The Washington herald., 1921-06-09
Comments of Leading D.
C. Men Show Demand
For Combine.
TRACTION TROUBLES
RECEIVE ANALYSIS
Westlake DeclaresP Propo.
sal More Practical
Than Others.

The most practicable suggestion
that ha sthus far been advanced
toward the establishment of a s.
cent street car fare and the better
ment of the street car service in this
city"
This was the opinion regarding
the merger of the Washington Rail-
way and Electric company and the
Capital Traction company as pro-
posed in the senate Tuesday by Sem
ator william II. King, Of Utah, as
expressed by william B. westlake.
president of the Federation of Cit
liens Associations and prominent
real estate and investment broker.
last night
Favors King Plan.
"I feel that the King merger plan
is the most practical of all the plans
that have been advocated" contin-
ued Westlake. "in that 1t brings
about a forced merger in a consti-
tutional and orderly manner.
The provision of the measure
which allows the Capital Traction
company to use all or any part Of
the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio company's tracks would in it.
self create a merger, for with the
Capital Traction running cars in all
parts of the city, there would be no
need for the other company to oper-
ate its cars.
$50 nearly does this measure carry
out the ideas of the Washington
citizens associations that 1t Is prac-
tieally impossible to find any part
of it which is Objectionable. In this
IL has a decided advantage over all
of the previous plans, every one OF
which has had some clauses which
raised serious objections. This bill
in my mind is one which will meet
with the approval of the car riding
public and the business interests CT
the city as well.
Value of stock.
personally believe that the
stockholders of the Washington
Railway Electric company would
much prefer to hold stock In the
Potomac Electric Power company.
which is a prosperous concern, than
in the railway company. which is
far from prosperous"
william NICK. Clayton, counsel for
the Federation of Citizens associa-
tions, will appear before a joint
meeting of the senate and house
district committees on Friday for
the urpose of stating the plan for
,1 - fAI-
alton.
Any plan which will bring about
reduced fares and better street car
service. whether it be the King plan
of merger or any other equitable
merger program has the support of
Col. Wade H. Cooper. president of
the United States Savings bank, and
R. Golden Donaldson, of the law
firm of R. G. Donaldson and C. c.
Tucker. according to opinions ex-
pressed by them last night.
All Favor Merger.
ANY plan that would reduce
street car fares in this city will be
a great thing, and has my approval"
said Col. Wade H. Cooper. but the
solution of the street car problem in
this city is a difficult one and ! am
not prepared to say at this time just
what plan should be followed. How
ever, any merger of the companies
should be made on a fair and equita-
BILE terms to all of the stockholders
concerned
II am firmly convinced that a no
nopoly created by a merger of the
two railroad companies and the
electric power company will bring
20 the public the best service at the
cheapest cost" said Golden Dom
aldson, but a merger of these COM
panies can only be brought about
by an orderly process keeping in
mind certain well established legal
principles and certain property right
guaranteed by the constitution.
Il have not studied the King bill,
but judging from certain excerpts
published in the press would Sc
riously doubt the workabiIity of the
bill.