Evening star., 1935-08-18
CHEVY CHASE BUS
NEEDS OUTLINED
Want Connecticut Avenue
Car Tracks Left Till New
Service Is Tried.


Better ventilation facilities and more
busses are being sought for the Con-
necticut avenue bus line by the Chevy
Chase Citizens Association.
The new line has been ordered by
the Public Utilities Commission to go
into operation this Fall, but before
starting the service the Chevy Chase
association, through its Executive Com
mittee, has asked that several changes
be made in the type Of service pro-
posed.
The association has also asked that
the change from street cars to busses
be considered as temporary measure
only until it is proved to be the best
service possible, both as to quality and
quantity.
Edwin S. Hege, president of the as
Sociation, has taken great deal Of
interest in the change ever since the
idea was first advanced. He attended
the hearings held by the Public Utili-
ties Commission when the matter was
up for discussion and testified before
that body several times in the matter.
At that time he said that what his
association wanted was better serv-
ice and more of it."
Special Meeting Held.
He has been investigating the type
of service proposed for the new line
and last week held a meeting Of the
Executive Committee OF the associa-
ton at his home to discuss the matter.
Considerable apprehension was ex-
pressed at the meeting that the trac-
ton company would use poor equip
ment, especially in regard to ventila-
ton. Hege pointed out street cars
have large windows both in the front
and rear which can be opened to
provide ventilation, while on a bus
| cnly the front window can be opened.
and that only part way. The rear
window cannot be opened because Of
the danger of drawing carbon mon
oxide gas into the interior.
The committee passed a resolution
asking that the busSes be equipped
with adequate ventilation facilities,
and sent copies Of the resolution to
the Capital Traction Co., the
Public Utilities Commission and to the
Commissioners. The resolution also
asked that enough buses be provided
to reduce the percentage Of standees
to a minimum. The committee felt
that since standing in bus is more
difficult than in street car, that more
seats should be provided by the addi-
| ton Of more busses. Under pres
ent plans, the traction company pro-
poses to put about so buses on the
line. The committee asked that this
number be increased to 10 at the
least.
The resolution also asked that the
street car tracks be allowed to remain
on the avenue until the bus service
had passed the experimental stage and
proven to be the best possible method
of transportation from Chevy Chase
to downtown Washington. The COM
mittee wants the bus substitution TO
be considered as a temporary measure
until it has proved successful.
Another resolution passed by the
executive committee at the meeting
commended the police department for
the traffic law enforcement campaign,
and asked that it be continued until
reckless driving and speeding is halted.
1 The resolution also commended the
traffic court for the disposition Of
the cases brought before it.
Hege believes the traffic campaign
could be carried even further, and
suggested that all car operators con-
victed of reckless driving should have
their permits revoked.
| Hege has devoted a great deal of
I his time to civic affairs, as well as
serving on numerous committees and
! boards.
/ Was Rockville Resident
He was born in Chambersburg. Pa,
and moved to Rockville with his
parents at the age Of 8. His early
education was received in the Rock
vile schools and at Central High
School in Washington. Shortly after
/ SC14Il al 1IC DCSdIlIC
tial secretary to Cornelius N. Bliss.
then Secretary of the Interior. He
attended the National Law School in
the evenings and graduated with the
degree of LII. B. in 1901. The next
year he received the degree Of IL NJ.
from the same school. He continued
in the Government service until 1911,
when he entered the real estate busi-
ness here. At present he is a member
of the Civil Service Commission Board.
While living in Rockville Hege cam
paigned for municipality sew
age disposal system and garbage dis
poSal plant following an outbreak Of
typhoid there. He was elected to the
Town Council in 1910 and served on
that body for two years. In 1916 he
married Miss Lena A. Collins Of Mon
tana and moved to washington.
At the outbreak of the World War
he was made administrative secretary
of the District Council of Defense. He
was also manager of the Washington
division of the United States Housing
Corp. during the war, having charge
of the operation of commandeered and
other buildings controlled by the Gov
ernment for the use of war workers.
Hege was president of the Kalorama
Citizens Association in 1919 and 1920
as well as delegate to the federation
from that association. He later joined
the Chevy Chase Citizens Association
and served as delegate from that asso-
citation.
Other Activities.
As a member of the Federation oi
Citizens Associations he was chair
man of the Public Welfare COMMITTEES
and at present is chairman of the
Committee on Fiscal Relations and
of the Special Committee on Airports
He has been a member Of the Inter-
federation Conference for some time
and has served several terms as chair
man Of that body.
He was chairman of the Chevy
Chase zoning Committee for several
years and represented that section at