The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-02-27
I ACTIONS READY
ON MERGER

All parties to the transit merger
hearings, to begin Wednesday. Feb
ruary 20. today announced they
were ready to 90. I"
Opposition to the capitalization of
100000. sought in the company
merger plan, is certain to over
shadow all other Objectionable lea
lures Of the plan.
Ralph b. Fleharty. peoples coun-
sci, today received several addi-
tional letters from car and Jus
riders protesting against the plan
as now drafted. They laid special
critics to be merged.
William A. Roberts, vice chair
man of the Public Utilities Com.
mittee of the Federation of Citi
zens Association, will confer with
the utilities commission this after
noon.
1--WE OF our committee are not oh.
structionists, says Roberts. We
want a merger. We want the COM
mission to know our position. We
will volunteer our assistance IN
bringing out of the hearings a
merger plan which will be for the
best interests Of the public, at the
same time being fair to the owners
Of the utilities
Commission Has Analysis
The commission through the as
sistance of its office experts, has
prepared an exhaustive analysis OF
the merger plan.
Each paragraph Of the plan will
be considered and many will be dis
posed of during the hearings, which
probably will be each morning from
10 to IL o'clock and each afternoon
from / until o'clock.
Earl ". Fisher. executive secre-
tary of the commission, today
agreed to furnish the peoples coun-
sci each night with a transcript OF
| the record of that day.
The company officials will sub
nit their plan and arguments first.
| It has not been decided when they
| will be cross-examined by The
| peoples counsel and William Mex.
| Clayton, chairman of the fedora
| tons utilities committee.
Since the federation Saturday
night gave the committee carte
| blanche to represent it before the
| commission. that committee Is pre-
| pairing to put up a stiff fight to
| have the commission sustain eleven
objections they have registered
| against the plan.
Labor to Take Part
1t became known today that or
ganized labor here will be repre-
sented at the hearings and will
! make a fight to have included In
| the charter of the proposed Capital
Transit Company clause to pro-
| tect labor. In fact. Chairman Clay
| ton has been asked to serve with
the labor delegation at the hearings.
| The commission expects the
| hearings to be concluded in about
10 days.
Col. Harrison Brand, vice-chair-
man of the utilities commission
and a lawyer, has been making a
| careful study of the merger plan
and will do most of the question
| ing of witnesses appearing for the
| transit companies. William w
Bride. corporation counsel. also will
sit with the commission.
Wilson In Pleased
Harley p. Wilson, father of the
merger plan. and his counsel.
William G.. McAdoo. began making
time today until the public hear
ings begin.
They held a conference in the
Wilson offices here and discussed
the meeting Saturday night of the
Federation of Citizens Association,
and expressed qualification over
the situation resulting.
"The meeting was Enthusiastically
merger meeting" Wilson said
afterward, rather than an anti.
merger gathering
The prospect OF individual
citizens associations entering IN ;
merger fight opened up today with
the meeting scheduled for tonight
Of the Midcity group at the Thorn.
son School, Twelfth and l. Streets
Northwest.