
a convenience to have a 20-cent taxi
awaiting ones signal at almost any mo-
ment on any street in the business dis
trict. But by this time it must be evi-
dent 10 all that, if the present trend
continues. our taxi service will soon be-
come completely intolerable.
Even now one cannot hail cab with
any assurance that it is At or safe to
ride in or that it is backed by any re-
sponsibility for injury that 1t may cause
to passengers or other users of the
streets. The employment conditions,
the hours Of labor and pitifully small
earnings. represent the reverse Of what
business generally is providing as min
inum for its employees under the Ma
tional Recovery Administration"
Pass Use Is Widespread.
Col Barber criticized Congress for
failure to invest in the Public Utilities
Commission the necessary authority to
remedy the problem.
Mr.. Hanna revealed use of the 81
pass on street cars has been widespread
One patron, he said. reported he rode
81 times in one week on a pass.
Assuming the average number of
rides per pass to be %, Mr.. Hanna
pointed out each patron would save 65
cents per week by use of the weekly
pass. The Capital Transit Co. he said.
Is now selling more than $4,000 passes
per week, making an annual saving to
street car riders of 81, 100000.
The transfer and pass systems to-
gether,' Mr.. Hanna said. have caused
a considerable increase in the number
Of passengers carried Exact figures are
not available, but are probably between
IS and 20 per cent greater. Since De-
cember l, 81 new men have been broken
In as conductors, m0tormen and bus
operators"
The maximum number Of street cars
and busses in service also has increased,
the street railway executive said.
Experiments Awaited.
The company, he said. is now en-
gagged in detailed survey of all bus
and rail routes operated, which Will
furnish data on which to base gen.
eral plan of rerouting. This will be
submitted to the Public Utilities Com
mission. New street cars and equip
ment ultimately will be purchased, but
the company is now awaiting results of
experiments with types of street
cars before taking any steps in this
direction.
Board of Trade members were urged
to support the Presidents birthday
party by Wilton j. Lambert, member OF
the local committee planning this event
for the benefit of the Warm Springs,
Ga. Foundation. The party will take
place in the Shoreham Hotel January 30
Entertainment last night was pro-
vided by the Pepco Glee Club. Claude
w. Owen. board president, presided at
the meeting.
ICKES CREATES new