The Washington herald., 1922-09-02
Oyster, Hanna and Ham
Hail Act as F0rerunner
To Fare Cut.
HAMMER TO FIGHT
MEASURE IN HOUSE
Declares 1t Should Guar
antee Passage Will
Be Reduced.

Street railway officials. officers of
citizsn's organizations and the Dis
trict Commissioners expressed
themselves as being in favor of the
action taken by the Senate yester-
day, when IL passed the Ball bill.
authorizing a merger between the
Potomac Electric Power Company.
the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company. and the Capital Trac-
ton Company. provided that bill
will occasion the formation of a
merger which will be "of benef1t
to the people of the District of
Columbia"
Representative William c. Hammer.
of North Carolina. member of the
House District committee. criticized
the Ball bill sharply. and declared Il
feel sure IL will be reported unfavor-
ably to the House. and will be turned
down by that body.
Hammer Against Bill.
II am against any merger OF pub
lie utilities unless a reduction in fares
is guaranteed" declared Mr.. Hammer.
Commissioner James F. oyster
said: Il believe a merger betwee"
the Potomac Electric Power Com
pany and the Washington Railway
and Electric Company ought to
make possible a reduction in fares.
1t is possible fares may be reduced
to five cents" Commissioner Oystc,
said that while he was In favor OF
q merger, he did not wish to express
an opinion on the Ball bill until he
had further opportunity to inves-
tigate it,
IF the public desires a merger
/ am convinced legislation authoriz-
ing It. should be passed. While
/ have not had time to study the
Ball bill. IL it provides fer the
authorization of a merger for the
three companies. ! am heartily in
favor of it. think a merger will
be a good thing for the District
and a benefit to the people, de-
clared John II. Hanna. vice presi-
dent of the Capital Traction Com
pany.
Ham Favors Merger.
Il am in favor of the Ball bill
as a step towards the ultimate
merging of the three public util-
ity companies" asserted william +.
Ham. president Of the Washington
RAILWAY and Electric Company. 'It
will be laying the foundation for
the future growth of the city"
l.. L. Derrick. president of the
Northwest Suburban Citizens AS
sociation. said: II am absolutely in
favor of the Ball bill IL il will
pave the way for a merger"
Emmons Indorses BII.
he hill na.sol -, A.
Senate as means toward the
merging of the three companies
now supplying Washington with
rover and transportation. be-
lieve a merger will give residents
a better ride. especially as it will
be possible to issue transfer
good on lines throughout the city"
is the opinion Of DIR. Charles NJ
Emmons. president of the East
Washington Citizens Association.
Thomas J. Donovan. president of
the Central Citizens Association.
is in favor of any bill that will
aid in bringing the fare down to
cents" and is of the opinion
that "a merger will cut the over
head sufficiently to bring down
fares to the pre-war level"
+. r. Henderson. president of
the Piney Branch Citizens Associ-
alton. said: u am heartily in
favor of merger. because I feel
that through it Washington will
he given better service. The Ball
hill may be means of accom-
plishing this end
"A merger will be a good thing
for Washington. Properly carried
out il will be a great benefit to
the people. I haven't studied the
Ball bill enough to make a state
ment regarding It," said Harley ".
Speelman. president of the Co
lumbia Heights Citizens Associa-
tiOn-