The Washington times., 1920-02-20
YEARREQU|RED
! FOR MERGER
Vice President Hanna, OF Capt.
tai Traction Co., Suggests
Time Limit.

A merger OF the street railway lines
Of the District OF Columbia could be
effected within one year. In the
opinion of John H. Hanna. vice presi-
dent Of the Capital Traction Com
pany.
Mr.. Hanna, appearing before the
House District Committee today,
suggested that q time limit should
be included In merger legislation. Az
least six months should be allowed
he said. Notices would have 10 De
sent to all stockholders and various
Incidental meetings and conferences
would consume much time. Chair
man Mapes of the House committee,
asked Mr.. Hanna II a service-at-cost
plan could be worked out without
merger.
Criticises Ronjue Bill.
II would be impossible for such a
system without q merger because
many of the lines are parallel ana
there would be q variation In fare
which would work to the detrirent
of the line charging the higher fare.
he said.
Mr.. Hanna declared that the
Romjue bill were It in effect today
with its provision for six tickets for
q quarter and it's taxing feature,
Woulo coSt tho puS"S ~A'"
nually.
. A scent fare and more of them Is
the desire of both companies because
they are easier to handle and more
satisfactory to all concerned, Mr..
Hanna told the committees.
Discussing the reproduction cost OF
the Capital Traction Company, Mr..
Hanna said that IL its charter were
repealed and the public compelled to
ha eyr n r
than the Capital Traction Company
has ever claimed as the value of It's
property.
He predicted prices would never re-
turn to the low level of three or four
years ago.
Predicts Fare Increase.
An increase in traffic at tho present
Increased fare Is anticipated by both
companies, he said. The public has
misunderstood the street railway
company In the District, he contended.
II tho people once are shown that the
cost of Q ride does not pay . return
on the company's Investment they
will not object to the increased fare.
he said. $50 =. r-ss
CONGRESSMAN Ben Johnson AZ Ken
lucky asked Mr.. Hanna II the lines on
being merged would be willing to let
the Public Utilities Commission flx
their number Of officials and en-
ployes.
Mr.. Hanna explained the commit
sion has that power at this time, ana
he stated that In Cleveland where the
service-at-cost system 10 In operation
there are restrictions which dc not
give the officials carte blanche to do
as they please in determining the &C
tual cost Of operation
Commissioner Louis Brownlow
again appeared before the COMMITTEES
today. He reviewed the history Of
fare increases here
Opposes Higher Rste.
The only alternative % far sug-
gestsd, he said, had been . Sone sys-
tenn and Increase in rate for the Po-
tomac Electric Power Company. Both
methU>.N were rejected
Answering an inquiry BY Chairman
Mapes, Mr.. Brownlow said that the
commission had not changed its
views on the subject Of zone system.
He argued against tho principle Of
having one corporation bear the bur-
den Of another simply because its
stockholders are the Same as in the
case of the power company and the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company. Those who advocated such
q plan did 1t for expediency sake he
said.
Several decisions Of public utilities
low, in which they ruled against such
a policy. It was largely on these
rules that the Public Utilities Commits
sion of the District based its decision
against increasing the power COM
nanv,s rites from TO 10 centA