Evening star., 1951-08-02
Capital TransitHearing
To Study Reduction in
Maintenance Force


scrutiny by the Public Utilitie
Commission today, with the com
pany already placed on motto,
that the commission expects {
standard Of maintenance "be.
yond reproach."
Today'S SeSSion-fourth in spe.
cial hearings on the company:
service-was scheduled for thi!
afternoon.
Chairman James II. Flanagan
made the commissions position
on the maintenance question cleal
at yesterdays hearing, at the
same time giving the first hint oi
the PUC's probable attitude to.
ward the transit company in the
current study.
Mr.. Flanagan spoke after testi-
mony on Capital Transit's in
tentions with regard to buying
new buses.
Denies Need of Buses.
Dean j. Locke, company traf-
fic engineer, testified the COM
pany 'contemplates" buying new
buses, if the District will change
its regulations to permit a larger
size than at present.
But MIR. Locke, in questioning.
also went on to warn that, If pa
tronage continues to drop-aS il
has steadily since 1946-new bus
buying might be postponed. He
conceded the company has no
official long-range buying plans
When pressed as to why no pur-
chases have been made recently,
he stated fatty:
1--WE don't need any more
buses"
Engineer Commissioner Bernard
L. Robinson reminded the transit
official, however, that the District
two years ago turned down a re-
quest for larger buses. And Chair
man Flanagan interrupted the dis
cussion to advise:
1.-THE company might well con-
slider buying buses whether or not
the commissioners permit larger
size"
Then the chairman added:
IT am interested in the resump-
ton of maintenance of the entire
feet on basis which will be be-
yond reproach."
Puts Company on Notice.
Mr.. Flanagan told reporter
afterwards he did not intend to
imply maintenance has deterio-
rated, but he explained he wanted
to put the company on notice
before it does"
Capital Transit now owns 963
buses, but only 796 are in opera
ton, Mr.. Locke told the commits
sion. He said the prospective. as
well as current, passenger volume
does not indicate a need for any
more.
Age of the buses, the witness
testified, ranges from two to 1512
years. Only 205 have been bought
since 1912, but these he said. are
the only ones, generally sIeak-
ing," that are in use during non
rush periods and on Saturdays
and Sundays.
Mr.. Locke answered a blunt
"no" when Herbert P. Leeman,
president of the Federation of
Citizens Associations, attempted
to get him to agree that the pub
lie "is entitled to more modern
equipment" Mr.. Leeman charged
that "the great bulk Of buses you
are operating are not modern and
do not contain the conveniences
for the benefit of your customers"
featured in the newest buses.
Opposes Express Service.
The transit official did say,
when questioned by PUG Counsel
Lloyd B. Harrison, that the COM
pany's chief reason for opposing
express service to Anacostia-by-
passing congested Barney Circle
is probably" that it prefers to
preserve it's present investment
of streetcars and tracks leading
to the circle.
Hyman Feldman, automotive
maintenance supervisor, told the
hearing the company makes daily
checks on bus brakes and clutches
and more thorough inspections
every 1000 miles. He said buses
are washed two or three times a
week, cor more often if necessary, +"
and that interiors are swept and
busted nightly. Interiors also are
scrubbed periodically and a new
mobile cleaning team now is in
operation and proving crafty
ing" ne ADDED.
Making Own Muff1ers.
The company is saving main
tenance money, Mr.. Feldman tes-
titled, by making it's own exhaust
muflers, which he added will aid
appreciably in reducing objec-
tionable exhaust odors." This prac-
tice has been in effect six months.
The company, he said, is having
trouble getting felt and steel for
window repairs.
Public attendance at yesterdays
session was negligible. Chairman
Flanagan remarked that company
employees seem the only ones in
tereSted," and Mr.. Harrison de-
clared:
II think it's regrettable there
aren't more Of the public present" !"
Cor Buyers Woit 4 Years
LONDON-Although the British
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