Evening star., 1921-06-28
FAVORABLE REPORT
ON D, c. OWNERSHIP
OF CAR LINES MADE
Special House Subcommittee
Acts in Effort to Solve
| Street Car Problem.
APPROVES KELLER BILL
BY VOTE OF d TO 3
Proposal to Send All Traffic Bills
to Full Committee
Is Lost.

Tho Keller bill for municipal own
ership of the street railways IN
Washington today was ordered Ia
vorably reported to the full House
District committee when 1t meets to-
morrow by the special subcommittee
which has been considering num-
Der Xof bills to solve the street rail-
way problem in the National Capital
The Keller bill was approved by
vote of 4 to 3. Those voting in favor
were Representatives Lampert OF
Wisconsin, Walters of Pennsylvania,
who reserved the right to change
his vote in the full committee: Ham
mer of North Carolina and kunz OF
Illinois. Those opposed were Repre-
sentatiyes Zihlman of Maryland.
chairman of the subcommlttee: Sproul
of Illinois and Woods of Virginia
Representative Lampert made mo-
tion to report the Keller and Hammer
bills Representative Sproul demand
ed separate vote on the TWO piils'
The Hammer bill was defeated on a
tie vote, three to three. with Repre-
sentative Sproul not voting.
Representative Hammers bill. which
was introduced yesterday, provides tor
establishing the maximum street car
rate at cents, four tokens for 25 cents.
Those voting in favor were Represen-
tatives Lampert. Hammer and kunz.
Those voting against were Representa-
tives Zihlman. Walters and Woods
Moves to Report All.
Representative Lampert then moved
that all other bills now before the sub
committee relating to the traffic prob
lem should be reported to the full COM
rcittee tomorrow without recommenda-
tion.
At the opening Of the meeting today
Chairman Zihlman explained the eS-
sential differences between the Woods
bill. which proposes to levy an excess
profits tax on the earnings OF either
street car company after fair return
en- their valuation has been allowed;
the Ball-Focht bill. which has been
reported favorably by the Senate COM
mittee, granting the right to the street
car lines and the Potomac Electric
Power Company to merge: the Keller r
bill for municipal ownership; two bills
by Representative Hammer, one pro-
viding for four fares 5er - cents ana :sTT1
the other to abo11Sh,tne PUBIC 0ti-
tiles commission.
Representative Sprou1 read letter
from Engineer Commi ssioner kutz IN
regard to a hearing by the Puoiic
street car fares and the notice sent
to the companies. IF the Public
Utilities Commission is thus trying
to give the people of the District
proper rate of fare. l do not see any
reason why we should act precipitate-
ly now" he said.
Mr.. Kunx Argues.
Representative -kunZ argued that
the Public Utilities Commission had
taken. no action until they saw that
the District committee was determined
to force them to act. He said that
,'nI. Kutz's own figures that Il lower
rate Of fare could be put into effect
ana yet they mad not ordered such 4
fare until called before the committee
when a demand was made upon them.
Representative Sproul argued
against the Hammer bill. which would
fix cent fare. as unjustified. when
the Capital Traction Company can
afford to carry people for less. 1t was
insisted that this was merely max
imum fare and that the Public Ctili-
ties Commission would still have the
right to investigate the possibility of
a lower fare. Representative Walters
contended that any legislation fixing
a rate would mean throwing the ques-
tion into the courts.
The authors of the various bills were
then allowed five minutes each. dur
ing which they discussed their re-
spective bills. Representative Woods
said that if his bill was not passed
he would then be in favor of the Ball
Focht bill. allowing the street car
companies to merge.
Mr.. Woods demanded separate vote
on the proposal to send all the traffic
bills 20 the full committee without
recommendation. as an amendment to
the Lampert motion. This proposal
was defeated four to three. Those vot-
ing for it being REPRESENTATIVES Zihl-
man. Walters and Woods. while those
in oppositin were Representatives
Lampert. Sprul, Hammer and kunz.