The Washington times., 1912-09-18
OPPOSITION GAINS
GROUND IN MOVE
TO CHECK MERGER
Citizens to Take Up the
Question at Fall
Meetings.
CONTINUED from First Page.)


are looking into the question .gener-
In these civil bodies are opposed to
any consolidation that will not have
the public interest primarily in mnd;
and they are suspicious that this pro-
posed ono is not OF that character.
Favors the Right Kind.
Charles c. Lancaster. president of
the Northwest Suburban Citizens AS
ISOLATION, is in favor of the right kind
of amalgamation Of the public utilities.
"I believe that II all the public utili-
ties were under one head. and con-
trolled by good. substantial business
men of this city. that Washington would
be benefited by 1t. However, I would
not like to see 1t become scheme
simply to make money Off the local
public. There must be no watering OF
the stock. I remember when number
of little railway companies existed IN
the city, and we had any kind Of car
service. but since the two companies
now here have taken charge of practic-
ally all Of the lines in the District we
have had a better service"
Caut. J. q. McGrath, president OF
the Park View Citizens Association
and a member of the commission IN
charge of destroying all discarded
paper currency, says he Is in favor OF
such a merger, provided there is a
commission named to govern 1t ana
protect the public interest. An an>al-
gamation would mean universal trans
fers There must be no water In tne
stock. If commission is appointed
heart, to see that the public is treated
fairly. then I believe such a merger
would be beneficial"
Gives Personal Opinion.
William Fl. Saunders. president of the
Columbie. Heights Citizens Association.
has the following to say as his personal
opinion, and not that Of his association:
'If the object of the promoters of this
proposed merger Is to decrease overhead
expenses and to give the people better
service by harmonious union of all
these public utilities. and at the same
time work with the view of securing
only fair return on the investment,
do not see why this should not be ac-
complished All such organizations,
however. which involve public spirit In
serving the public and the investment
Of private capital, have TO depend upon
the good faith Of those who are in
trusted with the management These
things have to be tried to be deter
mined ~
Tho Columbia Heights Citizens ASso-
citation will meet the first TUESDAY night
in October. and the executive committee
expects to consider this proposed mer-
ger.
Brightwood Citizens, Association; says: ys:
There seems to be no necessity Tor
it."
Commission as Safeguard. =,
ID. A. Edwards. president, of the Lin
coin Park Citizens Association. says:
off we had a public utilities commits
sion, as has been, advocated, then l
would have no objection to such mer-
ger, because the commission could keep
It in check. But without such commits
sion, l would not like to see such an
organization.
The question will be discussed at the
opening meeting of the association the
first Tuesday night in October in the
Ingram Memorial Church.
"Personally l am opposed to- seld
Paul Lesh, president Of the Petworth
Citizens Association, 1T would mean
that there would be more dividends to
be given, and this would come out OF
the citizens pockets
The Petworth Citizens Association
neld it's first fall meeting last night. E,
w. Oyster made a vigorous protest
against the proposed merger and reso'
lutions protesting against its organiza-
ton were passed.
w. n. Cromwell, former president OF
the association, was elected president tC
serve the year beginning at the next
meeting. The other officers were: Vice
president, Charles James; secretary, 7
c. Homiller, and treasurer, Philip b
Brill.
Could Be Beneficial.
Charles r. Burr, president of the An
acostia Citizens Association, says:
IF the proposed merger will be bene
ficial, in that it will give the public {
better and cheaper service, and not II
the future take advantage of its fran
chise, then l see no objection to 1t, bu
If it Is going to be arranged to help I'll
pockets of few l will be opposed t,
Tz Wal EI~