Evening star., 1954-01-20
Full CTC Shift
To Buses Not
Planned Now
Transit OfficioI Says
Trend in U. S. Isn't
Necessary Here Yet
By Don S. Worren

OS't - w
The Capital Transit Co. at
this time has no specific plan
to convert the remainder of it's
streetcar service to bus opera
tion, the Payne Transit subcom-
mittee of the Senate was told
today by Robert E. Harvey. a
vice president and controller Of
the company.
The question came up today
as the subcommittee delved into
many intricate accounting sub
jectS, such as the depreciation
reserve and related income tax
allowances.
Representative Broyhill, Re-
publican, of Virginia was sched-
uled to testify at a session of
the inquiry this afternoon.
Cites Trend to Buses.
Mr.. Harvey said there was a
trend over the Nation for con-
version of Streetcar lines to buses
and said it was involved in long
range plans for CTC. At present.
however, no immediate changes
are contemplated, he said. be-
cause the firms equipment is
considered by the company to
be the best and newest of any
place in the country.
Mr.. Harvey said the removal
of underground-type streetcar
rails would cost more than the
value of the material the COM
pany could salvage.
He recalled that the District
Commissioners in some cases,
had permitted Streetcar rails to
remain in position and to have
paving laid over them when
buses were substituted for rail
service. He mentioned Nichols
avenue as an example.
In suburban Maryland, where
the track is of the open type.
such as on the Glen Echo and
Branchville lines. Mr.. Harvey
continued. the trackage could
be salvaged prof1tably.
Sees No Need to Change.
Answering questions from
Chairman Payne, Mr.. Harvey
said the company's property was
in excellent condition and there
is no forseeable need at this
time for conversion from street.
cars to buses"
Any such future changes. he
said, would have to be consid-
cred on a line-by line basis.
If conversion from streetcars
to buses. when it is done. "is ac-
complished in a sensible, eco
nomic way, the company has
sufficient funds available" to
make the changeover. Mr.. Har-
vey said. But if the company
had to make a sudden move to
get rid of all the streetcars it
would not have sufficient A.
nanceS, he said.
New Buses Bought.
Answering other questions. Mr..
Harvey recalled that the CTC in
1858 disposed of Isl old buses,
acquired so new king sized buses
and 81 other new buses for service
in the Metropolitan Area. He
said 81 new king-size buses were
provided in 1852.
The Capital Transit Co. rate
base, the witness continued, was
cut by 81 million between 1949
and 1852, resulting in a saving
to the public because the COM
pany did not have to earn on
that amount.
He said the company reduced
its debt by $33 million between
1949 and 1852 and how has al
most SIS million in cash and a
substantial sum invested in Sc
curitieS.
No COlOred Operators.
Meanwhile, there still was no
answer today as to when the
Capital Transit Co. might hire
Negro Streetcar and bus oper-
ators.
j. A. B. Broadwater. the COM
pany's president, yesterday
warned he would not take the
responsibility for hiring colored
operators. He said this would
be the company's policy. because
otherwise it would be faced with
strike and detection of a large
segment of its trained operators.
He declared he does not pro-
pose to ram down the throats"
of the present operators accept
ance Of colored co-workers.
The subcommittee prodded
Mr.. Broadwater as to when the
company was going to carry out
its announced statement that it
has no policy against hiring
colored operators. He said he
faces a realistic situation.
Cites Labor Opinion.
The president told the subcom-
mittee he had a survey made
and, based on the best informa-
ton, buttressed by the opinion
of Walter j. Bierwagen. head of
the local union, and Bernard
Cushman, its lawyer, the union
membership does not want col
ored motormen and bus drivers
He declared the two union off,
cials were unable to assure him
there would be no work stop
page, If colored operators were
hired.
Senator Morse. Independent.
Of Oregon, labeled as "blackmail"
the unions resistance to the
breakdown Of racial segregation.
He declared the union members
are practicing economic coer-
cion and duress" by threatening
a work stoppage.
Mr.. Broadwater agreed with
the Senator but the company