Evening star., 1951-04-21
The Story Of copitoI Trunsit
PUG Is Target of Complaints
On Cuts in Possenger Service

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counts. makes his own studies and
testif1es at rate hearings.
The PUG says there has been
no cutting down of 1ayover time
| for bus drivers and streetcar
operators by etc.
The PUG declared it has a
check on the company's opera
Itions through finances. schedules
land the condition of its mechani-
tcal equipment.
Factor in Fewer Riders.
At PUG fare increase hear
ings, spokesmen of various groups
said that higher fares and poorer
service are important factors In
fewer Capital Transit riders. The
company contends the business
decline Is directly traceable to
the tremendous increase in pri-
vately -owned automobiles. which
compete daily with streetcars and
buses. Taxicabs are also a fac
tor, some say. :
Some have urged the PUG to
force CTC into bankruptcy, others
want. the District government to
operate the mass transportation
system here, and yet others have
advocated that the PUG reduce
fares to increase patronage. Some
argue that CTC must be in sound
financial condition, otherwise the
new owners, the Florida investors
group, would not have put their
money into it. Revival of wartime
private automobile pools" has
been suggested by some as an an
swer to the problem of getting to
and from work comfortably and
quickly.
j. Edward Heberle, until recent
ly CTC. controller. has told the
PUG that the rate of return
needed to assure confidence in the
company's financial integrity, tc
maintain its credit and to attract
capital is 10 per cent. He saiG
this would provide a reasonable
dividend for stockholders. PUG
says no water" is permitted in
CTC property for fare purposes.
Praised Heretofore.
Hitherto, CTC has been recog-
nized as outstanding for its main
tenance practices and safe opera.
tions and has won nationwide
recognition. But the company's
critics declare that it is now cut
ting rnaintenalace expenses to
make money and pay dividends.
The company denies 1t is curtail-
ing maintenance to any danger
GUS degree. e. Cleveland Giddings
CTC vice president, said:
This company has always been
aggressively interested in bettering
our maintenance procedures. We
are one of the leading transit
firms in this field. AS proof of this,
Capital Transit Co. has won the
American Transit Associations
Safety Award every year since
1943, except 1948, when st. Louis
won. This is the top efficiency
safety award in the United States
This award is for passenger
safety; it is based on the collision
rate, passenger accident rate and
accidents within the vehicles
Ithemselves-all phases that COM
prise. safe operation.
Points to Experimentation.
Eve do a lot of experimentation
One Of the things is the major
overhaul maintenance procedure
We have changed our inspection
OF buses from as low as every
1000 miles to as high as every
5000. Some companies go as high
as 5000, before making a major
inspection. Now we are back te
1000 miles, as we have found that
lis the most efficient for major in
spection.
"Streetcar major inspection |.
made every 5000 miles.
1--WE found that the previous
plan of bringing buses in fo,
major overhaul resulted In du-
plication of work. The present
practice is in the direction of ef-
f1ciency that has made us the
outstanding leader in the United
States in this safety field.
Further, we have increased ef-
lf1ciency in our shops now. We use
big vacuum cleaners to clean shor
floors and garages.
Shrinkage In Employees.
"Our vehicles are operating
considerably fewer miles than pre-
1 yiously, for we have considerably
/ fewer passengers. And the fewer
number of passengers is reflected
in the shrinkage In the number
Iof our employees. We do not op-
crate a wasteful service.
But we are short of operators
and there has been no reduction
In that force. Because of this
/ lShrinkaCe If a man fIneS MT sfo.x