Evening star., 1920-02-10
Recommendations in Detail.

After stating the association does
not look unfavorably on the bill pre-
pared by the Federation of Citizens
Associations, the resolution suggests
the following:
"A consolidation of all electric street
railway systems operating lines
within the District of Columbia.
That any consolida tion under pri
vate ownership shall not be supported
or abetted in any way from the treas
ury of the District of Columbia or of
a remission of taxes on the railways
property.
THAT any street railway company
in the District of Columbia working
under a charter granted by Con,
gress be authorized and empowered
to purchase the properties, franchises,
etc. of any and all other street rail-
ways operating in the District of Co
lumbia.
THAT the capitalization of the con-
solidation shall not exceed the mar
ket value of the stocks, bonds and
other securities of companies involved
in the consolidation at the time of the
passage of the enabling act.
That the company making the pur-
chase and known as the consolidated
company shall be entitled to charge a
fare of not more than 5 cents Cor six
tickets for 25 cents) for one continu-
Gus ride in the District of Columbia.
and shall issue transfers free of cost
at all intersecting and connecting
points within the District necessary
to carry a passenger in one general
direction to destination.
That the legislation be drawn suf-
fciently definite and specific so as to
eliminate the necessity of providing
the Public Utilities Commission with
discretionary powers. The Public
Utilities Commission should only be
vested with administrative powers.
n hn =
attributed to the discretionary and
legislative powers vested in or as
sumed by the commission.
That legislation should be enacted
providing that the personnel Of the
Public Utilities Commission shall con-
sist OF persons not holding any other
official positions.
That as an alternative and in event
OF the failure of a consolidation under
private ownership within a reason
able time. legislation providing for
the purchase and operation of the
roads by the District government
should be Immediately enacted"
Opposes Half-and-Half Abolition.
President Evan H. Tucker. as chair
man Of the committee on legislation,
toid or the passage of the Mapes
bill abolishing the half-and-half plan
OF financing the District. and said he
in the Senate. He said he thought
one OF the most important District
measures before Congress is Ne bill
tor OF Increasing the pay Of school
This is a most important meas
ure,' he said, "aS it provides ade-
quate compensation for the teachers;
a compensation which will mean few
er designations and the retention of
the h1gh-class teachers the service
needs"
The committee. he stated. is watch
ing the bills for the merging of the
street car companies.
Van schaick Nomination Discussed.
DR.. Starr Parsons. chairman of the
committee Of educational institutions,
told of the testimony given before
tive to the nomination of Rev. John
Van Schaick. jr., for District Conn
missioner. He told of representing
the association before the committee
and of the statements made
DR.. Parsons said he thought a min
lister of the gospel is not the proper
person to fill the Office of Commits
sioner. and added that he thought
the chances for DIR. Van Schaick's g
rejection by the Senate are very
good. Only one citizens association.
he said. has gone on record as IA
WI iHS tuc duQ the pTeSl-
dent OF that association, he added, has
been the recipient of favors at the
hands of the nominee.
Senator Calder of New York. he
said. Topped in the voting because
he feared he would lose the support
of the ]. P. Morgan banking firm.
Senator Sherman received a letter
from the New York fnanciers. he add
ed. but did not heed it's contents. He
openly denounced it.
I'VE had good news today" DR..
Parsons concluded. ut was that
senators upon whom we did not count
will oppose the nomination"
Speaks In Favor Of Trame Court.
DR.. L. D. Walter, chairman Of the
committee on police and fire depart
ments, asked the association to renew
it's approval of an effort to obtain a
traffic court for the District of CO.
lumbia.
such a court is badly needed" he
said. land handling Of the traffic
cases cannot properly be done by