davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-06-19
Bonner BIames pentagon
For Economy Bill Rebuff
by the Associofed Press

Representative Bonner, Demo-
crat, of North Carolina. said to-
day a bill to centralize military
buying and save millions of dol
lars a year has been taken out Of
his hands because the Pentagon
wants to kill it.
Chairman Vinson of the House
Services Committee, how
ever, scoffed at the suggestion
that the bin is being put on ice.
The measure, sponsored by Mr.
Bonner, would do away with the
Munitions Board and would con-
solidate armed forces purchasing
under a new civilian undersecre-
tary of defense.
Mr.. Bonner's own expenditures
subcommittee planned to hold
hearings on the bill later this
month. But the House voted
yesterday to turn the measure
over to Mr.. Wilson's committee
Mr.. Bonner said the House
acted after "a big huddle at the
|Pentagon by the big brass who
don't want to lose their preroga.
tive of scattering the taxpayers
money to the four winds"
Mr.. VinSon told a reporter:
"It was referred to US today
and we've sent it to the defense
Department for report. Car
you take any faster action thar
Evening star., 1952-06-19

Better, more aggressive inSpec-
ton by the Public Utilities Com
mission, high-duality company
maintenance and swifter handling
|of complaints are recommended
in the Landis report.
A partial text of the comments
on this phase follows:
Every city poses its own peculiar
transit problems. Washington is
no exception to this. Some of it's
outstanding characteristics are the
following: % The wide use of
private automobiles for commut-
ing; (2) the extensive resort to
group-riding among Government
workers; 30 the comparative
cheapness of taxis; "a the inten-
sification of peaks of traffic at the
opening and close of the Govern
ment business day; (5) the con-
geStion of traffic in downtown
areas particularly at peak traffic
hours which stems in part from
an excess of traffic movements
not merely into and out Of these
areas but through them; CD the
underground rail system for
streetcars making for an unusually
installation as con-
trasted with overhead wires; CD
a fast-growing suburban area
under the jurisdiction Of two
States: 90 an inflow and outgo
of population, with a constant in
Evening star., 1952-06-19

causes, among them the weather,
but they should not be dealt with
lightly.
20's Cut in Personnel.
Personnel reductions in Capital
Transit Co. have been heavy,
amounting to nearly 20 per cent,
with no concomitant reduction in
the total mileage. Such a heavy
reduction would lead to an in
ference that either the company
was overstaffed in 1948 or is un-
derstaffed in 1851. The truth lies
probably somewhere in between.
The most persistent source of
complaint is the lengthening of
headway in operations, particu-
larly bus operations. Customers
contend that service is too infre-
quent on many routes and that
they have to wait too long for a
bus. That headway in bus opera
tions. both in normal and peak
operations, has been increasing
seems fairly obvious from the
above figures. Providing the right
headway at the right time is, per-
haps, the most difficult of all
transit operations. Shortening
headway is extremely costly but
extending it unduly is failing to
render the public the type of serv-
ice to which. it is entitled.
Finding the right headway is a
matter less of formulas than of
experience and observation. It
must be watched by the Public
Utilities Commission for there is
an inevitable tendency on the
part Of management, when oper-
ating ratios threaten to increase,
to curtail service. A. neutral and
independent. determination of the
appropriateness of any schedules
is highly important.
With shift to larger buses, so
as to decrease operating costs and
to relieve traffic congestion, head
way is likely to be increased par
ticularly during other than peak
traffic hours. The use of these
larger buses can improve the over
all traffic situation provided, how
ever, they are employed on main
routes or at peak traffic hours.
For general feeder operations.
their use is likely to provoke more
indignation than praise.
Handling of Complaints.
The handling of complaints de-
mands care and consideration.
From the standpoint of the COM
plainant, he is frequently hard
put to it to establish the facts. He
knows only that something ap-
pears to be wrong but what and
how and whether it can be cor
rected are beyond his ready
knowledge. 1t is here that the
inspection service of the Public
Utilities Commission is Of prime
Importance. Unfortunately, the
Public Utilities Commission seems
to lack adequate personnel for
this type of inspection. To provide
sufficient additional personnel is
not an expensive matter and
should repay the District many
times its cost.
Secondly. procedures for the
handling of complaints should be
informal and rapid. The tendency
in this field seems to be formaliz-
ing Of their handling rather than
the reverse. Last year, the Public
Utilities Commission held formal
hearings with regard to a number
of complaints. 1t has still to issue
it's report with regard to them.
Evening star., 1952-06-19

