Evening star., 1949-08-10
Argues That Radio In Transit
Is an Illegal Practice

1OT Ills dpC I1uSGIdC1OI1 OF Tie dUSuIOlIy VI
allowing radio broadcasting on public con-
veyances printed August 8. We venture one
doubt, however, and that is as to his cer-
tainty that the operator Of car or bus
would Immediately stop the vehicle and call
policeman, to end the intrusion of inde-
pendent radio reception. Our doubt is based
on the fact that we now have useful and pro-
tective regulations of which the operators
are oblivious or totally Indifferent. Not only
are these regulations not enforced, but those
who offer protest to their disregard are met
usually with silence, occasionally with in
science and defensive argument.
The law prohibits smoking on public We
hicles. or even the carrying of lighted cigars,
cigarettes and pipes; 1t also prohibits ex-
pectorating inside the conveyance, and pro-
family, and rowdyism. But we look in vain
for any action on the part Of our operators
which would tend to preserve respect for the
law, or even to inform those ignorant of it.
This Is a rather sweeping statement it
might be altered to the extent of crediting
perhaps one per cent of the operators with
an honest effort to honor the regulations
and to impress upon riders the necessity Of
observing them.
AS a result of the above attitude on the
part of most operators, we are continually
forced to ride in the rank odor of smolder-
ing cigars. cigarettes and pipes to say moth:
ing OF the fumes from active smokers who
are very rarely. If ever. interfered with by
motormen or bus drivers. We are often
subjected to the annoyance Of drunkenness,
profanity and rowdyism which makes our
riding anything but pleasant. The only
case In which I have ever seen driver
interfere with passenger under such cir
cumstances has been when the driver per-
sonally was offended BY the actions of the
passenger.
There Is basic, unWritten law against
imposing radio noise on the riding public,
especially when all transportation is in the
hands of one company, as it leaves the IN
dividual no free choice, and that is disre-
gard of his constitutional rights. No
authority under Heaven has right, legally,
to force upon any individual what he does
not choose to hear. One of Hitler's favorite
methods of torture, so we are told, was to
force upon his victims continuous radio
noise. But this is not Hitler's country; this
is America, free democracy. These facts
are so self-evident that we cannot but
wonder, as we are wondering, what influence
has been used by the company and the COM
mercial interests back Of these radios to OBJ
tain exemption, apparently by common and
tacit consent Of our authorities, from the
obligations of this unwritten law.
There is also legal aspect to the matter.
Putnam's Handy Lawbook for the Layman
states on page 299: Even music, however
elevating and enjoyable at times, and de-
pending Of course upon its character, may be
continued so long as to become an annoy
ance to those compelled to remain in the
immediate vicinity. The general trend Of
whether of musical instruments or the
human voice, or made by mechanical means,
may be nuisance"
If the Capital Transit Company is selling
itself to the commercial interests at the
expense Of the riding public, which is the
chief source of that company's income, there
certainly should be some legal authority In
the District interested and willing to protect
the rights of that public. There is no ques-
ton as to the illegality Of this practice.
The only question is. what is to be done
about it? VERA E. ADAMS.
Expresses Determination Not To Be Bossed
BY Labor Union Politicians.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Many persons of the rank and file, like
myself, feel that If we let the feudal lords Of
labor use our votes to extend their brutal
power we will be selling our country down
the river.
So this is what I'd like to say to the big
wigs: Gentlemen, you couldn't pay me to vote
for some of the men you have selected for
me! Yet you have the effrontery to ask me to
contribute toward the political assassination
of members of Congress of unquestionable
integrity, men whose only fault, If truth
fully it can be termed such, is that they have
had the courage to thwart your will.
'Nothing doing! I consider your League
for Political Education fraud inflicted upon
the membership, and your solicitation OF
voluntary contributions toward this project q
brazen attempt to collect money under false
pretenSeS.
please do not tell me how to vote and
please do not ask me to take part IN Judas
attempt to cruelty good loyal Americans.
You wouldn't make demand that would In
terfere with my civil liberties, would you?
That would smack too much Of dictatorship
and would be too much out Of line with those
democratic principles which you stress rs
prevalent in the unions. Besides. it's uncon-
stitutionall" RANK AND FILE.