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 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 II
that CTC does not fall below mini
mum requirements. They say there
has been no reduction in rush.
hour services. When complaint
is received about service on giver
line, a PUG inspector makes Q
check, officials explained.
When a traffic count shows the
public is not riding buses anc
Istreetcars in sufficient numbers
the company may reduce service or
a given line, officials pointed out
Cut Back in Mileage.
CTC has cut back in mileage anc
service during the "base day
between rush hours.
The PUG minimum standard
permit a bus during rush hour
to carry standees equal to 40 pc
cent of the seats. Thus. a bu
with A seats has a total carryin,
value of 81 passengers.
Rush hours for both streetcar
and buses are 6 am. to $3.50 am
and from 3 to Z pm, under PUG
rules.
I In non-rush hours, there mus
be as many seats as there are pas
sengers, each half hour, PUG says
The company is required to fur
inish a traffic count three times
year on all lines. A maximum
carrying capacity is set for eacl
bus, depending on its construction
land arrangements of stanchion
land hand rails as a safety measure
Standing Space Set.
For streetcars in the rush hours
there must be-under PUG require
ments-for each standee. squar
feet of standing space. In the lat
Iest-type streetcar, which has 4
seats, the total carrying value
I75 passengers during rush hours
Officials explained.
The PUG has received com
plants that CTC is cutting dow
lon service but increasing dividen
payments.
THAT really sticks in the put
, lies craw," said one PUG officia
Some complain that the PU
) comes pretty near giving CT
: what it wants in the way Of ir
creased fares - and otherwis
This is denied by PUG, which So.
: it is acting under the law and !
/ the best interests of the public.
: Some CTC critics have pointe
out that the higher fares the CON
e pany has been getting in the pos
: war years will not aid it In carr
ing more money, due to the la
-Iof diminishing returns. Capt.
: Transit, these people contend, HI
i, earned a fine. fair return on i
: investment and paid huge incon
: and excess-profits taxes.
T Check ON Financial Status.
PUG points out that it has |
own official in the Capital Trans
headquarters, who keeps tab I
the financial status of the cor
pany. Thus the commission h
!. a firSt-hand check on the utilit.
IS financial position day by day.
Al reality it conducts a continue
ST audit and knows as much abo
,sIthe company's finances as do
employees, according to t
PIJC
ell In addition. the company is !
ldlquired to furnish PUG with pc
Of odic financial and other repor
ne Further, the PUC's chief accouI
1t. ant oes over the company's .