Evening star., 1951-04-21

bus service has been curtailed
sharply. Those holding this view,
point to the crowded streetcar
loading platforms and bus stops
during rush hours and the CTC
vehicles damned to the gills."
The increasing Washington pop
ulation is deemed a factor in this.
Standards Set by PUG.
The PUG says it makes weekly
checks on CTC schedules to see
that it is giving the public ade-
quate service. 1t also requires
cleanliness standards.
When a vehicle is involved in
an accident involving mechanical
trouble, it can not legally be op-
Grated again until a PUG inspector
has checked it, officials said.
PUG officials say they see to it
that CTC does not fall below mini
mum requirements. They say there
has been no reduction in rush
hour services. When a complaint
is received about service on given
line, a PUG inspector makes a
check, officials explained.
When a traffic count shows the
public is not riding buses and
streetcars in sufficient numbers,
the company may reduce service on
a given line. officials pointed out.
Cut Back in Mileage.
CTC has cut back in mileage and
service during the "base day
between rush hours.
The PUG minimum standards
permit a bus during rush hours
to carry standees equal to 40 per
cent of the seats. Thus, a bus
with A seats has a total carrying
value of 81 passengers.
Rush hours for both streetcars
and buses are 6 am. to $50 am.
and from 3 to Z pm, under PUG
rules.
In non-rush hours, there must
be as many seats as there are pas
sengers, each half hour, PUG says.
The company is required to fur
nish a traffic count three times a
year on all lines. A maximum
carrying capacity is set for each
bus, depending on its construction
and arrangements of stanchions
and hand rails as safety measure.
Standing Space Set.
For streetcars in the rush hours,
there must be-under PUG require
ments-for each standee, 4 square
feet of standing space. In the lat
est-type streetcar, which has 49
seats. the total carrying value is
rs passengers during rush hours.
officials explained.
The PUG has received COM
plants that CTC is cutting down
on service but increasing dividend
payments.
"That really sticks in the pub
lies craw," said one PUG official.
Some complain that the PUG
comes pretty near giving CTC
what it wants in the way Of in
creased fares - and otherwise.
This is denied by PUG, which says
it is acting under the law and in
the best interests of the public.
Some CTC critics have pointed
out that the higher fares the COM
|pany has been getting in the post
war years will not aid it in earn
ling more money, due to the law
Iof diminishing returns. Capital
Transit, these people contend, has
earned a fine, fair return on Its
investment and paid huge income
and excess-profits taxes.
Check ON Financial Status.
PUG points out that 1t has its
own official in the Capital Transit
headquarters. who keeps tab or
the financial status of the COM
lpany. Thus the commission has
a flrst-hand check on the utility's
financial position day by day. Ir
reality it conducts a continuous
audit and knows as much about
the company'S finances as do it.
own employees. according to the
lPUC.
In addition, the company is re-
Quired to furnish PUG with peri
odic financial and other reports
Further. the PUC's chief account.
ant goes over the company's &C.