Evening star., 1949-09-21

as it attempted to do during World War
H. That purpose should be plain to all
sensible Americans. SOUTHERNER
Further Discussion
OF Radios on Buses and Streetcars
To the Editor of The Star:
have read with interest the letters pro
and con, on having radios in buses and
streetcars. In the interest of public safety
hope this project will be abandoned. 1t
is a public hazard and nuisance. There are
few reasons for having radios installed on
public vehicles and many reasons against
having them. Public opinion seems to be
against the idea.
The drivers of buses especially need to be
in full possession of their faculties handling
money, watching traffic on the street, op-
operating the vehicles, protecting the safety
of passengers on the vehicles. How can they
do all this with loud music going on con-
stantly to distract their attention, to say
nothing of the annoying commercials sand
wiched between music? This noise also
makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the
driver to answer passengers questions, and
if stop is called as requested the pas
senger often cannot hear and is carried
beyond his transfer destination.
Is the Capital Transit Co. afraid to trust
public opinion? Why does it not give pas
return to operators, signifying their choice
in the matter with any personal comments?
This would represent public opinion and the
company could be guided accordingly. Those
who habitually ride the buses or streetcars
should have voice in the matter not those
who drive their own cars or ride in taxis.
1t has been said, There is time and
place for everything; and it would seem
that radios have a place in the privacy of
vehicles
whose sole purpose is, or should be, to pro-
vide the best service in transportation to
the public. E. r.
To the Editor Of The Star
trust you will find space Tor one more
protest expressing the feelings of many more
than just one individual against the radio
system installed in the Capital Transit buses
and trolleys. The noise grows louder and
more raucous each day and those of us who
are forced to stand up suffer from headaches
and nausea, because the noise hammers di-
rectly above our heads.
How long will the company inf1ict the
senselesS torture upon its patrons? There
were enough letters of protest both in the
press and sent directly to the company for
it to take notice and stop the barbaric prac-
tice. but yet the Capital Transit directors
who evidently do not ride the Capital Transit
vehicles continue the outrage.
I suggest that we residents of Washing
ton, refuse to pay the fares on the Capital
Transit lines until all of the loudspeakers
are removed from the cars and buses. If
that does not help. then our Federal Govern
ment should take over the lines on the
ground that the cars and buses with radios
create hazard to the health of Federal
employees and residents of Washington Why
should employees come to work with head
aches and tangled nerves, caused by the
greediness of the transit company? When
the Federal Government takes over the lines
it doubtleSsly will run them more eflci-
emily than the r-~-ent mismanagement
1 believe that when we, the residents of
Washington, put into practice the old tried
out American policy of no taxation without
representation and win representative gov
ernment for our Capital, then We'll be able to
enforce laws for the benefit of the majority
OF the citizens and not allow money crazy
clique without a bit of regard for the rest of
humanity to run public utility.
! LUCIA M. BORSKI