The Washington herald., 1921-06-29
New House Bill Would
Combine All d. C.
Utilities.
SURPRISE ATDEFEAT
OF HAMMER BILL
Expect Favorable Report
Today on Ball -Focht
Measure.

eether with the gas and electric
power plants, Is the essence of the
bill which will be, reported to the
House District Committee this
morning. Representative Keller. Of
Minnesota, the author OF this
measure, believes that his bill will
prove to be the solution Of the
street car problem.
In defending his measure yester-
day Keller challenged anyone to
show weak point in its construe-
ton. insisting that 1t is not only
practical, but bomb proof. He also
insisted that his proposal stands
alone as being the only possible
means of accomplishing the desired
purpose without the slightest dam
age or Inconvenience to the corpo-
rations.
Declares Plan Practical.
NO one has as yet attempted to
deny that my bill will accomplish
its purpose IL put into practice in
Washington" Keller insisted. The
arguments OF the opposition con-
sist of an attempt to show that
there is genel al antipathy to
public ownership. do not deny
that this is true, such has been the
case in every instance where own
ership by the people was sug-.
gested, but the fact remains that
in various cases where It has been
tried il now stands as a monument
to those men whose tireless efforts
rescued the people from extortion.
1T is also argued that municipal
ownership in the District would
virtually mean government owner
ship in view of the existing plan
of taxation. wish to state that
this offers no opposition to my eal
as have provided for the removal
of taxation entirely.
Hammer Bill Action q Surprise.
Several members OF the commit
tee expressed some surprise that
the Hammer. bill providing for a
universal transfer and four tickets
for 25 cents was not favorably re-
ported by the subcommittee. 1t had
been the concensus of opinion that
the Hammer measure would be the
favorite with the majority of the
subcommittee but it was obliged to
give way 10 the Keller bill yester-
day.
In speaking of the defeat of his
measure, Represent ative Hammer
stated he had never entertained the
idea that his bill constituted a
permanent remedy. 1T is my opin-
ion and that of several others that
the people of Washington are en-
titled to immediate relief, and
whether it is NV bill or that of
someone else, I am in favor of leg
islation that will reduce the fares
as soon as possible"
VIII Consider BaII-Focbt Bill.
In addition to the Keller and
Hammer bills, the House District
Committee will consider the Ball
Focht measure this morning. This
bill having been reported upon ia
vorably by the Senate District Com
mittee, is now before the Senate
1t is proposed in this bill that
the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company shall be permitted to
consolidate with the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Company and the Cap
ital Traction Company. In franz
ing this measure, Senator Ball in
tended to give the traction COM
panies an opportunity to merge vol
UNFAIRLY. The supporters of his bill
contend that before the corpora
tions are compelled to merge they
should be given an opportunity to
do so of their own volition by re-
moving the legal obstacle that now
prevents a merger. This preven-
tion of a consolidation is in the
form OF an amendment to the law
creating the Public Utilities Com
mission. preventing one of the pub
lie utilities from amalgamating with
another.
Chairman Focht, Of the House Dis
trict Committee, the sponsor for
the Ball bill in the House, claims
that the Ball measure merely in
tends to remove any obstacle that
might be pointed to by the trac-
ton companies as an excuse for
not acting of their own accor. In
the event that these companies do
not attempt to take avantaee of
the opportunities offered by this bill,
Representative Focht believes that
then more drastic measures, now
before the committee, should be
made effective.
Sees Motor Bus Growth.
II am fully convinced Focht
stated yesterday, that eventually
the motor bus will supplant the
street cars. The bus has the advan-
tage Of being able to stop at the
curb for its passengers, which
not only is boon 20 the people,
but facilitates the handling of traf-
nc There Is no congestion of traffic
nor general delay in service be-
cause of a breakdown. The bus
Is bound to come in time" Focht
insisted. but until that time II is
a very poor policy to perseoute the
traction companies. The service at
the present time in a great many
instances is poor, but It is better
than no service and Infinitely bet
ter than \ subsidy"
There was very little doubt in
the minds of a majority of the mem
bers of the House District Com
mittee yesterday that the Ball
Focht bill will be reported upon
favcrably today. The opinion was
expressed by several that there was
hardly possibility that the KeI-
ler measure Would survs-,- .-S..xs-