Evening star., 1920-02-25
M|D-C|TY CITIZENS
FOR MERGER PLAN
Addressed by W. GWynn
Gardiner on Problems of
PepCo and w. R. and E.

The Mld-tity Citizens Association
at its meeting last night. in the
Thomson School, adopted i resolution
favoring the merger OF the Potomac
Electric Fower Company and the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company as q relief to tie present
day street car condit ions. following
Il detailed account ot the situation by
W. Gwyrn GardlnC.. Commissioner
Of the District OF tofuIn oia.
The resolution IS o:ftrcd by NIL
ton p. Zeiler. Cha.-'Hat, q! tn" school
committee. The NUt" On thc resolution
was - TO =.
The X-CommissIOn"r dealt with the
origin of the street car controversy,
telling of the original charters which
were granted by Congress. back IN
the days of the old horse cars lie
disclaimed the watered stock theory.
saving that the reason the Capital
Traction Company Jared better than
the Washington Railway and Electric
Company was because the former mad
only one suburban line to the lat
tors six.
Jc then answered a question in the
minds of many members of the aSSocla-
ton as to why the Washington Railway
and Electric Company had managed to
sustain itself 50 long. by stating that thc
company. prior to the creation OF the
|
aided by the pros poritH Of the iotoma'
Electric Power company. who's" stock
the railway company owned But AFTER
this commission had been created 1t was
disclosed that the act of Congress Which
Lad permitted the company 10 consoI-
date many of its suburban lines with
the power company contained a cha use
forbddiug the merger of the two char-
ters. which clause the utilities commits
sion stipulated WAS valid.
Compared With Berryman Cartoons.
Mr.. Gardiner stated that increased
fare on one line necessitated increased
fare on the other, too. or both lines
would suffer and would look like one of
Berryman's cartoons showing one line
swamped with passengers and the other
one empty. Now. he stated. further AID
was needed. as the Washington Railway
and Electric Company was still unable
TO pay expenses. But. he maintained. II
the rates are again increased. both sys-
toms will be worse off than before. Tor
more people will walk, more than equal
zing the effect of the increased rates.
This fact, he said. had been proved IN
many big cities all over the country.
AS a result of this situation. Mr.
Gardiner said that only two alterna-
fives remained-either to merge the
Two systems or pass a law allowing
the Washington Railway and Eiec-
tric Company and the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Company to combine ana
pool their earnings which would put
the business back on the old pront-
able basis which existed before the
creation of the Public Utilities Com
mission. The first plan was at pres
ent impossible, he said. as no power
could compel the two car companies
to- merge unless each company were
willing. and naturally. he stated. the
only way this could be brought about
would be to put each company on an
equal valuation basis. If the earning
powers of the two companies could
he eduaized he would then favor q
merger of that sort However. in his
opinion. he pointed out, the passage
Of a law permitting the merger OF
The two properties Of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company would
moro simply bring about the desired
results-name1y. reduced fares and
ing. gave hope Of some relief in the
near future from Congress and ad-
vocated the rational opinions of the
citizens associations. saying that both
missioners would be bound to respect
them
Former Police Head Ext0lled.
Tho LIE and efforts Of the late Ray
mond W. Pullman. police superintend-
ent. were extolled by members, A. J..
DriscoI president of the associa tfon.
characterizsng him as OF the finest
oahber. A resolution of sympathy
was adopted by the association in
which the secretary of the associa-
ton was instructed to send letter
Of coincidence to the family of Mai
Pullman. Capt. Charles T. Peck Of
tho second police precinct was nomi-
mated by the association to succeed
him
A resolution was adopted disap-
proving of the reported attempt of
Congress to curtail the $40 bonus to
policemen and fremen. A donation of
s25 to the building fund of the
United States Chamber of Commerce
here was approved. The erection of
a home for the feeble minded in this
city again was urged. Ten new MEM
hers were elected, bringing the total
membership of the association up to
more than a thousand.