Evening star., 1952-01-11
Foes Of Bus Cut
To Rebut Transit
Plea Feb. 6, I
Commission to Hear
Prince Georges and
Montgomery Interests
Ru u;l,;nm A MILAN
Ssar Stoff Correspondent

BALTIMORE, Jan. 11.-Ops
ponents of the Capital Transit
Co.'s plan to cut Maryland service
are studying company testimony
in preparation for rebuttal before
the Maryland Public Service Com.
mission on February 6 and Z.
Montgomery County interests
will be heard on February 6. those
from Prince Georges County on
February z. Both hearings. due to
start at 10:30 am, are scheduled
IN commission headquarters in the
Munsey Building here.
Transit officials denied that the
pending request to drop unprof1t-
>ble service is a gradual with
|drawal from Maryland operations
altogether. Seven bus lines in
NEARBY Maryland were abandoned
by the company last spring. The
transit company now is seeking to
get rid of one line. cut back on
another and establish new express
lines. CTC officials say they have
no general plan, beyond that now
pending.
The company yesterday con-
cluded its direct testimony on its
plea to abandon the H-6-8 Col
lege Park community line, leaving
Landover Hills and Kent Village
without that company's bus serv-
ice. The company says competing
companies will continue to serve
the area. -.r--.
Compromise Sought.
But citizens Of the region reg.
listered their protest personally be-.
fore the commission. They asked
that some compromise be worked
out so the general public, school
children, those going to church
and hospitals can have proper
public transportation.
Robert E. Harvey, CTC vice
president and controller, testified
the company's average revenue on
all Maryland lines is 33 cents
per mile. He said the average
cost per mile on the H-6-8 line is
1873 cents, while the average rev.
enue per mile there is 1887 cents
"a loss of 25.14 cents per mile.
Mr.. Harvey told the commission
this is the lowest income per mile
Iof any line on the company's en-
!, tire system, either in the District
or Maryland.
i Mrs. Robert E. Parsons, 1856
: Forest road, Kent Village, repre-
Isenting the citizens group there.
presented petitions from her group
| land the Bladensburg PTA, ask
) ling that the Hts line be re.
Itained. +g.
: Higher Fares Suggested.
Joseph c. Longridge, represent
ing the Prince Georges County
! Chamber of Commerce, said the
proposed cutbackS would cause
undue hardship to a large portion
| of the Metropolitan Area.
Supt. Harry w. Penn Of Prince
Georges General Hospital told the
commission the hospital employees
are concerned about threatened
discontinuance Of the croSS-coun.
/ ty bus service.
, Thomas e. Latimer, president
of the Board of Prince Georges
| County Commissioners, urged that
the bus service be maintained.
School children use Capital Tran
sit buses. he said, although more
school buses are being purchased.
Question on Leaving State.
, Walter F. Mulligan. president
of the Prince Georges County
Civic Federation, asked why, be-
cause Of improbable operations,
Capital Transit does not get out
! of Maryland. Attorney Await re-
joined: 1--WE can give considera-
, 1tion to it, If that is what you
, want"
But Commissioner Frank Harper
! said: THAT is not the suggestion
Of the commission. .
Commissioner Wilmer Fell Davis
commented to CTC representatives
: during the hearing: II wonder how
= long it will be before you are out
= of Maryland" -.
e Chairman John II. Hessey OBJ
e served: II hope you will not come
back asking to abandon further
= lines"