The Washington times., 1928-05-22
Sc IA KILLS
|ERGER FOR
SESSION
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capitai TRACTION Company. win II.
! position for IN increased fare
within the next IS hours. It VA
learned
He has no other course open "a
him, M he stated under oath Al
the utilities commission hearing on
the nlarger plan that his company
hnA authorized him to take such
ackion III event ~ considerable
delay III obtaining . merger u
street railways here.
The washington Railway and
Electric Company probably viii
take no such action; but VIII con.
finue to insist upon . uniform fac
FOR the two companies.
Indications are that the Capital
Traction Company win get Its in
creased fare when 1t asks for II, IN
view Or the fact that report for
the past year. read to the commits
sion It the merger hearing, showed
an earning of approximately 4 per
cent on It's investment.
Officials of the commission, how
ever, declined to comment on the
possible developments from the
action of the Senate committee. i
Seven members Of the Senate
District COMMITTEES attended the
executive session today.
On the final lineup. the vote IL
understood to have been Senators
EApper, Blaine. Vandenberg and
time. Senators King and Copeland
II is understood, voted In favor OF
q report to the Senate, favOring the
merger.
Senator Sackett. counted upon as
q merger supporter, left the execu-
tive session before the final vote
was cast. Senator Nicely gave his
proxy to Senator Capper. but, It is
understood, his vote was not cast
either for or against the proposal.
The victory of the anti.mergcr
group In the Senate District Com
mittee furnished a real surprise,
especially a. It has been rumored
that various other Senators who
are members OF the committee, but
have taken no part in its proceed.
ings this session including Sem
ators Dupont and Edwards-have
been counted upon to support the
plan Of reporting favorably the
unification agreement.
The subcommittee which will
conduct the valuation inquiry prob.
ably viii be appointed by Senator
Gapper today 1t probably viii be
composed Of three Senators chosen
from Senators Capper, Johns. Gould,
Copeland, Bruce, and King.
Merger lobbyists who awaited the
committees action were dismayed
5 "a.
the unification agreement out upon
the floor OF the Senate at this time.
It became clear that the anti.
merger group had put up such q
strong case in executive session
that all the alleged commitments
Of certain Senators were cast aside.
Senator Blaine's resolution, cali.
ing for an Interstate Commerce
Commission valuation Of the trac,
ton properties, was not acted upon.
1t was deemed best to retain con.
troll Of the proceedings in the com
n1ittee itself.
Experts to assist the subcommit.
tee, however, may be chosen from
the Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion. This point has not yet been
decided
Senator Couzens, OF Michigan
who was invited to sit with the
Senate District Committee, when II
considered. the merger plan. /!
given a considerable share of thu
credit for persuading the committed
TO postpone action at this time.
Senator Couzens is said to have
pointed out that the Detroit street
railways were taken over by tho
city at cost not to exceed $4,000,
600 and to have declared his belle
that the local traction companies
cannot be valued properly at any
sum approaching &50.00O.0O0. Couz
ems took strong position in cppo.
aition to the Wilson plan.
Senator Capper, today presented
to the Senate a resolution providing
for the valuation inquiry. 1t wal
referred to the Senate audit and
control committee.