Evening star., 1925-11-30
MERGER DISCUSSED
BY CAR COMPANIES
Utilities Body Told Prema-
ture Forecast, However.
Might Defeat Aim.

rhe capital Traction 90, tu4a. aJ-
iSed tho Public Utilities Commission
mat while Informal conferences ~
me question of street railway It."t ger
nave been held. the company believes
ny premature forecast e conclusions
would defeat thc aim of hriugIn about
d voluntary consolidation.
TE'1 was the conpaEy'- ;,usW,r ="
d.rcQucsr Scnc by the commission las
week for information from hotr Gom-
paGies a. 10 what progress rAcy have
made toward et-octinG - voluntary
union Of the two systems. The an
swer OF the Washington RaIlway and
Electric 60. j. expected at the District
Building 81 any time.
Capital Traction Reply.
The reply If George T.. Hamilton
president Of the Capital Traction Co.
follows. in tull:
Mr. =. V. Fisher.
Executive Sacrerar,
Public Utilities Commission
Dear Sir:
Your letter of November o3I re-
ceived. This company - not rnmind-
ful Of the legislation referred to b.
YOU. or Of the opinion expressed at
the time of its consideration hE Con
gress, that better results might be
obtained by allowing the companies
themselves TO endeavor to work out
plan for unified operation.
1T should I've borne in mind how
ever that a merger. protective at once
TO the public and TO the security
owners, whose approval is ultimately
to determine the question. presents
problems numerous and difficult OF So
luton. and which require thorough
investigation and most careful CON
Sideration.
we are making Il close study OF
conditions, and some informal confer
ences have been held. but any prema-
ture forecast Of possible conclusions
would tend rather 10 defeat than TO
accomplish the intent OF the le-isla-
ton providing for voluntary merger. -
First Definite Announcement
Although rumors OF a movement
toward consolidation have been in cir
culation for several months. Mr.. Ham
ilton'S letter To the commission today
contained the first definite announce
ment that conferences have been held
on the subject. The letter however.
gives no intimation of the progress
made as the result of such discussion.
In ltS IeJIpT To Inc tONl1G1lleS, tnp
commission stated il wanted TO he ad-
vised of the present situation on the
merger in order to determine whether
further legislation should lie recon-
mended to the coming session Of Con
gresS to bring the companies together.
Congress. before adjournment, passed
Il bill authorizing a voluntary merger
of the local railway lines, the terms of
such merger to be approved by Con
gress. This legislation removed q le-
gal barrier which had existed to a
unifiCation of the lines.
The purpose of the letter written by
the commission last week was to ind
out how far the companies have gone
in carrying out the intent of that leg
iSlation.
Support of Unification.
Mai W. L. r. Covell, assistant En-.
gineer Commissioner assigned to util.
:ty problems, today made public a
statement, pointing out that Lucius
s. Storrs, managing director If the
American Electric Railway ASsocia
| ton, recently came out in a speech
| in favor of unitiCation of transpOrta.
| ton lines in each community.
| THE address, said Maj Covell
was A strong plea for unification Of
! transportation services in eaCn com
munity, something the local commits
sion is now actively engaged in pro
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