The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-01-29
Legislation for Merging Our
Street Railways
By BILL PRICE.


Congressional committees again bidding with plans for
legislation that might enacted the two street rail
way companies District The outlook to be that
anything done at ali it will be legislation authorizing
VOLUNTARY merger of the companies.
Congress has for years had the opportunity to settle most
ineouabe street car here the great benefit
the public the stockholders and bondhoders of the two
companies by legislation providing COMPULSORY merger
or taking of the companies by the municipality
for operation as one the Cleveland similar
plan ghost Government ownership always doomed
up stood the remedyng the njustces from
which the public of Washington has long suffered because OF
prevailing conditions.
So Congress at this time merely conempates giving
street railway companies the right merge including
solidaon with bus companies Such merger for
hidden the of the local law put through Congress
years ago by Senator La TOILETTE.
Should this merger legislation go through should
contain provision that before becoming effective merger
should the approval of the Public Utilities Commission
prepared pass judgment whether such
consolidation would bring good results to the street
riding public merely promote the financial interests OF the
combining companies
It is always easy for legislative body to smoothe the way
for financial monopoly strengthen ITSELF but in public
utility matters the PUBLIC important factor as the
DOLLARS involved and dividend
merger promises to bring lower street fares
least prevent them going higher of value to the
people who ride upon lines Some benefits of
merger would material reduction overhead expenses
including the elimination of high saaries the reroutng
of of schedules to money and
better public the possible abolition of transfers and
uniformity of upkeep and management
Company abong under disadvantages would doubtless have
inclined go into merger but the then powerful
Capital Traction Company would not give thought to the
proposition. It getting too much money out of the
neauities that prevailed. The W. R. and e. which is now
waxing fat through ownership of the big money making
Potomac Electric Company doubtless unconcerned
about merging with its rival.
What the public thinks apparently amounts to
nothing.
And yet merger which has for its object the real interests
the railway companies and the public alike would be
worth while.
The growing of the automobile and of bus lines has
immensely reduced the total number of passengers carried
year companies of the District 1t has ma
tey gross and reduced the net income The
golden eggs from the public goose haven't been plentiful as
few years back.
has its msvngs for street railway managers
much further bus line competition and
private ownership automobiles will cut into passenger travel
the companies do not know They do know that
they effect every possible economy.
With this plainly before the two Washington companies
merger would be the sensible wise thing protecting in
and safeguarding the public which the that
supplies the golden eggs There many prospective
economies under consolidation that they would offset the loss
of gross from decreasing passenger travel
Appeals for higher fares have been limited at for some
time The Public Utilities Commission is not in sympathy with
anything of this kind and should not be- The street railway
companies have been given strong support by the P u c.
They have prospered when public utilities elsewhere in
bad condition is just that the public should have
hereafter