Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-03-21
Capital Transit
Tells Of Drop in
|bus|ine Riders
Maryland Citizens
Applaud Hessey's
Defense of Board
By J. B. Zutmon

By J. B. Zotmon
Six of eight nearby Maryland
buslines have shown sharp de-
clines in the number of riders dur
ing the past year, according to
testimony before the Maryland
Public Service Commission today.
, The statement was made by
Dean j. Locke, staff engineer of
the Capital Transit Co. The COM
pany proposes to discontinue
service on the eight lines when
the annual permits for them ex-
pire March 81.
Nearly 300 persons from subur-
ban Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties were attending
the hearings in the Silver Spring
Armory. Shortly before the ses-
sion began, attorneys for the
transit company reiterated their
claim that the PSC has no author
ity to require the company to
renew it's permits.
This question, according to
Commission Chairman John Hes
Sey, will be decided by the PSC
after the hearings.
FavOritism Charge Denied.
At one point during the tense
meeting Samuel Jacobs of Green
belt charged that the commission
appeared to be favoring the
transit company. This brought
strong denial from Mr.. Hessey,
who said:
1.-The PSC has twice tried to
maintain utility service in this
area and has twice been moved
down by the Court of Appeals.
All we're trying to do here is
conduct this hearing in an orderly
manner. But we don't have the
final authority.
I'VE have a duty to the public
under the law. However, we have
been reversed every time we have
found in favor of the interests
iof the citizens. We never have
been reversed in situations of
another character"
His remarks were greeted by
loud applause from the citizens.
Business Drop Detailed.
Mr.. Locke testified that the
drop in the number of passengers
in six of the eight buSlines in
volved has ranged from 18 per
cent to 80 per cent during the past
year.
He listed the six as CD, serving
Greenbelt, drop of 80 per cent;
H-3, serving Eastpines, Is per
cent; F-8. between Mount Rainier
and Riverdale. 81 per cent; N-8.
between Forty-ninth street and
Glen Echo along Massachusetts
avenue. 10 per cent; o., serving
Kenwood and the Bradley boule-
ward area. 81 per cent. and X-8.
along Sheriff road, &c per cent.
There has been no decline in the
number of passengers using the
Y-3 line along the Piney Branch
road, Mr.. Locke said. He added
that the eighth line, IA, between
Fourth and Butternut streets NV.
to Old Bladensburg road and
Forston road, Silver Spring, has
increased in the number of riders
during the past year.
He also testified that other bus
lines now duplicate service along
lat least parts of the ia, F-8 and
iN-8 lines.
Ready With Arguments.
Citizen groups are prepared to
meet the company's argument
with the contention that Capital
Transit is earning more money on
its overall operations today and
|should continue to run the lines
as public service.
Capital Transit believes it is en-
Titled to drop the service in the in
terest of improving service else
where.
Interest in the case has reached
Congress. with Senator Butler.
Republican, of Maryland, asking
for an investigation. Yesterday
the District Public Utilities Com
mission entered the fight.
The PUG scheduled a hearing
yesterday to cover the five lines
that extend into the District. The
commission said the hearing is
meant to cover only those riders
who board and leave the buses in
the District.
The lines extending into the
District are N-8. Glen Echo; o.,
kenwood, Edgemoor and Bradley
boulevard; IA, Takoma branch
line; X-8, Sheriff road, and Y-3,
Piney Branch road.