Evening star., 1927-11-05
DEFENDS FAILURE
TO SUBMIT MERGER
Wilson Holds Companies Not
Consulted in Order to
Get Action.

Harley P. Wilson, principal owner
Of the Washington Rapid Transit Co.,
today defended his failure to submit
the transportation merger plan to
either the boards of directors or the
stockholders of the street railway COM
panies, In a statement filed with the
Public Utilities Commission. which de-
clared that some such Intervention as
that adopted was necessary to con-
vert lethargy into action"
Mr.. Wilson's statement came in re-
sponse to a letter filed with the COM
mission yesterday by John Fl. Hanna,
president of the Capital Traction Co.,
designed to correct the impression
that his company had seen the plan
of consolidation and had approved 1t.
Conferences Urged.
The letter or MIR. Hanna suggested
that the best way Of accomplishing
merger would be through conferences
between representatives OF the COM
panies with assistance of the Lommis-
sion as representatives of the pdblic.
Mr.. Wilson indorsed this suggestion,
saying:
should Mr.. Hanna's suggestion rela-
tive to conferences be accepted and
should such conferences he promptly
inaugurated and result in a merger,
my entire object will nave been at.
tanned. Based upon previous results,
however, I believed that some such
intervention as that adopted by me
was necessary to convert lethargy
into action"
Mr.. Wilson also pointed out that he
I-o he
lively with "outstanding residents OF
the District of Columbia" and that
with the proper cooperation and dis
cussion by every one concerned with
the principles and actualities. "a con-
solidation recognizing every legitimate
right of the stockholders. and at the
same time completely safeguarding
the public interest, can be accom-
plished."
Wilson's Statement.
The statement of Mr.. Wilson fol-
lows:
II have Just been furnished by Mr..
Hanna, president of the Capital Trac-
ton Co.. with a copy of his communi-
cation of this date to you, regarding
the preliminary suggestions made by
me designed to bring about the unifica-
ton of the street railway lines and
DuS lines OIL tile LHclIOpOuLdh ulStIiSI
of Washington.
LAS / have previously stated to your
commission and to the public, my chief
purpose in formulating a unification
plan is to bring about an actual con-
soidation of the transit properties of
the Washington Railway and Electric
Co, of which l am director; of the
Capital Traction Co, and of the Wash
ington Rapid Transit Co., 98 per cent
Of the stock of which is personally
owned by me.
Having been large property
owner IN the neighborhood of Wash
ingtOn for nearly 20 years, l am fa-
miliar. as your commission is, with the
fact that discussions and sporadic eff
forts have been indulged in for more
than 20 years to bring about such a
merger. The most recent example OF
these efforts was the prolonged discus
sion in 1925 and 1926 between commit
tees representing the Washington
Railway and Electric Co and the Cap
ital Traction Co, participated in by
members and representatives of the
former Public Utilities Commission.
Those efforts apparently failed to
bring about merger. In my study of
the subject ! have had the benefit of
all of the correspondence and memo
randa growing out Of previous efforts.
and IN addition have studied. with the
help cf eminent engineers, economists
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