Evening star., 1955-07-14
Miss the Buses

Miss the Buses
The transit strike has
brought this city abruptly to a
maze of crossroads with no
signposts pointing which way
to turn. BY the history Of CTC
for the past three or four
years, a wrong turn was made
at this same crossroads when
outsiders were allowed to take
over CTC and exploit it to the
point where it cannot meet its
obligations to its employees
and the public.
The interests that control it
now have no concern for the
city of Washington or for CTC
except to be around in case
one more windfall can be
squeezed out of it before final
destruction Of the city's trans
portation system.
It has been suggested that
the city or Federal Govern
ment take over the system. but
that would make every one, in
Guiding the Government that
takes control, unhappy; so an
other plan should be found.
The Government wants only
the taxes and has no use for
the system. The interests that
control it now do not want it
except for one more final
squeeze. The public wants it
but could not by any means
take over. The next group
wants it and must have it to
survive. Most of this group
would likely shudder at the
thought of trying to operate
the system, but they would also
shudder at the consequences
of the systems collapse.
Most of us have seen or
heard of ghost towns, and we
know that the industry that
made the town also broke it.
In short, that is what is in
store for the business district
of Washington without a
transportation system. The
people who support the busi-
ness of downtown Washington
cannot provide the everyday
transportation to carry on
business as usual.
The only group that could
rescue the system is the very
same group that the system
would rescue.
Every man in business large
or small in downtown Wash
ington, whether he deals di-
rectly with the public or not.
knows that without the public
he would have no business.
The business needs the sys-
tenn, the system needs the bus
mess, the public needs both
and the Government needs the
taxes.
Business can supply the cap
ital and hire the experts to
operate the system and every
one would be happy.
How about it Mr.. Business
man?
The handwriting is on the
wall.
w. T. X.
X X X y
The majority of the public
seems to take a wrong attitude
about the strike.
For many years I have been
against Wolfson, who has
operated the company unfairly
in almost every sense of the
word. But that has no bearing
on the case today. The labor
union has made its demands,
which is nothing unusual, and
they hit below the belt as
they often do in taking advan-
tage of the public. 1t is now
a deal between the labor union
and Capital Transit. What
Wolfson has done in the past
has nothing to do with a
settlement between the two
outfits. The fact that labor
is demanding more money does
not mean that the company
has to give it. There is no
law forcing a company or cor
poration to increase wages un-
less they see fit to do so. Cap
ital Transit has requested an
increase in fares. That is un-
just, but they refuse to raise
the employees unless that in
crease is granted. So there
you have the true situation.
Both the union and CTC are
demanding that which they
have been unable to get.
OF course want a settle
ment and as soon as DOSsible
but there are two sides to con-
slider. If no settlement can be
made, recommend that the
District government take over.
The people have got to ride to
work and back home with
out depending on individual
4 car owners and taxicabs.
: Daniel b. Felkners