Evening star., 1920-02-24
WITNESSES HEARD
ON MERGER PLANS
Evan H. Tucker and w. W.
Price Appear Before House
Committee.

Evan n. Tucker. president or the
Northeast Washington Citizens Asso-
citation. and w. W. Price were the wit
nesses today before the House Distrlct
committee considering the street rail-
way situation in Washington. when the
hearing was thrown open to the puoiic.
William NICK. Clayton, representing
the Brishtwood Park Citizens Assocla-
ton, had asked to be heard. but notl-
fed the committee that he was de-
tanned in court.
Mr.. Tucker presented resolutions
adopted by his association on Febru-
ary 10. after the association had con-
sidered the District Commissioners Dill
the Romjue bill, introduced at the
solicitation of certain employees III .he
bureau of engraving and printing ana
other government establishments ano
a draft of a bill proposed by the feo-
Grafton of Citizens Associations
Opposed Both Bills.
Tbese resolutions opposed both the
Commissioners bill and the Rom]ue
The conclusion was that both of
these bills which had been introduced
called for a partnership between tne
District government and the private
interests operating the street rail-
Ways, (which is unjust. the resolu-
tions said that neither OF these bills
will effect a consolidation nor give 10
the people a service compatible with
dation of all lines within the District
under private capital not assisted oy
the District treasury: capitalization or
the consolidation not to exceed the
market value of the property; rare
of cents with six tickets Tor a quar-
ter and with free transfers; elfmina-
tion of discretionary and legal powers
from the Public Utilities Commission.
In the event of failure to get con-
solidation under private ownership
purchase.
witnesses Heard.
Mr.. Tucker told the committee at
length the history of street car serv-
ice in the northeast section of the
CITY. and gave reasons why the Capt.
tai Traction Company had been more
popular than the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company
Mr.. Price advocated municipal own
erskip. and was questioned by Repre-
sentative Ben johnson. democrat. OF
Kentucky, on legal and financial
phases of the course advocated by
Mr.. Price.
he did not think that there was one
chance in a thousand for voluntary
merger, and that any intention of
adopting a merger must have the
force of compulsion behind ii. He
advocated a special commission to
handle the street railway situation.
which prompted Mr.. johnson to ask:
DO you mean to imply that the
Public Utilities Commission has not
been handling it properly"
Again when Mr.. Price told the COM
mittee that he thought he could take
a correspondence school course and
clear up the legal problems before
Congress would act upon the street
railway problems. Representative
Johnson said:
DO you think it is getting into the
rut made by the treaty of peace?
View OF Delay.
Mr. Price said that if Congress does
not give relief soon the Capital Traction
Company will have a chance to grab
Off the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio from the hands Of receiver. He
strongly advocated municipal ownership
under the present conditions. Pressed
by Representative johnson as to where
the money would come from to pay off
the bond issue, he said. by taxes il
necessary, but that he thought street
car fares could be increased sufficiently
to pay off the cost after economies had
been effected by unified operation.
Az one time Mr. Price was discussing
the surplus earnings of the Capital Trac-
ficiency of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company. He was interrupted
by George f. Hamilton. president of the
former company, who asked:
Are you imagining or are you testi-
fying?'