The Washington herald., 1921-07-01
House District Commit.
tee Closes Hearings to
Speed Decision.
FOCHT SAYS PUBLIC
DEMANDS ACTION
Compromise of Hammer
And Woods Proposals
Deemed Likely.


Improvement of the street car stu
alton washington win be re-
ported out Of the House Dtstric
Committee rooms next week. Chair
man Focht of the committee pre-
iicted yesterday after the meeting
Much time has been consumes
at previous meetings in listening q
outside testimony. which has beel
instructive and certainly appreciated
by the members. but action on the
various bills has been delayed OF
this account" Mr.. Focht explained
From now on until some decision
has been reached there will be nc
more open hearings" he added
The people are getting anxious fol
action and the committee Is deter
mined to offer some constructive
rsmedy to Congress as soon as pos
sible-"
Newman Backs Keller Bill.
Former Commissioners Oliver p
Newman testified before the commit
tee in support of the Keller bill
II has been a matter of consider
able surprise among members OF
Congress not attached to the House
District Committee. that the Keller
bill has withstood the assault of its
opponents for this length OF time
Many were of the opinion that II
would not survive the first meeting
of the subcommittee and some of
those who predicted Its early demise
were members of this committee.
It not only weathered the storm
but was presented to the full COM
mittee carrying the favorable con-
sideration of the subcommittee and
since that time several members
who had previously offered opposi-
ton to the>Keller bill believe that
1t Is worthy of consideration.
Presents Petitiea Of 3,eso.
An unexpected supporter of the
municipal ownership plan appeared
before the House Distfict Commits
.teo in the pers5ns of Misss MAr5orss
Celeste Chandler of washington.
who presented a-pstition for NUM-
cipal ownership of street railways
signed by over three thousand
washIngtonians. who believe that
this is the solution of the traction
problem here.
At the meeting Of the committee
next Thursday 1t was agreed to dis
pose of the bills now before that
body. These are the Keller bill.
known as the municipal ownership
plan; the Hammer bill. the Ball bill
and the Woods bill. One of the
Hammer bills has as its purpose the
repeal of the law creating the Pub
lie Utilities Commission and all
laws promulgated by them. His
second bill provides a maximum
rate of fare of cents. reducible at
the discretion of the Public Utilities
Commission, but prohibits an in
crease without the sanction Of Con-
gress.
Provides for Merger.
The Ball bill repeals a law now
in operation which prevents a
merger of one utilities company
with another. granting the privilege
for a merger of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company with
the Potomac Electric Power Com
pany and the Capital Traction Com
pany.
There seems to be a strong aver
sion to any plan in which it is sug-
gested that the traction companies
be allowed to merge with the pow
er company. Many members of the
committee who at one time leaned
toward the Woods or Ball Focht
bills now indicate an unwillingness
to vote for these measures unless
they are amended to exclude the
Potomac Electric Power Company,
Compromise Held Probable.
1t will not be a surprise to many
members IL the bill ultimately sub
mitted to Congress with a favorable
report of the House District Com
mittee proves to be a compromise
of the Woods and Hammer bills
amended to overcome the objections
of a majority OF the committee.
The opposition of two or three
members of the committee to any
and all bills proposed to relieve the
situation Is apparently inspired by
an irresistible desire to be differ
ent. inasmuch as their criticisms
SO far have failed to carry any
constructive remedy or solutions.
The opposition to any considera-
tion of merger including the Po-
tomac Electric Power Company
seems to grow daily.
Affected by Ham's Testimony,
Those hoping to include this fea-
ture In bill have undoubtedly been
embarrassed by the testimony of
William F. Ham, president Of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company and the Potomac Electric
Power Company when he admitred
in his testimony before the sub
committee that a merger effected
under the plan proposed by the Ball.
Focht bill would not reduce the
rate Of fare and later Indicated that
reduction IN the fares of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company would increase the rate
of electricity. This has perhaps
done more TO strengthen the oppo-
sition to the Ball-Focht measure
than any other feature OF the pro-
ceedings 50 far.