Evening star., 1951-04-21
The Story Of Copitol Tronsit
PUG Is Target of Complaints
On Cuts in Passenger Service


teStifies at rate hearings.
The PUG says there has been
no cutting down Of layover time
for bus drivers and streetcar
operators by CTC.
The PUG declared 1t has a
check on the company's opera
tions through finances, schedules
and the condition of its mechani:s
cal 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-
yately-owned automobiles. which
compete daily with streetcars and
buses. Taxicabs are also a fac
tor. some say.
Some have urged the PUG to
force etc 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 sale
this would provide a reasonable
dividend for stockholders. PUG
says no water" is permitted IL
CTC property for fare purposes.
Praised Heretofore.
| Hitherto, CTC has been recog.
nized as outstanding for it's main
tenance practices and safe opera
tions and has won nationwide
recognition. But the company;
critics declare that 1t is now cut.
ting maintenance expenses tt
make money and pay dividends.
The company denies it is curtail
ing maintenance to. any danger
Gus degree. E. Cleveland Giddings
CTC vice president, said:
This company has always beer
aggressively interested in. betterinl
Iour maintenance procedures. W.
are one of the leading tranSi
firms in this field. AS proof of this
Capital Transit Co. has won tn
American Transit Association
Safety Award every year sine
1913. except 1948, when st. Loui
won. This is the top efficienc,
safety award in the United States
This award is for paSsenge
!. safety; it is based on the collision
rate, passenger accident rate an,
} accidents within the vehicle
IthemselveS-all phases that com
prise safe operation.
Points to Experimentation.
I'VE do a lot of experimentation
!, One of the things is the majo
! overhaul maintenance procedure
We have changed our inSpectio
of buses from as low as ever
!, 1000 miles to as. high as ever
!, {, 900. Some companies 60 as hig
as 5000, before making maje
inspection. Now we are back
!. 900 miles, as we have found ths
is the most efficient for major in
spection.
"Streetcar major inspection
made every 5000 miles.
1--WE found that the previou
plan of bringing buses in fo
major overhaul resulted in du
= plication of work. The preser
y practice is in the direction of e1
? ficiency that has made us tn
= outstanding leader in the Unite
9 States in this safety field.
Further, we have increased e1
ficiency in our shops now. We us
IS big vacuum cleaners to clean Sho
it floors and garages.
n Shrinkage in Employees.
l. "Our vehicles are operatir
Is considerably fewer miles than prt
S viously, for we have considerab
n fewer passengers. And the few
IS number of passengers is reflects
1t in the shrirkage in the numb
is lof our employees. We do not ol
leIerate a wasteful service.
But we are short Of operate
E. and there has been no reductit
l. in that force. Because of tn
IS. shrinkage, if a man does not she
t. up to take his Streetcar or bus o,
c. there hre gaps in the service. v