crease, related in large measure
to national emergencies.
The war years Of 1912 to 1945
called for immediate traffic ex-
pansion. BY the end of 1912, not
only had Capital Transit Co. in
creased its own buses but some
100 had been leased from the
Defense Plants Corp. Traffic
maintained itself steadily until the
end of 1916, when it started to
drop and has declined ever since.
If the trend away from street.
car operations continues, a source
of revenue will be lost and unless
something changes in the rela-
tionship between revenue and ex-
pense in bus operations a serious
drop in net operating income will
ensue. s..-
1t has been contended that the
savings here affected have reduced
the quality of the service, particu-
larly in the field of maintenance.
The increase in the number of
break-downs occurring to buses is
evidenced as proof of this. The
Public Utilities Commission main
tains that this is not the case and
points to the fact that national
maintenance awards have recently
been won by the Capital Transit
Co. Clearly. however, the matter
is one to be watched with care.
Variations in the bus breakdown
rate can be attributed to various
Evening star., 1952-06-19

These delays provoke irritation
rather than salving 1t.
In the past and generally speak
ing. the Capital Transit Co. has q
record of providing reasonably
modern equipment, and upkeep has
been good. There are certain
troublesome indications that have
appeared in the last two years.
They do point to the necessity for
watchdog tactics on the part OF
the Public Utilities Commission.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
1. With regard to road and
equipment. it is essential that high
maintenance be observed. Econ
omies that have been introduced
by the new management are, OF
course, to be commended pro-
vided that they do not result in
an unjustified reduction of serv-
ice. The same thing is true of
headway in the various routes. In
both these respects, careful OBJ
servation by the Public Utilities
Commission is essential. It's exist
ing staff for these purposes ap-
pears inadequate and should be
increased.
2. The cost of bus operation is
Idisconcerting. With the trend
of streetcar operation inevitably
downward, Capital Transit Co., on
the basis of existing operating
ratios. faces a serious situation.
Tailoring equipment to traffic
needs is probably the answer. This
will justify larger buses on the
heavier travelled routes, but their
introduction elsewhere is likely
to reduce the frequency of service.
3. Handling of complaints by
the Public Utilities Commission
should be accelerated. Particu-
larly, the results of the lengthy
hearings conducted last year
should be made public.
4. The Public Utilities Commis-
sion should welcome the assistance
and aid of civic associations in re-
examining local traffic problems.
S. In order to provide an ade-
quate protagonist for the public.
it is not necessary to revivify the
former post of Peoples Counsel.
That function should be under
taken by the legal staff of the
commission, but the legal staff in
this respect should have wide in
dependence of action. They are
truly public counsel in these mat
ters and should take upon them
selves that responsibility openly
and fearlessly. There is criticism
today from informal sources that
the legal staff of the commission
is not aggressive enough in the
public interest.
6. The system of examiners re-
ports could be profitably used by
the Public Utilities Commission in
handling major problems in this
area. The Commissioners are busy
men and the examiner provides a
sharpening Of the issues both for
them and other parties. Argument
and presentation to the commits
sion itself by this method becomes
more direct and related to the i'm
portant issues. and affords out
side parties a better opportunity
to relate their contributions to
the evidence.
Evening star., 1952-06-19

