The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-18
BILL
CLUB
To HASTEN
CD NJ b|NE
Threat Of Separate Fare Sched-
uIes Unless Union Is Com
pIete July I, 1922.

With an amendment aimed to force
consolidation of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company and
Capital Traction Company, the
Woods railway merger bill today
was ordered for a favorable report
| to the House by the House District
committee. The vote was nine for
the bill and six against.
Amendment Is Club"
The amendment introduced by Con-
gressman Zihlman and sometimes re-
ferred to as the club of the bill"
provides that the Public Utilities
Commission shall establish separate
rates of fare on the lines of the
two companies If a merger IL not ef
fected by July l, 1922.
Last night efforts OF Congressman
Lampert, Of Wisconsin. to make the
Keller public ownership bill the Club"
of the measure were defeated. Lam
pert's amendment was laid on the
table bby vote Of to s.
Bills Provisions.
The Woods bibll. in its present
form, provides for:
1. Authorization Of q merger of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company and Capital Traction Com
pany.
2. Authorization Of a merger Of the
combined companies with the Po-
tomac Electric Power Company;
provided, however, that there shall
be no consolidation OF the power
company until a merger Of the rail-
NJ so 90 t~A
8. Elimination Of the present law
which requires the railway COM
panies to pay the salaries of cross
ing policemen.
4. Elimination Of the law which
compels the railway companies to
pay for certain paving near their
tracks.
s. A tax OF 50 per cent on all earn
ings Of each railway company which
exceed per centum.
6. A reduction In the gross earn
ings tax from to I per centum.
Z. The Public Utilities Commits
sion Is given power to pass upon the
reasonabIeness Of all expenditures
Of the railway companies, including
salaries.
8. In event OF a consolidation, the
merged company Is required to keep
a separate account Of the operations
and income Of the railway company
and the electric light company.
Q. That unless merger Is ef-
fected by July 1, 1922, the Public
Utilities Commission shall estab-
Ilsh two rates of fares on the lines
Of the two railway companies.
Amendments Rejected.
Congressman Lampert introduced
four amendments to the bill, but the
committee only adopted the amend.
ment providing that the merged COM
pany shall keep its railway accounts
separate from the power company
operations. kThe committee turned
down an amendment providing for
universal transfers; an amendment
providing that the Kellar bill be used
as a club; and an amendment provid.
ing that the minimum rate Of fare In
Washington be 7 cents, four tickets
for 2b cents. r.
The House District Committee met
this morning with fifteen members
present, II being the first time
quorum has been obtained In three
week, rhe Woods bill was immedi-
atel' taken up and voted upon after
a de ussion which lasted for moro
than one hour.
Congressman Kunz, Keller. Ham.
ner, Sproul. Gilbert, and Lampcrt
voted against the reporting of the
measure. Congressman Focht. Zihl.
man, Woods. Brown, Milspaugh. Wal
ters. O'Brien, Brown, and Reed. Con.
sressman Zlhlman is expected to re.
port the bill about Saturday.
There IL little u any possibility
OF the bill being taken up before the
House adjourns. II no doubt WIN