The Washington herald., 1921-06-23
w. r. & E. Head Opposes
Act by Congress Before
District Committee.
TELLS OF FORMER
TRACTION HISTORY
Members Discuss Ball Bill
To Allow Merger of
Companies.

IRON Nbt ="
Electric Co. by arbitrarily nxinE .
low rate of fare would be ruinous
TO that company, William r. Ham
president Of. the company. discussed
the traction situation before the
House District Committee yester-
day.
while this subject was being dis
cussed by the House District Com
nittee, the same measure was be-
ing favorsbIy reported out Of the
Senate District Committee
History Of Road
In a brief history Of the road.
Ham covered a period OF 50 years
Of operation, explaining how the
stock Of the early companies was
acquired by the Washington Trac-
tion and Electric Co. and later after
the failure of that company trans
ferred to the Washington Railway
and Electric Co. He also gave the
details Of the acquisition OF the
stock of the Potomac Electric
Power Co.
Representative Hammer inquired
as to the truth Of statements that
many ofthe old railway companies
were merely built to promote real
estate belonging TO the owners
knew of only one. namely the old
lexington line built by Col Trues-
dale who owned a considerable por-
tion of lexington.
Attsck by KunI
the Public Utilities Commission.
calling for their removal TO i'm
prove the situation Immediately.
The Public Utilities Commissiou
has mismanaged he compsnies.-
Kunz declared, -and is not compe-
tent to handle e. They-hsve broken
4 faith with the people. II they had
discharged the duties of their ofnce
in q competent manner this de-
plorable situation would not be in
existence today
Representative KunE OF Illinois,
Hammer Of North Carolina. Wood
run of Michigan. and Keller Of Wis
consin, objected to consideration of
the Ball bill in the absence Of Rep
resentatives Lampert and Sproul.
requesting that this bill, together
with others of similar character.
be considered by the subcommittee
next Friday and reported upon in
the usual way. Chairman Focht Of
fered no objection
Force Not Istended.
After the meeting of the House
District Committee, Chairman
Focht explained that IL was not his
purpose to attempt to f~-c the Ball
bill throush the committee. but the
need 80 sgislstion Of this kind was
30 apparent that he expected the
members to report fsvors6ly upon
It
AT present" Focht explained.
there is an insistent demand that
the street car lines merge. whether
consolidation OF this kind will
bring about a lower fare / cannot
say. There is q division OF opiuien,
but the desire for a merger is al
most universal The people are re-
questinG a merger, and the street
car companies have volunteered 20
amalgamste under certain condi-
tions. but I must emphasize the fact
that without legislation granting
them the permission TO merge .
consolidation is impossible
Purpose Of Bill.
The Ball bill was framed to give
the necessary authority 20 the com
psnies to combine. II does not COM
pei them to do 80. but in the event
that no action is taken by the COM
panies in this direction, II is pro-
posed that Congress then take such
action as is deemed necessary 20
force them to recognize the rights
of the public
1T seems only Just and proper"
Chairman Focht argued. that be-
fore the companies are driven int
a merger the obstacles should be
removed that now obstruct any vol-
untary consolidation"
Chairman Zihlman. Of the House
District subcommittee. agreed Win
chairman Focht that the companies
should be given a chance TO merge
voluntarily before more drastic
measures are applied.
stand Of zihImsn-
"It should be understood" zihl-
man pointed out, that any bill 10
be favorsbly considered by the
House Of Representatives must be
consistent. i am Of the opinion that
the people are entitled to consider .
abb. Improvement in the street car
service and to a lower rate OF fare.
| and in order to insure the passage
of a measure that will bring the
desired relief ] am anxious TO see
a bill offered for the consideration
of the House Of Representatives
that is reasonably sure Of passage
Several measures have been pro-
posed that am positive are too
drastic to even survive the conn
mittee as q whole, and IL these etiis
are presented to the House IL woufd
merely mean that considerable time
would be lost before other legisia-
ton could be prepared, and during
this period the same conditions thar
are now so seriously objected 20
simply would continue. -
objects TO Delay.
In my anxiety TO see proper. ade-
ouate and just laws enacted" Zihi-
man declared, Il do not intend 70
lose sight of the fact that an I'M
proper measure may delay inden-
nitsly any relief to which the people
are entitled. have no bill Of my
own that 1 wish TO exploit. snorf
am in favor of no particular bul
that has boen presented 50 far. but
I will insist that the bill reportad
70 the House for their action must
have the qualifications to entitls a
| to favorable considsration- -