Evening star., 1928-02-29
Citizens Official Urges UtlIi-
ties Body to Eliminate
Bus Concern.
CHARGES LAW ALLOWS
RAILWAY COMBINE ONLY
Traction Head Tells Commission
Fares Will Soar Unless Con.
solidation Is Reached.

chairman Of the public Utilities Ccr-
mittec Of the Federation Of C.tlzeYs'
Associations, 10 eliminate the Washing
ton Rapid Transit Co. as a party to
the proposed consolidation Of the trans
portat!on lines, coupled with an an
nOuncement by John II. Hanna, D!esi-
dent Of the Capital Traction Co, ina:
an increase in car fares is inevitable
unless a unifcation is consUmma Ted.
marked the opening hearing before the
Public Utilities Commission today On
the merger plan.
Almost at the very outset Of the PRO-
ceedings Clayton served notice that the
commission is IN no position 20 pass
upon the merger agreement becauSe J.
had not yet valued the property OF the
bus concern and also because the act Of
Congress authorizing a consolidation
related only TO the street car lines.
He then made a motion that pro-
visions in the merger agreement refer
ring TO the bus company be stricken
from the petition. but objections oy
William Gibbs McAdoo. chief legal
counsel for Harley p. Wilson, primo pal
owner OF the Washington Rapid Tran
sit Co.. and S. r. Bowen OF the legal
staff OF the Washington Railway and
Electric Co., were sustained by john w.
Childress. chairman OF the commission.
The federation had Just previously lost
another one Of its moves 70 have all
witnesses sworn.
Sees Raise in Fares.
Mr.. Hanna made his declaration that
raise n car fares would immediately
follow failure OF the efforts OF the
transit companies 10 consolidate ir the
course ot an explanation Of the position
OF his company on the merger agree
ment. The public. he said. Is not pay
ing higher fares today merely because
OF the present merger negotiations.
Two members OF the Maryland Public
Service Commission, State Senator J..
Frank Harper and Stewart Purcell. and
its peoples counsel. Thomas J. Tingely.
sat with the commission at the initial
merger hearing.
The boardroom Of the District Build
ing, where the hearing Is being held.
was crowded with officials of the transit
lines, their aides and counsel. attaches
OF the Public Utilities Commission and
representatives Of numerous civic trade
and labor organizations OF the District.
Peoples Counsel Ralph B. Fleharry,
Corporation Counsel William w Bride
and Assistant Corporation Counsel
Francis II. Stephens. also were present.
Mr.. Bride IS the Commissioners general
counsel
All Factions TO BE Heard.
Chairman Chi!dreSs announced when
he opened the hearing its purpose.
and outlined the plan governing the
procedure 10 BE- followed Throughout.
the proceedings. which are expected %
continue for at least 10 DAYS. He
also announced that full time would
be allowed g. the conclusion for all
interested parties 20 submit their srg1-
mentS.
AS soon as Mr.. ChildreSs Completed
his opening remarks William y Ece-
ertS. vice chairman Of the utilities coul-
nlisiee Of the federation. requested
thar his organization be made party
70 the merger hearing and furnished
with copies of the Steaograph!c records.
HE also SuegeSted that all witnesses he
sworn. but Chairman Ca.,Gre$S rep.;ed
that tAiS procedure was r0g NECESSARY
As II IS nos - b u case of reEogd II
any one wishes ~ Be sworn h SS.S he
would have no objection
Nr- NcAdco SQSsSSted that II ,hs
interest or orderly procedure that vi.-
AH>>eS ee allowed - complete t!,e!. ,es-
dnlony without interruption. tie also
usErd thai anv one with the exceSs'on
~ the peon'e'S counsel who had anv
matter n present os INSrr,l,.sj IL :SS,
me witness stand and cs Subjected -
cross examination
Position Challenged.
Chairman Chi,2ye$S ruled :ha, AFTER
ttT peoples counsel had examined =
witness any cGle else could have ts,e ,o-
poytuAly ~ Go 81
Mt CLAYTON then jpterier,rS ;has she
commission had before Il 3 Valuation
case involving the Wa>hsnSgcn Rap.I
Trans" CO. UlNon which no coNc,uS.oa
mad ben reached ana rs u rc$l,s 1t
WAS III ~ position to pass UsN,ss the
merger agreement: Hs Scc,ar1 thas
The act " Co0SrcSS autNcrsE.as \ rae.~
Soy provided only !er cosl$a:i5atscs,
~ the railway companies
In the orderly pr>N<S<ilye IT this
case We are ~ nv position u hea~
testimony ~ this time Nn the Harley
X, Wilson merger p,au whIcA involves
tAe sale If rs SgccN he said he then
moved ~ strike tEpN she lxsl,sls The
provisions relating ~ she sale IT eAs
oiS ecMta'N'S $,,rS, ~ G<SlgNsssy
which Ae said IS nv Vet created ara
NJ !hs> ternreru X eNclWIcd trV,n tire
te>tl,u1lsy
I reserve the slsNs ~ cGrg AT 20
lettINia. n'erlrSrd McA>itN>,
Objection Sustained.
After y Whispered t<Na.ryvalVA be
tWv%a members NJ the <S4lln,s%Si<,ll
Chairman thsldlv>S auyVu,}v,'& taag
MSAdQN could pgvNveI wiga aIS co}e<~
tsoo
Before discuss the ma;tvy," Nc
AdNS said. I want ~ SsN thAs MI.
tlaNtrn sS not u party a. talS psNSeSs&.
tng, Ills NHtiIn ~ snyIrrtN pug ~ cg~
,irF. The gt<slSr pgSNte>iure in tpy these
sTntlcnltn ~ appear <M tAe wsyaeSA
stand, present thSty teS&A,ls>siiv and >ue~
snit IL yltSs- -eNanInatt>,n Efe tecssnl-
cal INolag raised eN Air I'.aySNss has tss
eN the case. The N>AlsskNa.lteS,
sslan {A shaw t0As the Valuation ~ she
railway Tines is nNAyv than Sc. .lAsN M.
and shat the WaNhips{Na &ans1 1Sau~
Sit l'o value y nct sn DC lntitlde<l
Chairman lhlldte>S than ycusASesSa
Io,uAss1 Ngt>te and ar
sWeEed that <ltNtAAS motion. NnStea
sAe circumstances. MAS NNge cr ssSs
informal. aS the CoM,ntSStoaS hearing
Is helns held ta determtae facts and
shauld ptpreS<l
IL u is aectded later e. c>0,sidey Mr.
(taVtVnS matter, thea We Viii ~ 81
Satd Alv Chll<trvSs
Mir MeAdta thew requested that his
client, ltayleN L, Wilson e' given @e
cplah tNnttN "a make sNe pl,.0s'S state,