Evening star., 1928-04-20
MERGER ROW ST|RS
CITIZENS COUNCIL
Minority Report Against In
dorSement Brings Threat
of Court Action.

A bareback from its recent action
indorsing the transit merger plan in
principle stirred the Citizens Advisory
Council last night and resulted in g
bitter attack on William A. Roberts. the
recorder and principal opponent of the
ma ior features of the unification agree
ment now before Congress.
The turmoil started when Roberts
read TO the council his minority report
which severely criticized the majority
report favoring the plan in principle
Joseph l.. Gammel and Charles l.
Stengle both attacked Roberts for state
mehts in his report. stengle even
threatened to take recourse in the
courts unless they were retracted
Roberts. however. declined to modify
the report and il was filed as presented
Pleads for Harmony.
When Roberts finished reading the
report, Stengle took the floor and plead
ed for harmony in the council. If
we are to have, week after week. con-
slant chickering's. based on personalities, y
he declared. I'VE ought TO go back TO
our associations and ask TO be re-
called. Otherwise We will be the laugh
EaAS SANIh VA NlAC
Thomas 6. Lodge later moved that
Roberts report be expunged from the
record and Stengle seconded the motion
The council failed TO vote on this mo-
ton, however Stengle then suggested
that Roberts withdraw his report in
the interest Of peace and harmony, but
he refused.
The report OF Roberts characterized
the majority report as obscure, confuS-
ing, erroneous. and not expressive OF
the wishes OF the people whom the
council is pledged 10 represent" The
adopted report" it added. states as a
fact that conSummation OF the merger
will make increased car fares unneceS-
Sary. whereas ii has been demonstrated
that the computations at any fair rate
Of return upon the rate base established
for the next 10 years or more. will
neceSSitate inevitably an increase in
car fares and require net earnings in
excess Of any heretofore secured by
the traction companies while in separ-
ate operation"
Protest Southwest Market.
The council reaffrmed its former &C
ton in a new resolution protesting
against the Stalker bill providing for
the establishment of farmers produce
market on the so-called southwest site
and against the financing Of any whole
sale market out Of public funds and re-
peating its support Of retail market
properly located" so as TO be access
ible to the consumers as wen as the
producers Action was taken at the re-
quest OF A. j. Driscol, president OF the
Mid-City Citizens Association. who ap-
peared before the council with Mrs. c
Albert White Of the Federation OF
Women's Clubs and Mrs. M. S. Denicke
Of the Woman's City Club, 10 protest
against the financing from taxation ol
any wholesale market.
A proposed bill 70 give District public
school teachers a Sabbatical year fol
rest. travel and educational improve
ment was referred. after considerable
discussion. to F. Tracy Campbell fol
consideration and report. A bill pend
ing in Congress to provide free text
books and supplies for pupils IN tht
senior high schools and the ninth grades
Of the Junior high schools was approved
With one dissenting vote.
A committee composed OF Lodge and
Roberts was appointed 10 confer with
Corporation Counsel William w. Bride
regarding proposed legislation FOL
changing the procedure for condem'
nation of land for the use OF the munic'
| ipal government.
The council also adopted repori
submitted by Lodge disapproving 9
pending bill TO give the District an ad'
| ditional method for collecting delin'
ouent taxes. The report recommendet
! that more businesslike methods bs
| adopted for collecting the taxes in ar
! rears direct from property owners and
suggested that further study be giver
/ this matter.