ed and that power should be trans
ferred to the Public Utilities Com
mission.
8. Duplication Of financial
controls by the Interstate Com
merce Commission and the Public
Utilities Commission should be
avoided by appropriate amend
ment Of the Interstate Commerce
Act.
4. It is desirable to promote
ca a consistent rate structure for
the Capital Transit Co. and a uni
form rate of return for the entire
system: (b) uniform standards of
service, and Co abolition of di-
Ivided control over the operations
Iof Capital Transit Co. To effec-
tuate such an end. an agreement
with Maryland for a unified au-
thority is essential. This expand
ed commission could be composed
Iof one member of the Maryland
commission and two members of
the Public Utilities Commission,
leaving the Public Utilities Com
mission intact with regard to it's
lother now-transit activities. This
Expanded commission could be
known as the Metropolitan Wash
ington Transit Commission.
5. If legislation pursuant to
"a above is proposed, the legis-
lation could be drafted to invite
Virginia to join the new commits
sion in which event an additional
member from the District should
be added to the new commission
and one member from the Virginia
State Corporation Commission.
6. The expanded commission
under a. and CD would in sub
Stance possess powers akin to
those possessed by the several con-
Istituent commissions in addition
to those conferred by (2) above.
Z. The determination of the
appropriate regulatory authority
for the Metropolitan Area transit
system should not be made to
hinge upon personalities or past
records of performance. The de-
cision to be made will be of an
enduring nature and should not be
governed by considerations Of that
character.
Evening star., 1952-06-19

Schedules, standards Of service,
methods of reporting and other
matters can be more effectively
harmonized to the benefit of
every one.
Operations in Virginia.
Inasmuch as Capital Transit
Co. does not operate into Vir-
ginia, the need for the extern
sion of jurisdiction of a Metro
politan Commission to operations
in Virginia is far less apparent.
These operations have been stand
ing on their own feet and are the
responsibility of Virginia. How
ever, the Virginia District opera
tions are definitely within the
jurisdiction of Congress and there
is no reason why the authority now
possessed by the Interstate Com
merce Commission over them
should not be transferred to the
expanded Metropolitan Commits
sion. The problems of through
fares and JOINT fares and trans
fers could then be handled by
the Metropolitan Commission. It
might also be possible with the
consent of Virginia to bring the
Virginia operations themselves
under the regulatory umbrella of
the expanded commission. But
due to the lack of physical inte-
grafton between these operations
and operations within the District,
there is less necessity for this re-
gulatory integration than in the
case of Maryland.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
/. 1t would seem desirable to
promote as much cooperation as
is possible between the regulatory
authorities of the District and of
Maryland. Their problem is a
common one and, although the
Joint board technique of the Motor
Carrier Act is not applicable to
their mutual problem, informal
cooperation is clearly possible.
2. The power of the Interstate
Commerce Commission with re-
gard to through interstate routes
and joint rates should be expand
Evening star., 1952-06-19
81 Million in Gem Thefts

A Master Fence" with several
ladder-gangs working for him is
believed to be the brain of thefts
in England totaling $2.1 million in
three months.
Evening star., 1952-06-19

IntegratlOn OF Operations.
It is obviously desirable for
regulatory purposes to bring about
an integration of the Maryland
and District operations. Not only
should there be authority lodged
in one Commission to deal with
District operations and Maryland
operations but also to deal with
D District-Maryland operations. Tol
bring this about as a legal matter
is not easy. District and District
Maryland operations are subject
to the jurisdiction of Congress.
but Maryland operations are not
directly subject to congressional
control. The jurisdiction of the
Public Utilities Commission or
some similar commission could be
expanded to embrace these Mary
land operations by agreement be-
tween Maryland and the Congress.
This agreement can take the
form of a compact or of separate
but co-ordinated legislation. We
have numerous examples of this
kind of interstate regulatory de-
vice such as the Port Of New York
Authority and the Interstate
Palisades Park Commission.
Pending such legislative action,
which is bound to take a certain
amount of time. cooperation
between the Maryland and Dis
trict commissions should be en-
|couraged. The degree of co-opera-
ton in the field of rate-making is
limited by statute. But in the field
of service much can be done by
the development even at lower
echeloas Of cooperative action.
Evening star., 1952-06-19

During 1912 to 1945, Capital
Transit Co. was required by the
war needs to expand it's facilities
Evening star., 1952-12-12
Justice Probe 10 Hear
Grand Jury Charges
Al Closed Meetinq

