The Washington herald., 1921-05-16
OPPOSES ROBBING
"PEPCO" PATRONS
follower FARES
w. B. Westlake Declares
Public Wants Merger
Of Traction Lines.

Public opinion IN Inis CITY 10 op-
posed to a 7-cent street car rare
II il Is to be secured by combining
the Washington Railway and Eiec-
tric Company and the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Company. thereby ROB-
bing the users of electricity to make
up the defici; of the street car com
pany What the people OF WASH
ington want is a merger OF the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company and the Capital Traction
Company. and they will not be sat
isfied until this is brought about
This was the declaration made by
William B. Westlake. president OF
the Washington Federation of Cit-
zens' Associations, last night, COM
mentinE on the proposal to advo-
cate the adoption Of the 7-cent plan
promulgated by Commissioner Oy-
ster-Combining the Washington
Railway and Electric Company and
the Potomac Electric Power Com
pany-in the event of the failure
of the merger program of the two
Washington street railway COM
panieS.
Companies Fail to Agree.
The revival OF the Oyster 7-cent
plan is the outgrowth of the ap-
parent inability of the representa-
lives Of the two street railway COM
panies TO arrive at a definite agree
ment for a voluntary merger.
The representatives of the street
car companies and the District
COmmi sioners, who have been con-
ferring on the merger proposition
III lNI II
is expected TO be the last confer
cnce at the District Building Tues
day. Providing this conference is
not productive Of a voluntary merger
agreement. the matter will be re-
ferred back to the House and Sem
ate District committees.
Ready to Call Hearings.
That a merger will eventually be
decided upon by Congress. even
though the companies are unable to
meet on common ground. was in
dlcated last night by Representa-
tive F. NJ. Zihlman, of the House
District Committee. The District
Commissioners will report the prog
TsSs OF the conferences TO the House
and Senate District committees
after the Tuesday conference. anG
IL the companies have been unable
10 arrive at an agreement We will
begin hearings on the matter by the
latter part of the week." he said.
Members Of the Senate District
Committee are expecting report
at the committee meeting wednes-
day morning on the conferences be-
tween the railway companies and
the Commissioners on the merger.
odds, it is indicated that plan of
government control will be con-
sidered.
Would Force Decision.
Senator Pomerene. at a recent
hearing on the merger proposition,
declared that inasmuch as the
public and the companies both
would benefit by consolidating the
lines. an agreement should he forced
even if the stubborn car officials
be locked in a room and kept there
until they did agree"
1t was the proposal Of District
Commissioners that the joint COM
mittee, repres .ntlng two officials of
each Of the two companies. which
began hearings with two members
Of the District Commission, includ-
ing Engineer Commissioner kutz,
should outline some plan. The
Capital Traction held that IL was in
a more prosperous condition than
the other company and it would be
q cOnfscatory law that compelled
II to merge with the rival company.
Two bills have been introduced. one
Of which would equalize the earn
ing capacities of the companies BY
taxation.
SIM Hopes for Merger.
The 7-cent plan devised by Com
missioner oyster was advocated at
the time the Public Utilities Com
mission established the present rate
Of fare for the Washington street
car companies, and although not
now advocated by the Commission
rr it is being mentioned in some
semi i-offiCial circles as a possibility
in the event Of the failure of the
merger program
L still think that the 7-cent plan
i a rather good one, but with the
merger still under consideration l
have been lending all my efforts TO
bring about this result" said Com
missioner Oyster The Commission
crs hope to be able to bring the
r"presentatives of the street rail-
way companies tn Il definite under
standing at the meeting on Tues
Gay However, If the effort for a
voluntary merger is unsuccessful,
We viii turn the natter over to
Congress"