The Washington times., 1920-01-27
EDIT 07S!At AGE WASHINGTON TINES JAWMnHSSR
There Will Never Be a Voluntary
Street Railway Merger!
By BILL PRICE.


There will voluntary merger Of the street ralwG,
lines Of Washington
The House District Committee starting its hearings
the Commissioners bill to further regulate public utilities
in the District will be badly deceived If any of its
bers think that voluntary consolidation is possibility
There several dsnteresed students of the street rail
way game here who tell the committee just why
this is So that II may proceed with clear understanding
that if the public be relieved of unfair and irritating
burdens Congress will have to FORCE THIS RELIEF
through legislation that stands for THE PUBLIC!
The Capital Traction fattening until it may burst with
funds plucked from the pubicfunds 1T did not ask 1o
and is not entitled tos not going to merge with the Wash
ngton Railway and Electric Company except on Its own
terms Its stockholders not worrying about the public
except in their willingness give good service They dc
not propose to take chances hooking their strong corpora
ton weak unless they pretty confident they are
going to have good thing after the consolidation takes
place! Just get that in your head =
Eight Of the fifteen directors of the Washington Rail
way and Electric Company recently chosen represent the
So 100000 of common stock held by New York and Wash
ington banks loans that not paid Chairman kutz
of the Public Utilities Commission told Congress few
days ago that there is something like $7OOOOOO OF AQUA
PURA in W. R. and E. stocks He also said there is about
So 900 to $3OOOOOO of moisture in Capital Traction
This 100000 of common stock ABSOLUTELY con
trolls the w. r. and e.!
In any honest attempt to bring voluntary merger of
the lines there will be struggle to give value to alleged
water and if value does not out OF the negotiations
everything will be off.
The Juggling that will take place soldifying water
will make the tricks of the magician who turns water into
rabbits and curiostes look like 80 cents!
In March next the Capital Traction will take up with
its employees the matter of revising their If that
company is disposed it may make increases that will put
the W. r. and E. deeper into the financial hole 1T has been
slipping into The Utilities Commission will then be
PEELED again to increase fares to the public Ii the two rail
lines to get cents fare and cents for transfers.
asked necessary and right return valuation
made by the Commission then Scent fare heaves in
sight.
The Capital Traction has occasion to grieTe over
what happens the other line If enough happens to it. the
c. t. may be able to pick cheap ut receivers sale.
But all the time the public being worsted III view OF
the official belief that if operated the railways could
get along cents fare; certainly cents less.
If Congress has not the courage to provide straight
out municipal ownership in Washington then let it pass the
Commissioners bill with these provisos:
If phhiu months the hare not merged r7
the roads operated under at-cof plan;
2If phu twelve months there then authorize
District and their operation BY the
municipality
H F. I'd A N D S F. F. \