The Washington herald., 1920-04-17
SENATE DENOUNCES
Scent STREET CAR
FARE DECISION HERE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
that will return a dividend of 6 or

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
that will return a dividend of 6 or
u per cent on this watered stock"
Senator Dial. of South Carolina,
urged a bill prohibiting the Wash
inston Railway and Electric Com
pany or any other corporation from
watering its stock.
I'm this case" replied Thomas,
1T will be like locking the stable
door after the horse is stolen
iStrongef action is needed to meet
this situation"
The bill of Representative Woods
will call for a voluntary merger of
the two companies by making it at
ttractive for them to enter into 1t,
Woods declared. He declined, how
ever, to give out details of his plan
until after the final drafting which
will be completed at conference
Monday with the District Commits
sioners and officials of the two trac-
Ition companies.
The Woods bill has been in prog
ress of preparation for several
weeks. ever since the merger hear
ings In the House District of CO.
lumbia Committee were completed.
~, action has been taken, although
more than a month has elapsed since
lHe HlGEstT ncdFlHBS were HnlsueO
Woods declared the near strike
had something to do with speeding
up action on his bill.
Chairman Carl F.. Mapes. of the
District. Committee, on the other
hand. yesterday declared himself as
favoring a compulsory merger, as
he does not believe the lines will
consolidate unless forced to by Con-
lgressional action.
Text Of Joint Resolution,
The resolution introduced by Sem
ator Jones was:
Whereas, repeated demands for
higher wages are made by the en-
ployes of the street railways of
the District of Columbia:
| Whereas, such demands are fol-
lowed by requests from the railway
companies to the Public Utilities
Commission for permission to raise
their fares;
Whereas. such requests seem uni
formly to be granted on the all
legged ground that the companies
must make dividends on their stock
of from 6 to per centum;
Whereas, by this method the
whole burden of maintaining stock
dividends and the expenses of op-
rating the railroads is placed
upon patrons of the roads;
Most Patrons U. s. Employer.
Whereas. the patrons of these road ;
are largely government employ,
with fixed salaries and people o;
limited means:
Whereas, one road appears to
make money and the other does
not:
Whereas, limit will be reached
at which the patrons will ceasdto
use the railroads whenever it is
possible 20 do so. and bankruptcy
to the railroads will result;
| Whereas, with all the increases
in fares, the. service furnished by
said roads is abominabIe and can
| hardly be worse; and
| Whereas, both roads ought to be
under one ownership and manage
ment, and certain war power plants
| that are necessary in connection
with their operation should be TAX
en- over; therefore, be it
| Resolved, That 1t is the sense of
the Senate that the street railways
of the District of Columbia and the
necessary power plants operated In
connection Herewith should be TAX
en- over. owned and operated by the
District Of Columbia or the govern
| ment of the United States; and the
Senate Committee on the District
| of Columbia is hereby. directed to
| formulate and present. to the Sem
ate at 4as early a date as may be
practicable, for. its consideration.
Legislation to bring this about.
| A final conference will be held
Monday between George E Ham
lilton, president Of the Capital Trac-
tion Company; William F. Ham,
president of the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company, and
! Chairman Mapes. of the House Dis
trict Committee, on the traction
ruerrer hill. =. .