House investigators announced
today a closed hearing will be
held next Thursday to look into
charges Of Justice Department
interference with a New York
grand jury probing Communist
infiltration of the United Nations.
Chairman Chelf and Represen-
tative Heating of New York, rank
ing Republican member of the
House subcommittee investigating
the Justice Department, said at
least eight witnesses will be ques-
toned in the closed session.
The witnesses will include men,
bers of the grand jury and repre-
sentatives of the Justice Depart
ment.
"A number of these witnesses
are presently under subpoena by
the subcommittee they said in
a statement. Every individual
connected with the grand jury who
might have any information re-
garding the alleged delay or in
reference with the orderly proc
eSs OF the grand jury is being
contracted by staff investigators
and the subcommittee will hear
testimony from each important or
necessary witness"
Members of the grand jury
charged there had been interfer-
ence in connection with present.
ment relating to Communist in
filtration of the U. N. that was
handed up December 2,
Evening star., 1952-12-12
Admiral Says Thick Polar Ice
MAY Not Bar Atomic Subs

throbbing of engines. no exhaust
bubbles, no surface wakes to dis
close his whereabouts. If neces-
sary, this vessel can lie utterly
still for long periods of time;
longer certainly, than any enemy
surface ships are likely to cruise
around exposing themselves to the
Nautilus acoustic (sound track
ingl torpedoes."
The Navy is working on devices
to enable the crew. like the sub,
to stay under water for long Pc
riods, the admiral said. In ad-
dition to storing of oxygen in
high-preSsure bottles, the Bureau
of Ships "is working on a device
to take oxygen from water" and
this may be ready in time for
installation in the Nautilus.
Carbon dioxide will be absorbed
by chemicals. The atomic sub
will even have special tube for
getting rid of garbage, a problem
presented by present-day subs.
In appearance, the Nautilus
will be somewhat similar to any
sub, except for a blunt bow unlike
the knife edged bow of present
underwater boats.
Evening star., 1952-12-12

the scene and reported the three
Icrewmen and 10 passengers on the
Omaha to Riverside flight appa.
Irently died instantly when the
craft hit the peak of the 10000
foot level.
Condition of the bodies prevent.
ed immediate identification, so the
scene was left as it was found.
Meanwhile, authorities at Nor
ton Air Force Base near San Ber.
Inardino announced that a seconc
ground party will be sent to the
scene. probably today, to arrange
for removal of the dead.
Because of the forbidding ter.
rain-it took more than a week tc
reach the wreckage-the job o1
removing the victims is expected
to be extremely difficult.
Norton authorities emphasized
however, that the bodies will be
brought out as soon as possible.
Evening star., 1952-12-12

The thick Polar sea ice may be
no barrier to atomic submarines
the United States is now building
Rear Admiral Homer Wallin
chief of the Navy Bureau of Ships,
spoke graphically today of this
possibility when he wrote in Col
liers magazine of the ability of
atomic subs to launch guided mis-
Siles with atomic warheads and
then slide silently beneath the
waves "or ice" to reappear at
another point.
The Arctic Sea apparently has
plenty of water beneath the ice,
except possibly for some areas
near land masses. Recent sound
ingS have shown $4,000 feet of
water at the North Pole.
Admiral Wallin had this to say
of the commander of the Nau-
titus, one of the two nuclear-
powered undersea boats being
built:
HE will be able to cruise so
deep and silently that an enemy
will have great difficulty locating
him, and even greater difficulty
damaging him. There will be no
Evening star., 1952-12-12
Fund Sef Up for Family
OF Man Who Killed
County Policeman

