Evening star., 1950-01-13
Readers Continue the Discussion
OF Capital Transit's Problems

To the Editor OF The Star:
The simple solution to Capital Transit's
problems, it appears to me, could be the
answer to innumerable problems confronting
many other businessmen in the Washington
area.
question in recent transit advertise
ment reads. What would you do?"
Answering this question, one should con-
slider the fact that basic business methods
leave two alternatives. The first and oldest
method Is to do a small volume of business
at high margin of profit. The second and
most modern method is to do large volume
of business at low margin of profit
Capital Transit has decided to use the
Oldest method. by raising the present rates
for the purpose of securing higher margin
Of profit
And, of course, re all can realize the use
lessness of the most modern method, since
the volume of business here in Washington
is limited to certain hours.
Therefore, the simple solution, as see it,
can be effected by increasing the hours of
business for establishments which depend
on evening trade. The increase of volume
In theaterS, night clubs, restaurants, hotels,
pharmacies, etc., could very well fill those
empty streetcars at night.
The added volume Of night business should
put the present operations Of Capital Tran
SlG III btle plack.
Also. has any one ever considered reviving
that fantastic subway idea? Why not an
express-train system level with the surface
running to outlying areas? Just think of
the people in Rockville, Frederick, even
Fredericksburg or Baltimore, who would be
pleased to have fast and reasonable trans
portation to Washington! S. S.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Again the citizens of Prince Georges and
Montgomery Counties are about to be made
suffer increased fares and poorer service in
order to appease the Capital Transit Com
pany.
corporation Is IAN artificial person cre-
ated by law, consisting Of one or more nat
ural persons, united in one body, and en-
dowed with the capacity of perpetual sue
cession, and Of acting in certain respects as
q natural person.
The Capital Transit Company a corpora
ton without heart or soul. was created
and endowed to transact business as
natural person" The officials and stock
holders may be replaced by others, but this
public utility corporation which they rep
resented will continue to exist. either to be
a benefactor or to become an "inanimate"
Shylock, demanding pound Of flesh"
The people upon whom the Capital Transit
the low-salaried group. A recent survey
shows that 20 per cent Of the families Of the
District of Columbia had total family in
comes of less than $2,310 annually.
Many of the low-salaried group are unable
to afford any other means Of transportation
than streetcar or bus. This smaller -salaried
group, due to "inf1ationary' prices, already
are being bled white.
Many are sacrificing both health and fam
lily life by having to work two jobs. But, the
officials of the Capital Transit Company con-
tinue to draw fabulous salaries and to live
in luxurious comfort.
OSCAR NJ MILLER.
To the Editor OF The Star:
predict the Capital Transit Company
viii get another fare increase and that not
on The merits of the case, either. They have
it all their own way, because there is no
competition. Anyone can see that if there
were some other group competing for the
transit franchise, not only. would there be
no fare increase asked for but there would
be voluntary fare cut, and increased serv-
ice; and even then this so-called public
utility still would make plenty of money.
VIM. G. CHOPEL
Advocates Annual Inspection of Drivers
Rather Than of the Vehicles They Drive
To the Editor of The Star:
After reading the editorial in last Fridays
Star suggesting motor vehicle inspection in
Maryland, began to wonder if people still
believe that the blame for the many traffic
accidents recorded yearly can be placed so
easily upon the mechanical failures Of the
automobiles involved.
The Stars editorial writer penned the idea
listic sentiments Of one who finds an all-too-
rosy future in the prophecies of tricky statis-
tics.
Does The Star believe that an elaborated
and expensive system of annual automobile
inspections in Maryland would result in
great decline in the number of accidents on
the roads in this area? think it would not.
To get to the bottom Of the trouble it would
be better for all the States to inspect drivers