Evening star., 1925-03-22
BUS-TROLLEY ISSUE
PROVOKES DISPUTE.
Federation of Citizens Has
Heated Session in Deciding
Attitude on Matter.


Utilities Commission in not permit
ting direct competition between the
present street car lines and inde-
pendent bus lines the Federation o.
Citizens Associations, meeting last
night in the District Building, dis
cussed in practically all its phases
local and city-wide bus routes, and
finally gave its support to but one OF
three cardinal proposals set forth by
It's public utilities committee as the
fundamental principles underlying
bus and car competition.
The discussion, precipitated by
report read by William NICK. Clayton,
chairman of the federation's commit
tee on public utilities, lasted for more
than two hours and a half, during
which arguments involving par
liamentary law flew back and forth
between the chair and delegates,
while at one point, Mr.. Clayton re-
ferred to a minority report of the
utilities committee as a "Skulking
report and said in his opinion the
manner in which it was presented
last night was ''ungentlemanly." He
later apologized for any remarks
which he said might have offended
the members of the committee who
were not in accord with the majority
report.
Bachs Zonfng Law.
The federation adopted a resolution
by George A. Finch of the Piney
Branch Association urging the resi-
dents of Washington to lend all pos
sible aid and encouragement to the
Zoning Commission in its defense of
the constitutionality of the coming
law, which 1t declared now to be
threatened by attack in the courts.
Home owners of the city were espe-
ri. llIy 70 trfh 70 20 f,iro
being raised to employ special coun
sci to represent them in the court
proceedings in cooperation with the
counsel Of the Zoning Commission.
In this connection. the federation,
on motion of Mr.. Clayton. Endorsed
a protest by the Dupont Circle Asso-
citation and the Petworth Associa-
tion, against further payment to Con-
rad II. Syme for work in connection
with the payment of the fund i'm
pounded by the Potomac Electric
Power Company, which has been re-
leased for rebate to electric light
users by the courts.
Disapproval by the utilities COM
mittee of extension of the street rail-
way tracks beyond Congress Heights
to the District line and a resolution
that the per cent tax on gross
income of the street railway COM
panieS be suspended was Endorsed.
Want Gas Rate Cut.
The Federation adopted a resolu-
tion to petition the Public Utilities
Commission for reduction in the rates
on gas by the Washington and
Georgetown Gas Light Companies,
declaring that the returns of the
companies early in 1925 forecast an
increase in earnings and a possible
reduction in the price of gas. A
resolution urging Congress to elimi-
nate Intervention" of the Bureau
of the Budget in appropriations for
the municipal affairs of the District
of Columbia was passed.
Jesse c. Suter, president of the Fed
Grafton, appointed committee con-
sisting of Chester r. Smith, 3. A.
Bowles and Fred.@S. Lincoln to con-
slider the Washington Association of
Building Owners and Managers COM
mission for arbitration between land
lords and tenants-a body to take the
place of the rent commission
Charles A. Baker offered an amend
ment to the bylaws Of the organiza-
tion providing for a Commissioners
advisory committee from the Fedora
tion. Mr.. Bakers amendment would
have all the members of the commit
tee come from member associations,
with six from the northwest associa-
tions and two each from the associa-
ttonS in the other quarters of the city
to counsel with the Commissioners
when and as called upon"
viii Visit Exposition.
The federation was invited to at
tend the industrial exposition of the
Washington Chamber of Commerce
now in progress at the Washington
Auditorium, and adopted a resolution
0 nj
position to set aside a. night to be
known as "Organized Citizenship"
night to visit the exposition.
Congratulations on his appointment
to the post of traffic director for the
District were ordered extended to
NJ. o. Eldridge on motion Of Graham
Powell of the Cathedral Heights As
sociation, and the association called
upon all its constituent bodies to offer
their assistance in helping Mr.. Ed
ridge solve his difficult" problems, at
the same time offering the aid of the
parent body.
Submitting the matter of street
car and bus line competition, Mr.
Clayton, asking that they be ap-
proved, said the Public Utilities Com
mission had adopted three principles,
briefly as follows: In not ordering
rail extension of the street car lines
needs require additional service, al
lowing bus lines operated by the car
companies under the same fare rates
that would prevail should rail extern
sions be made; in not permitting G
direct competition between present
car lines and independent bus lines,
with the proviso. however, that the
service and accommodation afforded
by the present street car lines should
be ample and beyond complaint; that
sound public policy impels toward
giving existing transportation sys-
TENS the preference in the operation
of required additions to service,
whether by rail or bus, provided that
the terms and conditions of such
facilities be equal to those of newer
and independent companies offering to
serve"
Wants Cases Separated.
Shortly after Mr.. Clayton offered a
motion to indorse these principles,
Mr. Finch introduced a substitute
motion which would restrict the
Federation from binding itself to any
principles as set forth in its public
ut.4ties committee report. Mr. Finch S
resolution laid down the principle
tkat the Federation itself should de-
eide it's attitude in respect of con-
hicts between applications of street
car companies and bus companies on
the merits of each case. Within a
few moments a minority report on
the majority report was read by Mr..
Clayton.
Mr.. Clayton declared that the MEM
bers who signed the minority report
attending a meeting of the public
utilities committee and agreed verbally
to the committee report. In drawing
up a minority report, Mr.. Clayton
said they acted "ungentlemanly."
Argument on the adoption of the