Evening star., 1936-11-17
TAKOMA SERVICE
DEBATED AS BUS
HEARING RESUMES
Bruce E. Anderson Says 800
Signed Petition for Link
With Potomac Park.
ROBERTS BACKS PLEA,
ASKS NINTH STREET LINE
More Direct Route to Government
Buildings, However, Claimed
by Spokesman.

Request 1Or Qlrect transportation
service from the Takoma area to the
Government buildings in Potomac
Park was made to the Public Utili-
ties Commission today by Bruce z.
Anderson, as hearings were resumed
on the proposal of the Capital Transit
Co. to substitute buses for the Third
and Kennedy streets car line.
Anderson, a Takoma resident, told
the commission a petition for direct
service to the Government buildings
had been signed by approximately 800
Government workers, mostly EN-.
ployed in the Navy and Munitions
Buildings.
Most OF these people" he said,
now use private automobiles, in sheer
desperation, as a means of getting to
work. They have to leave home as
early as am. in order to get park.
ing places for their machines"
Roberts Joins in Request.
William A. Roberts, former peoples
counsel, who is appearing as attorney
for Ninth Street Association, Joined
In the suggestion, proposing that the
requested all-day express bus line be
operated down Ninth street to Con-
stitution avenue, and then west to
the Government buildings.
When he asked If a more direct
routing to Potomac Park could be
found. Anderson replied, Yes, by
following the route proposed by the
company, via New Hampshire, Sher-
man, Florida and Vermont avenues
to Logan Circle and then west to a
point where the buses could 90 di.
rectly south to Potomac Park.
George A Corbin of Manor Park
then irrterjected: II want Mr.. Rob.
erts to know that We are opposed to
his Ninth street route"
The earlier part of the session 10.
day was devoted to debate over the
request of w. H. Parsons of the citi.
zens' association of Takoma, D. C, for
dividing the proposed all-day Takoma
express bus service into two lines in
the northern section, so that some of
the buses would travel through Kan.
sas avenue and Third street and ths
remainder through Fifth street.
Says Extra Service Needed.
Parsons insisted the rapidly devel.
optng community to be served would
need the extra service thus afforded.
He drew support from Roberts, who
showed transit company patrons now
have to walk as much as eight blocks
to get service.
E. D. Merrill. general manager Of
the company, indicated ne would be
willing to divide the Takoma bus line
into two such branches during the
rush-hour period, but not for au-day
operation, his contention being that
the operation of a shuttle bus from
Takoma to the proposed new ending
of the Fourteenth street car line at
Kennedy street would prove sufficient.
Arthur E. Cook, president of the
Sixteenth Street Highlands Citizens
Association. made a restatement of his
views on the proposed elimination of
the tracks on Kennedy street, because
Of misunderstanding that developed
yesterday during an exchange with
William NICK. Clayton, a leading ad-
vocate of retention Of the street car
service.
Not Opposed to Street Cars.
Cook declared his association favors
removal Of the street car tracks on
Kennedy street between Fourteenth
street and Georgia avenue. He said
his group would not oppose continual
tion Of the street car service, and a
double-tracking of the line on Ken
nedy street from Georgia avenue east
to Third street and thence to Takoma.
That plan would send the Takoma cars
through Georgia avenue instead of
Fourteenth street. He argued that to
double-track all the line all the way
to Fourteenth street would adversely
affect the service on Fourteenth street.
H. L. Thornton arose during the
morning session to challenge the
right Of Parsons to speak for the
whole of Takoma." How many men,
bers on the average attend your meet
ings?" he asked Parsons.
Thereupon, w. c. Magathan, presi-
dent Of the group. declared he did not
see that Thornton's question had any
bearing on the case. When Thornton
insisted on his point, Corbin, the
Manor Park spokesman, asked: "Is
Mr.. Thornton testifying, or what?"
II am making a Speech" said
Thornton.
Richmond B. Keech, commission
vice chairman, ended the exchange
by remarking: "Mr. Thornton has
now finished"