The Washington herald., 1921-07-13
Will Oppose Any Merger
With the Power
Company.
URGE RESUMPTION
OF CHARTER RATES
Delegations Will Present
-, Case at Public
Hearing.
Reiterating its opposition to &

Refterating its opposition to a
merger Of the Potomac Electric
Power Company with the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company,
and calling attention to the fact
that every Public Utilities Commits
sion since the passage Of the act
creating this commission, has op-
posed all legislation looking to such
a merger, the Federation of Citi-
zens' Associations unanimously ad-
vocated a reduction of the present
rate of street car fares, at a meet
ing last night.
1t was decided to request the Pub
lie Utilities Commission at its rates
hearing tomorrow to reduce the
fare of the traction companies to
their charter rates of s cents as
soon as circumstances justified the
reduction.
Relates Rate History.
At the request of the federation
william NICK. Clayton. chairman Of
the public utilities committee, open
ed the meeting with a detailed ex-
PLANTATION OF the traction situation,
after which he was questioned as to
the methods to be adopted to have
the fares reduced.
THE reverse process could be
used to determine the fare of the
Capital Traction Company" Clayton
explained. that was used by the
Public Utilities Commission in the
case of the Washington Gag Light
Company. In this case the gas light
company was allowed to increase
its rates to reimburse 1t for its
losses during the previous period
for which the rate had proved to be
inadequate.
PIaa to Get Redress.
in the case of the Capital Trac-
ton Company" Mr.. Clayton con-
tended, the people of Washington
have been compelled, by the method
Of the Public Utilities Commission
to- treat the two companies as a
for the service rendered by the
Capital Traction Company. 1t Is
therefore planned to reduce the rate
Of fare charged by this company In
order to reclaim this unearned ex-
cess"
Following a discussion as to the
advisabiiity OF a merger OF the two
companies, Clayton said that moth
Ing would force a merger quicker
than the establishment of different
rates of fare. He also showed thar
Congress had the power to repeal
the charters. of traction companies
by citing the cases of the George
town. Metropolitan and Columbfa
street car companies. The records
of the District show that under the
threat Of Congress to repeal/fne
charters of these corporations, they
paid Judgment that theX<had pre-
viously refused to recognize.
Would Force Merger.
Being convinced1fhat the railway
companies would not merge of their
own voliticp. Mr.. Clayton stated
that members of the House Distrie,
Committee had been urged to SUBJ
stitute~the word shall for the word
soiidation. This in Mr.. Clayton's
opinion would doubtless settle the
matter Immediately. He also said
the presidents of both companies
favored the service plan.
Opposition of the federation to the
zoning system resulted in the adop-
ton of resolution authorizing Mr..
Clayton to oppose this system al
q fr
Utilities Commission. at which time
II is expected the Washington Rail.
way and Electric Company will re.
quest the institution of a zone fare
In the event that the Public Utilities
commission decides a reduction OF
fares is justifiable.
A short discussion on reasonable
fares was held. in which four tick.
cts Tor 2s cents with a 7-cent cash
rare was advocated. The question
OF a possible scent fare was con.
sidered to be Unreasonable at thi,
| time.
Postpone Other Matters.
! The charges of the other utiiit,
| companies were referred to b,
members of the federation, bu
owing to the lack of data on thes,
subjects, the gas. electric light ans
telephone matters were referre<
back to the committee.
William B. Westlake, Chairman
OF the federation, read an anony
nous letter which charged that of
ncers of the federation were pait
CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO.