Evening star., 1936-07-26
BY JESSE @. SUTER.


crate trackage changes at Four
teenth and II streets-Fourteenth
and New York avenM-Fifteenth
and G streets-and Fourteenth
and Pennsylvania avenue made
possible these radical changes cal
culated to wipe out the last vestiges
of the dual system. The final
connecting links at Fourteenth and
New York avenue and Fourteenth
and H streets were regarded as q
real achievement In construction
engineering. Considerable con-
gestion of the traffic resulted from
the Inauguration of these radical
clNnges of routing, but this dimin-
ish>1 considerably day by day
throughout the week. It is ex-
pected that when construction
work is completed, some load plat
forms are relocated and the riding
public gets its bearings, a vast
improvement will be noted over
the old system.
The Public Utilities Commission
hearing on the one-man cars was
concluded Monday. The hearing
is ended, but, like the song that
Is ended, "the melody fingers on"
The one-man car continues to be
a subject for general discussion
in civic groups and in the press.
1t is understood that decision Of
the commission will not be handed
down for fully 80 days.
The District Commissioners have
been under fire for delay in ap-
pointing a successor to E. Barrett
Prettyman, who resigned from the
Office Of corporation counsel some
months ago. Senator King, chair
man of the Senate District Com
mittee, is reported as being pro-
voked at the delay, for which there
has been no tangible explanation.
Under the division of admins
trative responsibility among the
Commissioners, the corporation
counsel office comes under Com
missioner George e. Allen, who has
been absent from the city for sew
eral weeks.
Commissioners Hazen and Sultan
have just completed a survey Of
the conditions at the District Jail.
They are in complete agreement
with the Corrections Committee Of
the Council Of Social Agencies that
the District Jail Is "obsolete and
outmoded." The council is urging
the Commissioners to seek an al
lotment of P. w. A. funds for the
construction of a new jail. Well
informed civic leaders have been
convinced Of this need for a long
time.
The Commissioners, at the re-
quest of Senator King. are going to
inquire into q report on the ade-
quacy of District laws governing
building and loan associations.
This Is a result Of the recent clos
ing down of the Fidelity Building
and Loan Association. The asso-
citation in question Is not q member
of the District of Columbia League
of Building and Loan Associations.
Company-Patron Cooperation
Might Aid Transportation System.
COME civic observers Of the re-
- cent hearing on one-man cars
before the Public Utilities Com
mission believe that much desired
improvement could be obtained
through a closer cooperation be-
tween the public and the transit
company. A number Of civic rep
resentatives denounced the COM
pany and its service in very strong
terms, but few offered construc-
tive suggestions.
George A. Corbin of the Manor
Park Citizens Association was a
notable exception. Mr.. Corbin,
while declaring himself a bitter
opponent of the proposal to per-
nit the purchasing of additional
secondhand cars, offered sug-
gestion calculated to overcome
some of the objections to the one
man cars.
He proposed that If this type Of
car is to be permitted, conductors
be provided during rush hours in
the congested sections or that in
such locations inspectors be sta
toned to make change, sell tokens,
collect fares and issue transfers.
In his opinion, this would mate
rally overcome any delay In
traffic.
The idea of having such inspec-
tors on duty at busy points is not
new in Washington. 1t has been
operated here with more or less
success in expediting the move
ment of cars operated by two men
as we'll as for busses.
A number of citizens. active in
civic organizations, have expressed
the belief that the riding public
could greatly facilitate the move
ment of all of our vehicles Of pub
lie transportation If they would
take the precaution to provide
themselves with the exact change
before boarding such vehicles.
They point out that there Is great
delay in loading, not only one-man
cars but two-man cars, through
the necessity of the conductor or
the motorman having to make
change when little thoughtful
ness on the part Of the rider could
have avoided this cause for delay.
One citizen has advanced the
suggestion that the company might
arrange to have tokens and passes
placed on sale at convenient places
throughout the city and thereby
cut down time-consuming sales on
only a little education along this
line Is needed to have numbers
Of patrons form the habit Of being
prepared with the exact fare, token
or pass before boarding a car. A
little cooperation along this line
would cost nothing and might help
a great deal.
Concise and Accurate History