The Washington herald., 1920-02-13
CALLS MERGER
US. PROBLEM
Government Responsible
Because of Patronage,
Syme Testihes.
DEPENDENT ON CARS
Declares Traction Stock
holders Lack Faith IN
Solution by Congress.

The traction systems of Washing
ton is a matter of special interest
and responsibility for the govern
ment because the street cars trans
port daily about 100000 government
employees to their work and carry
them home in the evening. Carfares
form a substantial item of the gov
ernment workers yearly budget, &C
cOrding to Conrad H. Syme, former
corporation counsel and principal
witness at the hearing yesterday
on the proposed street railway mer-
ger before the House District Com
mittee.
Syme laid emphasis on the unique
conditions in Washington, and that
WashIngtOnians are entirely depen-
dent on the street cars for transpor-
tation. The great government estap-
HShment here, he said, was a SUM-
Gent cause for special efforts 10
provide Washington with an ade-
quate traction system.
Calls Burden Too Heavy.
The witness asserted that the
street railway companies should not
bear unaided the burden OF sus-
IaininE business and real estate
values in Washington. and reminded
the committee that transportation
, Is the life itself of many businesses
N Il large city.
T,eprrS, ntaIiNc Benson. of Mary
land, cOntcndcd that the valuation
set by the Public Utilities Commls-
SION should be the basis of the rate
allowed the Washington Railway
anu Electric Company.
Tne kOmjue street railroad Dill was
supported by Edward Il. Williams
lzatiOns in the Bureau of Printing
and Engraving. Williams stated that
this GiII was drafted at his request
He presented Il petition outlining
three schemes of railroad service
one of which. he said, was prohtaDly
used in Philadelphia on - cent fare
The second was the Cleveland SER
vice-at-cOst plan. and'the third was
a plan which has worked successfully
in Detroit
Government employees, said Will
Jams. are anxious for legislation to
pass that will merge the two. COM
panies and insure stable service at
reasonable cost. He said the ma
jority favor the ROmjue bill.
ROmjue Bill Crude
Syme admitted that the Romjue bill
was crude as compared with th@
commissioners bill and, said that
It had been drawn earlier to give
suggestions to effect a merger. The
viewpoint of the stockholders of the
" ashington Railway and Electric
company. according to Syme. is the
chief difficulty in arriving at a solu-
tiUn. because they lack faith in the
ability Of Congress to reach a resO-
luton that will safeguard their hold
InES.
upon the Public Utilities Commissions s
valuation OF the street railway prop
crty before a solution can be reached
that provides living conditions for
either company
In answer to a question by Repre-
sentative Mapes, Syme said that a
fair valuation of the companies
could Nist in theory only. He said
he was sure the court would sustain
the contention of the Public UtiI-
tiles Commission that the fair value
of a public utility is the amount OF
money actually invested in it.
Syme cOntended that the Commits
siOners' bill is an honest attempt to
equalize differences between the two
companies. The community. he said
should bear a part of the cost of a
business that ia vital to real estate
values. such as an efficient traction
system.