Evening star., 1936-07-19
CARS DUE
TO Be CHALLENGED
Sager Will Be Called Upon
to Verify Statistics Fa.
voring Them.

Fred A. Sager. chief engineer Of
the Public Utilities Commission, who
testified Friday that oce-man street
cars are safer than vehicles on which
there is two-nan operation, will be
called upon tomorrow to verify his
statistics, when the current public
hearing reaches its sixth and final
day.
William A. Roberts, peoples coun-
sel, who has vigorously fought the
application of the Capital Transit Co.
to extend the use of one-man cars,
has indicated that he will challenge
Sager's records Of accidents.
Roberts contention will be that
salty statistics offered by the COM
pany and by Sager are not necessarily
accurate since, under two-man opera
ton, two reports of each mishap are
made and that under one-man opera
ton some accidents of minor nature
are ignored.
Roberts also expects to challenge
Sager's testimony that the cost OF
operation is less under one-man op-
Grafton.
Direct Testimony to Continue.
Chester H. Gray, assistant corpora
tion counsel and acting counsel for
the commission, expects to continue
the introduction of direct testimony
from the engineer before Roberts
cross-examination begins.
No concluding arguments are ex-
pected to be made. unless William
NICK. Clayton, chairman Of the Pub
lie Utilities Committee of the Fedora
tion Of Citizens Associations, desires
to make q closing statement. Clayton
has participated in the case both as
counsel and as q witness, and has
joined Roberts In many instances in
noting exceptions to the rulings Of
Richmond B. Keech, acting chairman
of the p. U. c., before whom the en-
tire proceedings have been held.
Clayton has already indicated that
il the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions dissatisfied with the ruling Of
the commissions, whatever it may be,
he Is prepared to take the case to
court. No definite plans for court ac-
ton. however, have been made. even
If the commission grants the Capital
Transit Co.'S petition.
Martin to Take Stand.
James l.. Martin, executive secre-
tary of the commission, also will take
the stand at the closing session to in
troduce as an exhibit a summary Of
letters and other communications re-
ceived by the commission and the
peoples counsel on the subject Of one
man cars. Yesterday the letters re-
ceived at the two ofices totaled close
| to so.
When q ruling in the case may be
expected is problematic. Col. Dan 7.
Sultan, Engineer Commissioner and q
member Of the p. U. c., has been abb
sent from the city. and has not yet
had an opportunity to study the rec
ord.
Riley E. Elgen, chairman, who has
been seriously ill at his home for a
little more than three weeks, will prob
ably undergo an operation tomorrow
or next day, and his return will de-
pend upon his physical condition.
| Both Elgen and Sultan will receive
an opportunity to study the record
before any order is issued.
During the past week the transit
company has presented a series OF
traction executives from. cities where
one-man cars are in service. In
every case they testified that the carl
are safer than two-man cars, more
economical In operation and in some
cases faster.
Assert Nome to Lose Job.
Company officials, answering
charges of organized labor, have tes.
titled that no men will lose their jobs
because Of additional use Of one-mar
cars. William w. Keeler, chairman
Of the Utilities Committee of the Cen.
tral Labor Union, however, has
charged that one-man cars here will
mean an application of the stretch.
out" system Of making one man dc
the work of two.
Keeler was Joined by spokesmen fol
the organized trainmen, who, with one
exception, have opposed the cars.
Clayton, speaking for the Federation
Of Citizens Associations, testified that
all 81 member organizations are
against the proposed change. He also
attempted unsuccessfully to show that
the. adoption Of the new policy WA
dictated, not BY local directors Of the