Evening star., 1953-04-09

performances, Cnat the rotten one is
not DR.. AStin.
C. L. w.
Public Relations in Reverse
In keeping with its century-old role
as guardian of Washingtons civic in
terests. The Star should take up its
trenchant pen against the program of
public relations in reverse currently
being staged by Louis E. Wolfson and
his group in an effort to arouse public
indignation against Capital Transit CO.
Possibly he is trying to force the
creation Of transit authority to buy
up the utility here at a profit. AS one
Of the Stockholders-and may sell
I urge The Star to form Citizens
Transit League at once to act against
this situation. The league should ap-
pear before Congress, the Public Utili-
ties Commission and in Federal courts
If need be. to require Wolfson to reduce
fares and restore service to what it was
in 1949, before he took over.
English common carrier law requires
him to give adequate service. If he
fails to do so he can be hailed into court
for contempt and further levieS can be
made against him.
AS you know. public relations is a
planned program of events and acts
designed to win public support and
good will. Wolfson's apparent plan is
just the reverSe-a program designed
to arouse the ire Of the public, to anger
it so much it will demand the creation
of a transit authority to get Wolfson of
the hook. Sample quote from the Wolf
sons:
''The existing rates are SO inadequate
as to be unjust and unreasonable.
Poppycock! The rates are too high,
and the service getting worse!
The Star has fine opportunity
again to show it's colorS and to help
the citizenry of the Nations Capital in
its just demand for adequate and prop
er transit service. And Wolfson and
his cohorts should be made to provide
1t out Of their fat dividends and gains
Of the last four years!
Andrew Jackson. Jr.
Please, citizens of Washington and
the Metropolitan Area, can't something
be done to save us all and the Capital
Transit Co. from the money-mad
WolfSonS? It's been stated publicly that
CTC is being ruined by these out-of-
towners who are draining the pockets
of the poor riders and giving the in
creased revenues to the stockholders,
leaving the company itself in the red.
And at the same time they are cur
failing the service where they think
it isn't needed. know of people in the
suburbs who have to walk half a mile
to bus stop. In this modern age of
convenience, isn't that pity?
So say, let all civic organizations
and other large groups band together
and protest vigorously against any
further increase in transit fares. After
the recent Investigations and the pub
licity resulting from them, it seems
that they have lot Of nerve to ask for
it less than year after the last one.
Daily Transit Rider.
Last month went to New Orleans
on business and was pleasantly sur
prised to find the streetcar and bus
fare only seven cents, with liberal trans
fer privileges.
When I arrived in Washington, I
boarded a streetcar at Union Station,
and could hardly believe my ears when
was told that the fare is seventeen
cents. Now the papers say a still fur
ther increase is being asked.
The New Orleans system probably
operates as many buses and streetcars
as the Washington system and therefore
the two can perhaps be compared in
every respect.
do not have any figures on the gross
income or operating expenses of either,
but it seems quite clear that New Or
leans is charging far too little or Wash
ington is charging far too much.
doubt very much If any one in the
Crescent City is asleep on this matter.
o. M. Hays.
The fair thing to do about the fare
would be to reduce Capital Transit rates
rather than grant any increase. On
Sunday I purchased pass for $2.40;
on Monday waited Is minutes in the
rain at Connecticut avenue and r street
for an La" bus. Then gave up and
walked home. Three buses came by
all marked mot in Service" e.
Disguised.