Evening star., 1953-12-28
Lawmakers Hif
.Pub|ic-0wned
Transit Plan
BusIine Officials
Join in Attack on
WoIfson Proposal

Woltson Proposal
Washington-area congressman
and bus-line officials today ex-
pressed opposition to public
ownership of the areas transit
industry.
But they withheld comment on
specific proposals in the Wolf
son plan for merger of the big
four transit firms in the area
under a public ownership.
The plan was submitted to the
Payne subcommittee of the SEN
ate District Committee by Louis
E. Wolfson. chairman of the
board of the Capital Transit Co.
1t was made public Saturday.
Broyhill Sees Subsidization.
Representative Broyhill, Re-
publican, of Virginia, said:
Il would be opposed to public
ownership. We all know that if
you have public ownership you
could charge anything you
wanted but in the end the oper-
alton will not be less costly nor
any more economical. The tax
payers would have to subsidize
the operation even though they
may not use the transit facili-
ties"
But Mr.. Broyhill said he IA
vored the idea of merging the
four transit firms into one pri-
vately owned operation to effect
some economies.
Representative Small. Repub-
lican, of Maryland could not be
reached for comment, but a
spokesman pointed out that Mr..
Small is already on record as
opposed to public ownership of
the mass transportation indus
try.
Hyde Cites Warning.
Representative Hyde. Republic
can. of Maryland commented:
II warned that the Wolfson
group was aiming at forcing
public ownership"
He said the Wolfson syndicate,
which bought control of Capital
Transit in 1949, already has
realized a good profit on it's in
vestment and would realize "an-
other profit" from sale to a pub
lie authority.
Il am opposed to public
ownership but will press for Gre
alton OF an area transit author
ity to control operations of the
transportation firms in the en-
tire Washington area. 1 don't
think we will get anywhere until
we have such an agency" Mr..
Hyde said.
Leslie l.. Altmann, president
of the w. M. & A. Transit Co.,
said:
II am against public owner
ship as such because it imposes
additional burdens on the pub
lie for transportation services
through subsidy. Unless the city
heads get busy and do some
thing to get transit vehicles
through streets. fares are going
to continue to go up because Of
low patronage and competition
from the private auto"
Fare Plan Criticized.
Mr.. Altman said private
operation of transit industry is
more economical than public
operation. He added that the
15-cent fare proposed for trips
within the Metropoli-
tan Area in the Wolfson plan
seemed impossible.
II don't see how it could pos
sibly be done at that price," he
said.
Beverly c. May, president Of
the Alexandria, Bancroft &
Washington Transit Co., said:
Generally speaking I am OPP
posed to public ownership. How
ever, we do have problem OF
ess people using transit facili-
Jies and must look for solution
elsewhere. I don't see how such
an operation could begin with
a Is cent fare with the great
expense involved"
Mr.. Wolfson said his plan was
not an argument for public own
ership but he said it was the only
lope to achieve lower fares.
His proposal calls for a 30
year, $50 million revenue bond
deal with creation of a WASH
ington transit authority oper-
ating on a tax free basis. Ma
jority control of the authority
would rest with the present
transit firms during the revenue
bond period. The authority would
nave the power to regulate fares.
service and bus stops throughout
,he entire area.
To become effective. the plan
would require an act of Congress
and ratification by the State
legislatures of Maryland and
Virginia.
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