Evening star., 1926-10-29
Bell Intimates Commission
Will Grant Request to
Use Car Barns.
CAMPAIGN AGAINST LEGAL
STATUS GOES ON, HE SAYS
Officials Have Had No Change of
Heart, But Facilities Are
Needed, Chairman Explains.

Strong indications that the Public
Utilities Commission may relent to-
some extent in it's official relations
with the Washington Rapid Transit
Co, despite it's previously avowcd
policy of stunning the carrier until
its now questionable legal status is
satisfactorily clarified, came today as
the latest development in Washing.
tons public utility mix-up.
Engineer Commissioner J. Franklin
Bell. chairman of the commission. init
mated significantly that the body
would not oppose the plans of tho
company to remodel and occupy under
a 10-year lease the basement floor
of the Capital Traction co. car barn
at Fourteenth and Decatur streets az
a garage, providing no legal compii-
cations are involved that will weaken
the commissions case.
Just four days ago the commiSSA,n
turned deaf ears on this matter for
the same reason that it refused to con-
slider further the company's plea for
financial relief
Change of Heart.
Chairman Bell emphasized that the
commission is not undergoing a soft.
ening Of the heart toward the bus
company; neither will it change its
attitude until the carriers legal status
is definitely established.
But there is an imperative need for
garage facilities for the company's
busses this Winter. he pointed out.
and 1t will be in the interest of the
public that they be provided.
Parked as they are now on vacant
lots and in front of private homes In
h. VH1tN. %
terminal, the busses, according to Col
Bell, are deteriorating rapidly and on
cold mornings are difficult to start,
and the back firing of the motors
arouse the neighborhood. The noise
caused by the starting of the cold
motors has long been the source of
complaints of residents.
Apparently the people are anxious
to get these busses from the front of
their homes," said Commissioner Bell.
"A garage Is most desirable. If the
commission can authorize the com.
pany to lease the Capital Traction
GO. barn, without weakening its case.
or receding from its cutoff relations
with the company. / believe It should
be done. 1 intend to consult our le-
gal advisers before taking any action
whatever
COnIerS WIN Hanna.
Commissioner Bell made this an.
after brief conference
with John Fl. Hanna, president of the
Capital Traction Co.. at which the
plans Of the bus company to obtain
a garage were considered
The Commissioner also discussed
these plans yesterday afternoon with
E. ID. Merrill. president of the bus
company. who has been persistent in
upon the commission the
need for a garage in the face Of the
commissions severed relations with
his organization.
William Nick. Clayton, chairman OF
the public utilities committee of the
Federation Of Citizens Associations,
VINO has been temporarily retained
as the Commissions legal adviser. is
thought to have started work TODAY
in investigating the North American
Company's holdings in the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company,
its subsidiary, the Potomac Electric
Power Company. and the Capital
Traction Company, in accordance
with instructions given him yesterday
by the Commission.
May Force Merger.
Previous to his appointment MIR
Clayton, who takes credit for bringing
about the present situation existing
between the Commission and the bus
company, explained that he question.
ed the legality of the North American
Company's acquisition of the Wash
tngton Rapid Transit Company as an.
other move to force a voluntary mer-
ger Of the traction companies.
Commissioner Bell believes that 1t
may have such an affect At any
rate. the commissioner said, it will
prevent a merged control of the
public utilities of Washington,
whearas a merged control. without a
merged operation, might have resulted
had not the present case developed
What the commission is desirous
of obtaining is a merged operation and
legislation proposed to accomplish
this purpose will be discussed at an
informal public hearing called by the
commission Wednesday morning IN
the board room of the District Build
ing. This hearing will be the next
big development in the utilities situ-
alton.