The Washington times., 1921-05-22
CITIZENS FIGHT
W.R.E.CONTROL
IN CAR FUSION
Federated Bodies Ask Utilities
Board to Cut Fares on Capt.
!, tai Traction Lines.
DESIRE PUBLIC HEARING
Seek Regulation OF Riding Rates
by Congress Opposed to
Pepco Merger.
DESIRE PUBLIC HEARING

Taking cognizance of the recent
statement of the Capital Traction
Company that it is able to operate
on q lower rate Of fare in the Dis
trict, and desires to do so, the
Federation of Citizens Association
last night voted to ask the Public
Utilities Commission to reduce
fares on this line. The association
will seek public hearing.
POLICIES SUGGESTED.
The fare-reduction proposal was
submitted by William NICK. Clayton,
chairman Of the public utilities com
mittee Of the federation. This pro
posai was embodied with Ave other
suggested policies for the fedaration.
Among them are:
- That the federation suggest to Con-
Ngress that It resume it's former power
and take upon itself the responsibility
for fixing rates Of fare In Washing
tonc 81 , .sis 100. ~ siI. !,
That the federation oppose any mer-i
ger which will give the present man
agement of the Washington Raifway
and Electric Company control of the
merged company;
That the federation, In event of a
failure of a merger. shall ask Congress
heretofore issued and issue one charter
for the merged company, this charter
TO be good for a certain term of years;
That the federation oppose any mer-
ger OF the Washington Railway ana
Electric Company and the Potomac
Electric Power Company:
That the federation. opposes any
excess profits tax plan in CONNECTION
with the local street railway COLI
panies- r. ..--.~-,,
RECALLS MERGER ATTEMPTS.
Before presenting the committees
recomme ndations, Clayton discussed
at length the attempts at merger l..
the District OF Columbia. He dwelt
especially upon extensions of stree;
railway systems and the necessity for
Them at this time.
& Nothing will be done on any ex.
tension program until the lines arc
merged" declared Clayton.
He had just completed a rather
scathing ,denunciation of the railway
companies for their failure to agree
to a voluntary merger when he was
interrupted by one or the delegates,
c. A. Barker, who challenged him
on one statement-that IL cost the
w. r. e. f. 5000, 900 to build an ex
tension on Fourteenth street, between
r street and Pennsylvania avenue
Clayton stated that he was n 4
sure OF his figures, but was present.
ing them merely as hearsay.
at seems to me the railway cont
panies are being condemned freely
enough. and l think they should at
least be treated fairly" said the dele
gate.
A verbal combat began, but was
checked by William b. Westlake, who
was presiding.
A long and heated discussion fol.
lowed the presentation of the COM
mittee's recommendations and Clay
ton was called upon to describe IA
detail each and every recommends
tion. Several votes were cast against
the recommendations.
sCHULTEIs MAKES MOTION.
|, Albert Schulteis. from the George
town Citizens Association, introduced
a motion which would place the fed
GRAFTON. in favor of having Congress
appoint aJcommission a to condemn and
purchase both roads, then sell the
combined property to one corporation.
The motion was referred to the
public utilities committee to report
at the next meeting.