The Washington herald., 1922-04-21
Declares House Prepared
To Deal DrasticaHy
With Situation.
PLAN TO FORCE
CONSOLIDATION
Opposition to Government
Owned Lines Largely
Withdrawn, Claim.

merger OF the street car lines
OF the District by drastic Congress
sional legislation is nearer reaIiza-
tion today than it has ever been
before. it was learned yesterday.
Different factions which have
bent their efforts towards the con-
solidation of the traction compa-
nies, but which differed as to the
best procedure have lost patience
with the corporations and are about
to concure on a plan which will
force the companies to get together,
! was stated.
Apparent indifference on the part
OF the corporations toward the
wishes of the people and their
failure to indicate any disposition
to merge has greatly aided those
members of Congress who favor
legislation that will force a con-
solidation, 1t was said.
Declare House Won't Temporize.
Members who have previously
favored a bill that would open the
way for the companies to merge
declared yesterday that the House
was in no mood to temporize with
the street car companies of Wash
ington and expressed the belief that
only drastic and uncompromising
measures would receive the favor
able consideration of Congress.
Chairman Focht. OF the House
District Committee, said yesterday
that he and Representative Fred
erick n. Zihlman. chairman Of the
subcommittee in charge Of utilities
corporations. have held several con-
ferences recently and are nearly
ready to bring in a proposition that
Is believed to be advocated by the
majority OF the members Of the
House District Committee
Several members OF the District
Committee led by Representative
William r. Hammer have had the
merger situation under considera-
tion for several months. These
members declared yesterday that as
soon as Representative Hammer re-
turns to the city their plans will be
ready to be brought before the COM
rnittee.
Would Purchase Properties.
Il is understood that large fnan-
cial interests have expressed
willingness to purchase the trac-
ton properties in the District and
will operate on the original char
ters calling for a scent fare.
REPRESENTATIVES OF the prospec-
tive purchasers have been In con-
ference with members Of the COM
mittee and have offered to place a
liberal cash bond as an evidence OF
good faith, II was stated.
Recent acquisition of street car
nropertfes by municipalities in the
west showing that city-owned trac-
tion companies have proved a sue
cess there has given the govern
ment-ownership proposal new life.
Committee members who favor leg
islation, which would take the
street car companies over to be
operated by the people, have decided
to bring the matter up fo- consid-
Grafton.
Much Of the opposition to gov
ernment owned and operated street
cars in Washington has been with
drawn during recent months, it was
stated. Many members of the
House have declared themselves il
favor of legislation of this char
aCter rather than to continue -
temporiZe with the corporations.
Claims Patience Exhausted.
Representative Focht insisted
that the patience of Congress is eX-
hausted. Befo=e they realize it. he
said. the street car companies will
be compelled to get togther under
circumstances that would not be as
advantageous to themselves as
would be the case should they agree
of their own volftion to some mutu-
ally satisfactory plan
The companies have been given
a chance to show tht they were
willing and anxious to merge. but
no indication Of such a disposition
is evident II Congress should de-
eide to fo.ce them into what Is best
for the greatest number OF people,
they will have no one to blame but
themselves" Focht declared
severe criticism was directed at
the washington Railway and Elec-
tric Company for its effort to reta-d
the growth of the bus lines in the
city The fact that traction OFF,
ciaIs prediced the failure of the bus
company project, due to the fact
that the bus was not practical, led
the members of the House District
Committee disfavor the proposal
of the washingtn Railway and
Electric Company to operate busses
in competition with the present
lines, now that the bus companies