The Washington herald., 1921-07-06
DISTRICT BODY
READY TO TAKE
UP FARE FIGHT
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

nun NAuH oA'H-
Railway and Electric Company to
merge with the Potomac Electric
Power Company are in the minority.
Reasons for Opposition.
The principal argument advanced
by the members opposed to a con-
solidation of the. railway and cleo
trio power companies is that it
would be manifestly unfair to the
people and economically undesirable.
They claim to see no advantage. as
Representative Hammer expressed
it. in the consolidation. of a nom
paying railway company with a
profitable electric power plant, re-
sulting possibly in the increase of
the cost of electricity to allow a re-
duction in the price of car rides. The
testimony of William H. Ham, pres
ident of the two companies desiring
the merger. before the House Dis
trict Committee has strengthened, it
is claimed, the opinion that to allow
this merger would be an irreparabIe
fatality.
Those members favorable to such
a merger claim that the utilities
companies should be allowed to
merge of their own accord They
therefore propose to remove a law
which now prevents one utilities
company from merging with an
other, as a step toward an amicable
settlement of the problem, offering
inducements in one bill in the form
of 4 different taxation scheme that
will place the heavy taxes on the
successful company. This is Rep
I roe nj Ni.-A A. l.
this measure has met a storm of
protest from many members of the
subcommittee. who think that this
scheme OF taxation is a poor re-
ward to offer success and a condo
nation Of failure.
Ball Bill Held Weak.
The BaIl-Focht bill. which will
| again come before the COMMITTEES
tomorrow. has had a very inausp!-
scious start in the Mouse District
Committee. although it was IA
vorably reported out of-the Senate
District Committee. Its enemies
claimed yesterday that its chief
objection is that it fails to accom-
plish anything and predict its early
demise. Mr.. Ham, in testifying be-
fore the House District Committee
although seeming.-to-4favor this
measure, dealt It a sSsyere blow, 1t
is thought by those who oppose 1t,
when he admitted, that rner ger
| under this bill would not have q
tendency to reduce the fares -
Although not a separate faction.
there are many followers Of the
Keller bill, providing for ,murffcipai
| ~ - q 80
tive Keller hHs iconstsntly, main.
tained that his one. desire is &c
give the people of Washington per.
| tangle. and that. so far. the only
solution seems to be, public own.
ership of all the utilities. Should
this measure fail. Mr.. Keller ha:
indicated his willingness to support
some other measure that will Offer
the public the maximumi Of tempo
rary aid, by Immediately reducing
the fares and improving the stan.
dard of service.
| King Bill Also Talked.
The Keller bill is not without
! staunch supporters and several
members of the committee advanced
the opinion yesterday that it may
be necessary to dispose of the Kel-
Ter bill before any action can be
taken on the other measures now
before Congress.
Another bill that may find its
way into the committee rooms be-
fore the week is over, is the King
bill permitting the use of the WASH
ington Railway and Electric Com
pany's tracks by the Capital Trac-
tion Company.