A group of Bethesda business
men announced today they have
Iset up a fund for the wife and
five children of Louis A. Kirkland,
now awaiting trial on a charge of
numbering a Montgomery County
policeman.
At the same time, it was learned
that the Montgomery County Po-
lice Association. whose members
were closely associated with Pvt.
Robert w. McAllister, the officer
Kirkland is accused of Staying last
November %, is considering a $3.50
donation to Mrs. Kirkland and her
children.
The action was discussed at the
associations meeting Wednesday
night and is being Investigated by
Officers.
Potomac Man Is Chairman.
Washington I. Cleveland, Dis
trict manager of the American
Automobile Association. who lives
lat Potomac. Md, is chairman of
the new Kirkland fund.
He said in a press release today:
while more than $4,000 has
been raised to care for the police
officers widow, Mrs. McAllister,
and her 9-month-old boy, there
still remains the problem of car
ing for Mrs. Kirkland and her
five children. aged IA, II, 6 and
II l2-year-old twins"
Mr.. Cleveland said a committee
Iof five has been formed and has
agreed upon a four-year program
in an attempt to raise a $4,000
fund for the Kirklands. None of
the money, he emphasized. will be
used for the defense of Kirkland,
who is in Montgomery County
Jail at Rockville waiting for the
January grand jury to consider
his case. Contributions totaling
$3.50 have been received so far, he
said.
Family Lives in Bethesda.
The Kirklands live at 470O High
land avenue, Bethesda. The three
older children are Mrs. Kirkland's
by her first marriage.
Other members of the Fund
Committee are the Rev. Hartwell
Chandler of the Bethesda Metho-
dist Church: S. Walter Bogley,
treasurer of the Bank of Bethesda: ::
Henry Hiser, owner of the Hiser
T'heater in Bethesda, and w. Pres
colt Allen, publisher of the weekly
Montgomery County Tribune.
Mr.. Cleveland asked that con-
Itributions be mailed to Mr.. Bogley.
Mr.. Hiser plans a benefit for
the fund at his theater on De-
cember %.
Evening star., 1952-12-12
AlbemurIe County Aids BAT

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, Dec
IL (SpeciaD. The Albemarle
County Department of Public Well
fare gave financial aid to BAT per-
sons and services involving no ex-
pend1ture to % during November,
according to Mrs. Virginia S.
Marks, superintendent. The de-
partment's total expenditure for
the month was $11,450.83.
Evening star., 1952-12-12
Laundry Creates Moisture

CLEVELAND.-Doing the laun-
dry for a family of four can
create more than 4 pounds of
moisture vapor in the air. Dry
ing that wash inside the house
can increase the moisture-vapor
content of the air by more than
26 mounds
Evening star., 1952-12-12
All Aboard Crashed CAT
Found Dead on Mountain
BY the Associated Press

RIVERSIDE, Calf, Dec. H.
All 13 men aboard a CAT trans
port plane that crashed during a
storm into II, 1,485-foot Mount San
Gorgonio December l are dead.
March Air Force Base announced
yesterday.
A ground party returned from
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1952-02-28

Try the Want Ads
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1952-02-28
Speaking of Basketball

I've been sort of fed up with the
subject. | eat it with every meal for
that's all "they" talk about Pm the
fifth wheel on the wagon and no one
has any thought that the fifth wheel
will ever have any useful purpose I'M
less it was to lend two ears. Frankly,
was bored stiff.
But one night l went to a game
hoping to see one of the offspring
maybe play half a minute if the game
wasn't too tight.
Then something happened to me. A
boy the kids call Moose" played the
prettiest game of ball ever saw. Oh,
don't know about skill and tech
nique-I can only judge sportsman
ship, but he had something-so did
several of the others. Before long |
had as much spirit as Myrtle Durbin
and Grandpa Orendorf. well maybe,
not quite,) If some boy whom I'd had
in Sunday School made basket l
fairly glowed with pride. Then l
realized it wasn't my kid | was root
ing for. 1t was our kids.
We'd all feel that way if there was
decent place to see game. don't
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1952-02-28
That Kitchen of Tomorrow

Can't get my mind off the stream
lined kitchen job that is in Farm
Journal this month. look at it with
mixed emotions. To think our farm
children will never thrill to the sound
of the dinner bell saying to drop the
hoe, it's time to eat. Instead there's
to be an inter-com for seeing and talk
ing with the men in the field
No good old cook stove to slide be-
hind to thaw out on cold days. The
range is electric and set in an island
right out in the middle. No yum-yum
smells of spice cake or fried chicken,
for good odors as well as bad will be
whisked away through a plastic buh-
bic which contains the vent system.
l wanted to throw up my hands in
horror when | thought of junior and
his gang barbecuing hot dogs in one
corner, while Susy's chums were look
ing at tclevision, and father trying
to sell COW in the office corner-all
this in the kitchcn-until it dawncd
on me that mother would be in the
rocking chair doing the newest thing
in embroidery, for three minutes be-
fore dinner she would go to the
freezer room (not box and take from
the file a frozen dinner for each, give
them few seconds on the radar
range and set them on the table As
modern as this planning is, We'll still
have to figure how to get each mem
Der of the family washed and to the
table on time.