Evening star., 1936-01-06
ROUTING DECLARED
CHIEF DIFFICULTY.
OF TRANSIT LINE
Company's Assistant to
President Replies to
Many Complaints.
RUNNING TIME DATA
ARE ASKED BY SULTAN
Hanna Quickly Answers, How.
ever, That Motormen Are Too
Busy to Supply It.


Present routing of the street cars
and busses Of the Capital Transit Co.
has aggregated the difficulties Of
maintaining schedules and is the chief
problem remaining to be solved II the
service of the company is to be i'm
proved, William B. Bennett. assistant
to the president Of the company, told
the Public Utilities Commission today.
Bennett also answered a number
of complaints made by individuals end
citizens associations which brought
about the present hearing. He occu-
pied the stand during most Of the
morning session, ]. z. Heberle. vice
president and controller. following
him shortly before the morn recess.
During Benefits testimony. Col.
Dan I. Sultan. a member of the COM
mission, asked for complete data on
the running time of all street car and
bus lines. showing times of departure
from terminals and the arrival time
at certain loading points along the
route. He suggested that the bus
drivers and car motormen be given
watches and blank forms on which
they could note the various times.
Men Held Too Busy
IF we could have such data" he
said, "it would settle once and for all
the differences of opinion expressed
here by witnesses for and against the
company"
Before Bennett could answer. John
H. Hanna, president, declared that the
collection Of such information is i'm
practicable because the "motorman or
driver has all he can do with his
present duties" Later. Hanna called
attention to records already filed with
the commission to show the timing
of n car trips and los bus trips.
Bennett contended that the present
Georgia avenue-Seventh street line
is no slower than the former Ninth
street route. as charged in some OF
the complaints. but that better time
actually is made for the same mile
age. He did not have comparable
data, however. for the Kennedy
street-Fourteenth street line. and was
asked to supply it later.
Buses Held Better Than Cars.
Bennett also asserted that the ad.
justed Chevy Chase service. on which
buses replaced cars. actually Is better
than the former service. At present,
he said, a maximum Of "a buses per
hour are used on the line, whereas
formerly a maximum of l8 street cars
was used. He also said that fewer
buses reach the circle than there were
street cars. because the former may be
turned back at more convenient points
as outlying trafic decreases.
It was agreed that the commission
and company jointly will study the
loading situation at Dupont Circle,
which, he said, could be improved.
Improved traffic regulations to pre-.
vent left turns Of automobiles in front
of cars at street intersections. Bennett
asserted, would help maintain sched.
ules and prevent many present delays.
He also suggested that private auto
mobiles be barred from stopping on
the tracks in front of street cars at
loading points and at the approach to
red traffic lights.
Routing Held at Fault.
Chairman Riley e. Elgen asked Ben
net for his opinion as to the major
problem to be solved to improve the
service. It was then that he blamed
most delays and improper spacing OF
cars and busses on the present routing.
IF cars and busses could be kept on
their present schedules" he said, I'VE
would have practically no overlooking.
It is only when they get behind their
schedule during the rush periods that
they are overloaded"
When Heberle took the stand. he
presented the financial background Of
the company at the time of the con-
solidation, December /. 1888, OF the
two former companies, declaring that
at the time neither company was earn
ing its fixed charges.
He said that later he win otier
series of statistical tables showing what
the present company has accomplished
since that time.
Two Bases for Gains.
On the strength Of facts already de.
veloped during the hearing, two bases
have been set up by Chairman Elsen
for consideration In any plan to i'm.
prove mass transportation service.
The first of these Is better super
vision of schedules on the part Of the
company to see that street cars and
buses run on time. The second Is
q closer supervision Of vehicular traf.
fic, so that the way may be cleared
for buses and street cars to stick TO
schedules.
Later in the week testimony will be
taken from commission experts on a
number of technical studies begun
after the hearings got under way. These
will deal with ventilation Of busses
and safe carrying limits that should DO
set up for both buses and cars. This
studies were ordered by the commits
sion about two weeks ago.