Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-08-03
Strike Views


sit have done and what can
it still do? First. 1t should
temporarily withdraw its pc
tition for q fare increase and
concentrate on settling the
strike. After agreeing with the
union as to what constitutes
q reasonable wage increase, it
should revise its figures and
reports and then approach the
Public Utilities Commission
for a consideration of its orig
inal petition. As matters now
stand, no one knows which
horn Of the dilemma to tackle
first without getting impaled
on the other.
Secondly. the executives Of
the successful bus companies
in nearby Maryland and Vir-
ginia might have been inter-
viewed all this time by Can
ital Transit as to how these
firms can successfully operate
their companies and maintain
good working relations between
employer and employe. The
writer remembers a converse
ton a number Of years ago
with the late Joe Arnold OF the
Arnold Bus Lines. at o time
when Capital Transit was in
difficulty. He said that "if
Capital Transit would pay me
$4,000 annually. I would put
that company on its feet" It
is still not too late to find the
answer.
Thirdly. must the source Of
additional income be consid-
cred by Capital Transit In
terms Of fare increases? Is
someone hoping against hope
that a miracle will happen?
Certainly not. Why not listen
to the public. ANY number OF
writer's have written to your
column suggesting q reduction
in transit fares to increase the
volume of business and pro-
duce sufficient income for q
reasonable rate return.
Samuel Lightman.
II Il Il y
As the transit strike drags
on I am reminded Of the words
of the late Calvin Coolidge.
"There is no right to strike
against the public interest.
-.
It could be that somebody
has too much power.
The Washington r apid
Transit double decker busline
was founded by the late Leon
Arnold, and took away some
traffic from the other two
lines, Washington Railway and
Electric and Capital Traction.
With three lines, strikes were
unheard Of. The idea Of a few
thousands depriving o large
city Of needed service seems
wrong to me.
Under certain circumstances.
collision has been held by the
courts as synonymous with
conspiracy. (South Side Lum-
Der Co. VS.. John Filler Co.. l6l
Wis. 399,154 NV. 621-622.)
In Kansas a civil conspiracy
Is merely denunciatory phrase
ology,
In Alabama 1t is something
else-it is a consultation, or
agreement, between 20 or more
men, wrongfully to injure. or
prejudice, q third person: or,
any body of men in any man
ner. Estate VS.. Murphy, 6 Ala
bama 765, Al Am. Dec. 79o
In New York, It's q combina-
ton to defraud or cause "other
injury" to persons, or property.
Conner VS.. Bryce (Sup0, ITO
N. Y. 8. 94-95.)
Probably one Of the reasons
Washington is in the Ak 1t Is.
is the New Deal law against
the holding companies. A law
which was meant to help the
common man, as the late Pres
ident Franklin D. Roosevelt
saw 1t, has boomeranged
against him, and the common
man walks.
e. Harry Alexander.
Il II II Il
I am one Of the many
harassed former Capital Tran
sit passengers. It is a national
disgrace to have let conditions
come to such a pass. Are the
Commissioners mice or men?
Why is there so much talking
and so little doing going on?
Naturally Capital Transit fig
ures that II the poor, maligned
public suffers long enough, 1t
will agree to anything.
Mr.. Wolfson is now very
magnanimous and is most will
ing to cooperate and hand the
city their franchise, operate for
q year with d. c. paying all
excess costs) and then to liqui-
date, with strings attached, Of
course. It sounds very well in
,1r;ok RI hida the 9hrnwdnASs