Evening star., 1949-10-27
Buses
Continued From First Page.)


his chair and looked sternly at
the crowd Of more than 300 men
and women in the hearing room
until quiet was restored.
"On another occasion" he con-
tinued, "the radio was turned on
so loud it was a nuisance"
Loud applause and cheers
greeted this remark.
Mr.. Sager said 1t was his opin-
ion that the radios did not create
q safety hazard.
PERSONALLY I don't care for ra-
dios on streetcars and Buses" Mr.
Sager said, "but I can see no OBJ
lection to them from the stand
point of safety"
A statement read by John Con-
naughton. president of the Fed
GRAFTON of Citizens Associations
marked the first break in Chair
man Flanagan's prehearing Or
der that no witnesses would be
heard from the floor.
Mr.. Connaughton's assertion
that radios on streetcars and
buses cannot injure individuals
who are normal enough to be at
large" brought derisive calls from
the audience. A number Of peo-
pie asked for the opportunity to
speak. protesting what they termed
those insulting remarks"
From the floor a voice was
plainly heard above the mixture
Of applause and sounds Of dis
agreement. asking, rs the COM
mission going to sit there and
allow these insulting remarks?"
Before any comment on this
question could be made by Chair
man Flanagan. a woman stood up
in the second row and said:
"As a musician, do feel in
suited"
Chairman Flanagan at this
point said he felt that from his
long acquaintance with Mr.. Con-
naughton that the Federation
president meant no insult and
that he also FELT Mr.. Connaughton
would soon get to the point"
Later, MIR. Connaughton said he
felt that securing of this income
for Capital Transit is good busi-
ness" e.
Another Witness Interrupted.
Mrs. Edward Morris, president
Of the Fort Davis Citizens Asso-
citation, said her organization had
voted unanimously for a resolu-
ton favoring the radios on street.
cars and buses. Her testimony
was interrupted on several &C.
casions by laughter and jeers from
enemies of the radio-equipped
transit company vehicles.
When Mrs. Morris said a man
had told her the musical programs
he heard on streetcars had a
soothing, relaxing affect on him
after he worked all day." loud
laughter filled the board room and
she had to pause for several min
utes until Mr.. Flanagan could re-
store order.
r. A. Seelig, president of the
newly organized Transit Riders
Association. was applauded for al
most five minutes when he left
the witness stand after denounc-
ing the streetcar radios as an
immoral, unwarranted invasion
Of the personal liberty and privacy
of those who do not want to listen
to them
Mr.. Seelig said his association
was organized Tuesday night and
comprises AZ men and women who
are opposed to streetcar, radios.
He said the only solution to 'this
nuisance" would be to equip
streetcars and buses with ear
phones for those who feel they
must have radio music while they
ride.
This would permit Others" Mr..
Seelig said, ito talk, read or even
to think"
Mrs. Ernest Howard. president
pf the Columbia Heights Citizens
Association, said that organiza-
ton favors the installation Of ra-
|dios on all streetcars and buses
and that she personally likes to
listen to the programs while she
rides.
'The only objection I have y
she said. "is that / don't get all
the gossip>I would like to hear
Capt. d. L. johnson, Of the
Traffic Division. said q survey