The Washington herald., 1921-05-10
House Measure Is Intro
duced to Allow Taking
Over of Roads.
BOND ISSUE ASKED
TO MEET EXPENSE
Commissioners to Operate
Business for Public,
Under Proposal.

y
street railways in the District
through outright condemnation pro-
ceedinss, is provided in a bill in
troduced yesterday by Representa-
tive Oscar e. Keller, OF Minnesota
a member Of the House District
Committee.
The bill provides that within
nin.ty DAYS after its passage the
District Commissioners shall instl-
tute with the Public Utilities Com
mission q proceeding for the con-
dernation of such street ra'Ifoa al
OF railroads"
Explains Procedure.
Coincident with the INTRODUCTION
Of the Keller bill. Engineer Com
missioner Kutz announced that the
congressional merger committee
had given the Capital Traction Com
pany and the Washington Railway
and Electric Company until next
Monday to arrange a voluntary mer-
ger.
The utilities commission is em-
powered to hear, consider, and de-
termine the proceedings of the kel-
Ter bill. It also provides that the
petition shall designate the railways
TO be condemned. and shall state the
names Of owners
The bill provides that public no
tice by advertisements in the daily
newspapers OF from ten to twenty
days be given, requiring all persons
having any interest to appear be:"rc
the commission on a designated
date. Copies of the notice would
be served by the United States mar
shall for the District
Cmmission's Powers.
The utilities commission is au-
thorfxed to examine the railroads
affected and to hear evidence offered
BY any persons having an interest.
At the conclusion of the hearing
the commission is directed to state
in writing the amount found to be
due and awarded the owners of the
railroads to be condemned
Court Designated
The District Court of Appeals Is
given exclusive jurisdiction by the
bill to decide any exceptions that may
he fled to the award OF the commits
sion and would have the power to
vacate the award in whole or in
mart II satisfied that it is unjust
or unreasonable.
In this event the court would
remand the proceedings to the utlli-
ties commission which would pro-
ceed to make a new finding not In
consistent with the courts ruling.
Exceptions to the award must
he fled within twenty days after
the commissions decision. The
court must determine the exceptions
within ninety days after they have
been docketed.
To Issue Bonds.
To pay the amount awarded by
the commission. bonds of the Dis
trIct of Columbia would be issued
and the award paid Immediately
upon the sale of the bonds and
within two years The bonds would
run for thirty years, the interest
To be paid out of revenues derived
from the operation of the railways
The Commissioners, under the
bill, are authorized to purchase
such portions of the street railways
as extend outside the boundaries
of the District. The United States
would not be liable for the payment
Of any part of the principal or in
terest nor contribute any money on
account of the proceedings. nor
would any payment made by the
District be a basis of contribution
by the government for the main
tenance of the District government
Title to District.
When the owners receive pay
ment, the title to the street rail-
roads would vest in the District of
Columbia and the Commissioners
would take possession and control
on behalf of the District.
For the purpose of paying the
bonds at maturity, the Commission
ers are directed to establish a sink
ling fund into which, after three
years of operation, there would be
paid annually such portion of the
annual receipts as the Commission
ers deem proper.
Working Capital.
Working capital in the amount
of $500.e00 would be provided bv
the issuance of other bonds of the
District, maturing within fifteen
BEARS
The measure gives the Commits
Bioners power to employ sach ex-
perts, assistants and counsel and
incur such expenses as they NAV
deem necessary for the proper con-
duct of the condemnation proceed
ngs, and appropriates $4,000 ont
pf District funds in the Federal
reasury for this purpose.
The representatives of the two
Railway companies and CommIs-
Fioner Kutz held a conferences yes
erdsy. but. with the exception n,
discussion of the merger pro-
(osals. no definite action, either for
Pr against the merger, was accom-
(lished. Another meeting OF the
onferees will be held at the Distrjct
building Friday.
We are hopeful of arriving at a
oluntary merger plan in the next
ew days" said Commissioner Krrtz
and in view of these hopes the CON
ressional committee in charge of
he matter has agreed to vithhold
ction. until next Monday. IN. AT
be end of this time. We are unable
agree. the matter will be taken
BY the committee and settled by
AgiSlation."