Evening star., 1921-04-03
BALL WILL CONFER
WITH OFFICIALS ON
CAR MERGERPL
Senator Calls Commissioners
and Traction Heads to
Take Up Problem.
Meeting WILL BE HELD
IN OFFICE TOMORROW
Citizens Federation Approves
Union of Companies, But Opposes
Power Company Merger First.

4VWeI OUmpdHy merger ClISt.
An important conference, looking
- the merger of the street railways
sf thE iDistrict of Columbia, is to be
held tomorrow morning in the Of
nee of Senator Ball of Delaware, in
the Senate Office building. Senator
Ball. who has been picked for chair
man of the Senate District commit
tee in the new Congress. has request
ed the District Commissioners and
officers Of the Capital Traction Com
pany, the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and the Potomac
Electric Power Company to meet with
him for the purpose of discussing the
proposed merger.
The improvement of the street rail-
way situation in the District. so as to
provide better service at less cost.
is the most pressing question relat-
ing to the District now before Con-
gress and the Commissioners in the
opinion of Senator Ball. He :A~ss.rnastv
seeking solution of the problem
Believes in Merger.
The Delaware senator believes
strongly that the situation can be
improved through a merger OF the
companies He favors permitting the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company and the Potomac Electric
Power Company to merge. and at the
same time authorizing the Washington
Railway and Electric Company to merge
with the Capital Traction Company.
He reported bill for the merger OF
these companies at the last session Of
Congress, but too late for action to be
had on it.
The Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions. at it's meeting in the District
building last night, adopted resciu-
tion fayoring the enactment OF lesis-
Iation authorizing the merger OF the
two railway companies and the power
company. The resolution. however.
provides that the merger OF the
washington Railway and Electric
Power Company with the Potomac
Electric Power Company shall not be-
come effective until the merger OF the
two street railway companies also
goes into effect.
Impressed with Needs
The resolution was offered by
George Finch, chairman Of the law
and legislation committee OF the fed
Grafton, as a committee report.
Senator Ball discussed the proposed
merger with the Commissioners At
the District building informally on
Friday He is impressed with the
fact that it is necessary some aid
be given the Washington Railway
and Electric Company. SO that
merger of the street railways may be
effected. The suggestion that the Po-
tomac Electric Power Company.
which is a money-making concern,
be allowed to merge with the Wash
ington Railway and Electric Com
pany. the present owner of the stock
of the power company. and that part
of the earnings of the power company
go to aid the road strikes the sem
ator rather favorably.
It is expected that Senator Ball will
take up with the Commissioners this
week the matter of appointments IN
the District service. 1t has been ru-
mored that a number of changes are
to be made. and Senator Ball is de-
sirous of discussing these changes Of
the heads of the municipal govern
ment.
Ham Reamrms Indorsement.
William F. Ham, president of the
Railway and Electric
Company, who expects to attend the
with Senator Ball tomor-
ment Of the bill authorizing .
merger of the Potomac Electric Pow.
err Company with the Washington
and Electric as the first step
a consolidation of the two
street railway companies.
The same legislation in the Senate
was known as the France bill. but
was amended in the upper body to
authorize a merger of the Washing
ton Railway and Electric and the .
Potomac Electric Power Company
with the Capital Traction Company
after the first two corporations have
been merged.
Mr.. Ham pointed out that merger
If the two street railway, companies
S now prohibited by legislation
in 1913, and that even. il the WASH
ngton Railway and Electric and the
power company are allowed to unite.
Congress will have &c SEkei1sH.sy
authorize a merger of that united
company and the Capital Traction.
ComMissiOners Go Over Bills.
Commissioners Rudolph and Oyster.
t is understood. went over informally
Nth Commissioner Kutz yesterday
lfte-noon the severaf bills that were
,e2ding at the last session Of Con.
,ress Rating to merger of the three
zig pubic service compan~A~
They %ill go to the conference at
he Capitol Monday morning pre-
pared to discuss thoroughly the vari- :
,us proposals for bringing the COM