The Washington times., 1926-06-17
No Voluntary Merger Of D. G.
Street Railway Companies

Tee i to Be no voluntary merger Washngons street
bas snrrested to Congress that # It desires
mercer it will have to take action TO compel one.
eadi~r between the lines Of the letter Of Colonel Bell
chairman Of the Commission is evident that the street rail
way companies Of Washington now well dominated by the
y araa Il the Utilities Commission would permit Il to be
These tsrs ii appears were that the Commission should
to combined valuation Of railway properties
FAR in excess Of valuations conended for by the Commits
sion merger on that basis would Ds anamGun % ppsng
for years comehat halter being higher car fares Or almost
anything the merged company sought tnag Wou0 increase M
and add fat dividends to speculative stocks that
Tb :. trsst railways Of washington admit that merger
would be valuable 70 them in producing greater
and lower operating expenses With this plain TO everybody
there no why they do not go ahead ana merge Tor
sod business and for better service TO the people OF
washington.
Having failed to commit the present Utilities Commission
10 promises and agreements that would bind the public Of
WashnOton rs nav higher car fares the street railway
companies will await with interest the probable passage
BY Congress Of the measure providing for new Public
utilities Commission.
Unable to work the present Commission along their lines
they VIII use their best influence to have the new Commits
zion composed Of men who will things from the standpoint
Of the companies and be willing possibly 70 agree 70 merger
plans that will further enrich the speculative gentlemen who
have loaded themselves up with the speculative stocks Of At
least one Of the companies.
There are certain interests in Washington that have
aged in the past TO bring about District appointments suit
able to them it be assumed that these interests
going control the naming Of the new Public Utilities
Senator Capper and other able in Congress who
fully acquainted with the inner workings Of street railway
affairs will undoubtedly be able TO post the President
Is to the leanngs Of Washington who win aspire to
membership on that Commission.
The Commission j. not going to be loaded up with
members approved wholly BY the public utilities Of Washing
ton the voice Of the people Of Washington reaches Tar
enough. The members Of it must be openminded and
square, listening facts and truth and not Be tied to
poration coat tails.
Any merger other scheme which looks higher fares
n the District to inflated valuations which higher
fares not going to be put the Commission
without fierce struggle.
TiOI1k street. do
voluntarily merge without promises agreements Let the
merger Be honestly based serving the best interests Of the
companies and the public That sort Of merger viii have
public approval and public opinion would later support any
necessary prosperity to the companies
The people of Washington do object paying the
panes fair returns fair valuations but they will fight TO
che bitter end against returns based valuations that do not
represent actual investments the easily
compel the Public Utilities Commission accept valuations
filled with air and water.