Evening star., 1955-07-26
As Strike Droqs On

Bowling to the hoWlS of lib
erals" for Mr.. Wolfson's scalp.
the Commissioners have pro-
posed that Congress order the
seizure of the transit COM
pany and cancellation of its
franchise. AS The Star says
in an editorial July 10, "It is
almost beyond belief that after
such study Congress will ap-
prove this hot-weather mad
ness" However, one can never
tell. The seizure of the Dollar
Steamship Co. by the Roose-
welt New Dealers under a fic-
titious claim of title is not for
gotten or the attempt by for
mer President Truman to seize
the steel companies under his
alleged inherent powers. Nor
is Congress endowed with such
extra constitutional powers to
seize private property.
If legal seizure of the COM
pany's properties were pos
sible. as The Star says, "the
Commissioners will run the
company. perhaps drawing
upon their rich experience in
dealing with deficits in the
District government" which
means, of course, that, like
the operation of New York
City's subway systems, the
deficits will be added to the
tax bills of District property
owners.
Equitable solution of the
transit strike Is admittedly
difficult, but seizure is not the
answer as this would result in
further loss to the workers, a
heavy increase in the already
burdensome real estate tax
and rapid deterioration Of the
company property. The riding
public is unanimously opposed
to a further increase in fare,
which would result in further
decrease of patronage and
loss of revenue. The workers
are fairly entitled to a rea-
sonable wage increase and the
company must receive addi-
tional revenue in order to pay
the increased wage. So the
question to be answered is:
How en- the increased wage
be paid without incurring the
displeasure of the public by
increasing the fare and at the
same time insure sufficient
revenue. to maintain the COM
pany's physical equipment in
top operating condition and
allow a fair return on the
investment? Is there q Solo,
mon is the house?
It seems that the only al
tentative to the horros of
municipal operation is a sub
stantial decrease in fares
which would result in greatly
creased patronage and in
creased revenues from which
the incre sed wage could be
paid With ut hardship to the
company. About 40 years ago
it became automatic in the
automotive industry that pub
lie demand and sales volume
are inversely proportional to
the unit selling price. This
would not be less true in the
field of public transportation
so why not give it a try?
The Star is to be COM
mended on it's editorial policy
of fairness to the company,
the workers and to the riding
public.
Old ReactiOnary.
And so another weary week
ground to a halt. The transit
strike settlement seems to be
in the distant future. There
isn't much doubt about it. the
people are just about fed up
with it all.
Why hasn't the Government
done something about it? AT
the very outset it should have
used its surplus motor equip
ment in running emergency
routes across the city from
east to west, and north and
south. Some people argue that
this would be strike breaking
That is utter nonsense. The
Governments first response
bility is to it's employees and
nothing should have inter-
fered with the functioning oi
the Government departments
in the matter of transporta-
ton to and from work. AS tc
the quick settlement Of the
strike, it looks as If none o1
the big fellows have the an
swer At any rate, they are
not making much progress.
There is one thing a very
clear: the workers are paying
extra for taxi fares and re-
gardless of the strike settle
ment, they will pay increased
fares to the transit company
So they will take it from bott
sides.
I cannot allow this oppor-
tunity to pass without givini