Evening star., 1922-09-01
TROLLEY MERGER
BILL FOR DISTRICT =
PASSED BY SENATE
Ball Measure Would Permit
Voluntary Combine of
Street Railways.
UNITING OF w. R. & E.
AND PEPC0 ALLOWED
Transit Facilities in City Would
Be Greatly Improved and
Simplifed, Is Belief.

Authority for a merger of the
street railway companies of the Dis
trlct of Columbia is provided in
bill passed by the Senate today with
out debate and without an opposing
vote.
The bill authorizes a voluntary
merger of the street railway com
panies and also would permit a mer-
ger of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and the Potomac
Electric Power Company
The bill. which was introduced bv
Senator Ball April Is. 1921, has been
on the Senate calendar since June
%, 1921 The District committee. an
a report On the bill filed by Senator
Ball. described the object of the bill
as follows:
Object Of Merger Bill.
ITO permit the union and opera
ton of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company and the Potomac
Electric Power Company under a sin
gle name and under single board of
directors and staff of executive o.
hcers. All of the stock of the power
company is owned by the railway
company. 1t will be possible to oper-
ate the merged corporation more eff
hciently. with a saving in the accuun,
ing department. 1t will improve and
strengthen the credit of the merged
company and permit more economical
financing OF needed extensions and
improvements. In order 10 maintain
us services 20 the public more than
$o.0OO,0O0 in new capital ana $1,000
900 of ref1nancing VIII have to be ar
fha
The bill will not affect the relations
or diminish the obligation or dulles
or either company to the public. 1t
VIII only permit these companies to
do what is already permitted by the
general corporation laws of most uf
the states, and what are now general
ly regarded as the best modern prac-
tees.
Merger Greatly Desired.
The committee feels that the first
section of this bill is prerequisite
step for bringing about a merger of
the street railways of Washington, a
condition greatly to be desired and
with as little delay as possible,
Section two of this bill permits
every street railway. company opera,-
ing wholly or partially within the
District of Columbia &c merge one
with the other. Under present laws
held.
Certainly the street railway situa-
tion of Washington would be greatly
improved and simplified should all
the lines be operated by one com
pany. 1t must be plain to every one
that one-company operation would
eliminate endless confusion in the
matter of transfers. 1t would mean
free transfers. 1t would enable many
plans of rerouting to he worked out
1t would be of great benefit to the
car-riding public.
Means Operating Saving.
1T would mean a saving in the
operating department.. and a reduc-
tion in the coal bills. Again. a one
company operation would mean a
saving in the overhead charges and
would lend great strength to the new
company in all matters relating to
the financing of extensions and inn
provements, which MUST be made
from time to time.
"Of course. should there be urres-
sonable delays in bringing about
these results. it remains within the
power of Congress to ke such other
further steps as may<NS necessary.