Greenbelt cooperator., 1939-12-07
Citizens Study New Bus Syste
By Frank Burr

The Greenbelt Citizens Association met Monday
evening and considered the al-important Greenbelt
issue--transportat tation. Benjamin Ketcham of the
Subcommittee municipal transportation read a
statement by his committee stating that they had
considered the operation of a municipal system of
transportation and decided against such system
to the necessity of borrowing initial funds and
Large personnel and operating problem that would be
Immediately presented. His committee Joined with
the subcomit ttee Cooperative Transportation and
recommended the plan to be suggested by them.
Allen Arness, chairman of the sub-comi ttee on
cooperative transportation read statement of that
coitte explaining the essential elements of their
plan and submitted Herewith detailed report
with exhibits and statistics. Nr. Arness stated
that the Capital Transit Company obviously in
terested in serving the public interest only insofar
it led to quick and easy profits and then al
ternate system the only solution of the trans
portation problem.
Under the plan submi tied a cooperative would be
formed and $l5 membership fee paid by members in
groups of l These members would be transported to
and from work in station wagon type busses
such the type displayed in Greenbelt this weekend.
Only one bus would be purchased in the beginning,
and would be added wherever groups of II became
interested. Driving would be a volunteer basis.
the group picking their drivers from their
bership. The plan submitted is considered non
competitive and in addition to Capital Transit
vice and such was not believed to fall under the
State or District of Columbia Utility Comission's
juri sdic tion.
After considerable discussion, centering mainly
upon the fact that the plan would include only a
small group of citizens at the start, and the poss
bi1ity of Capital Transit disseminating the
TanSporta COMM ttee reported that the Capital
Transit is required under franch perform SER
vice and not discontinue such service without
permission of the state utility commission. Sherrod
East moved that committee be appointed to study
the proposal made in the Light of three suggestions
developed by discussion; first, the proposal sub
mitted; seeond the possibility of complete coopera
tive service to the Mt Rainier terminal of the Cap
ita1 Transit; and third, hr. East's suggestion
that the proposal be taken up with the Town Council
with view to immediate complete service COOP
erative basis backed financially by the Town of
Greenbelt. The motion carried and voluntary
mittee appointed.
The Better Buyer's Club notified the Citizens As
ISOLATION of the desire of the Joint Maryland Con-
smers' Milk Committee to have a local commit
work with it in presenting brief to the Secretary
of Agriculture protesting the proposed increase in
retail milk prices. The Association passed motion
authorizing the appointment of such commit ttee, but
the chairman did not appoint the members during the
meeting. motion passed that the Association
60 record protesting any increase in milk
prices in Greenbelt.
The question brought up of the desire of the
American Legion post of Greenbelt sponsor the 10
cal Boy Scout troop, under the sponsorship of
the Greenbe1t Citizens Association. The subject
aired thoroughly, and a motion passed that the
Citizens Association should retain the sponsorship.
It pointed that if the Citizens Association
thus retained sponsorship, they must actively en-
deavor to build and improve the Scout troop, and
thereby al1ay the criticism Of their previous spon-
sorship.