The Washington herald., 1921-05-22
URGE GFAREClJT
FOR CAPITAL
TRACTION Line
Citizens Federation for
Quick Merger of
Railways.
MAY ASK CONGRESS
TO VOID CHARTERS
Condemnation Actien and
Purchase One of Plans
Offered.

Lower rates of fare on the Capt.
tai Traction compzny's line. en-
mediate merger OF District railways
and the Electric Light and Power
Company. and the creation OF an
independent public utilities comnis-
sion were approved by members Of
the Federation Of Citizens Assoc
Citations last night at the District
Building.
In the event that q merger falls.
the federation agreed to ask Con-
gress TO repeal charters Of the rail-
ways and grant q new charter te
one company embracing all the
street railway companies and the
Electric Light and Power Company.
To be operated under a service-st-
cost plan.
Il disapprove Of such action. II
is too drastic. and infriRges on per
sonal property rignts." Albert
sSchulties declared
The resolution was carried with
three dissenting votes.
Urres Psrrhase Of LIse~
Opposition to merger Of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company with the Potomac Electric
Power Company. and a merger that
would place the Capital Traction
Company under the control Of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company. were unanimously voiced
Il think the only way to relieve
conditions on our railways lie TO ask
Congress to condemn the existing
railways and purchase them. and
after purchasing them be allowed
to offer them for sale to one com
pany. declared Albert Schuitiss. An
making a resolution of this pur-
port. which was referred TO the lsv
and legislation committee
Fsvors Public Hearing
The federation. believes that the
public utilities should grant q hear
ing on the question of reducing
fare rates OF the Capital Traction
Company because Of the compsnyt
ability and willingness 10 reduce
fares.
Since physical valuations Of all
public service corporations in the
District have been completed. d
was DECIDED to request Congress
to resume its right OF nHing faret
and charges OF public service cor
porations until such time as a serv-
ice at cost system is put into opera
tion.
The proposed plan OF applying an
excess proht tax to these corpora
tions was bitterly opposed. the
federation having disapproved oi
such acton several times.
william Nick. Clayton. chairman
of the Public Utilities Committee.
declared that as far back as 1885
Congr,s s. was empowered 20 alter,
amend or appeal railway charters
Lower Fares the Motive.
Lower fares and railway exten-
sion are the motives behind such a
merger" he said.
Resolutions congratulating John
Joy Edison on his seventy-nfth
birthday and Endorsement Of Clean
Up and Paint-Up' week, were fol-
lowed BY condolences to the family
OF Chief Justice Gould. Of the Dis
trict Of Columbia supreme Court.
who died last Friday.
William II. westlake. who pre-
sided. asked for voluntary attend
ance at the memorial exercises cf
the Vincent Costello Post. Ameri-
can Legion, Thursday, May 2s. at
the Sylvan Theater on the Aonu-
ment Grounds.
The exercises will be held in
memory Of the SIS local men and
women who gave their lives in the
world war. The bodies OF Hiram p.
Vincent Costello and Hiram T. Cash
will arrive from Hoboken, n. J.
next Wednesday for the services
| Thursday.