Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-25
MERGER FEATURE
WINS ENDORSEMENT
Utilities Body Indicates Ap.
provaI of Police and
Paving Clause.

The Public Utilities Commission to-
day indicated its approval OF one OF
the features of the street car merger
agreement. which would relieve the
proposed Capital Transit Co. OF the
cost of maintaining paving between
tracks and the salaries OF crossing po-
licemen. which involves an annual ex-
penditure Of approximately $3Oo.0o0.
The commission made known Its po-
sition with respect to these items IN .
letter to Brig. Gen. Herbert M. LORD.
director of the Budget Bureau. which
INQUIRED whether the transfer OF the
$500 600 annual expense from the car
companies to the general revenues OF
the District would be In confIict WITH
the financial program OF President
Coolidge.
Indorse Shifting Burden.
"This commission Is Of the opinion
that the pay of crossing policemen and
the cost Of paving and repairs TO bridges
and paving other than that tncidentai
10 the ordinary track repairs or repairs
of damage caused by the operation O.
street cars. IS more properly cnargeaole
to the general tax funds OF the District
of Columbia. or perhaps more partcu-
larly to q gasoline tax. than to the reve-
nue. derived from the operation oi strees
cars and busses," the letter read,
Crossing police devote the major
portion OF their time to regulating au-
tomohile traffic Paving Is not essential
to the operation Of street cars: on the
tween tracks enables automobiles 10
use this space and frequent delays OF
street cars are caused thereby.
The letter showed that the salaries
paid crossing policemen in 1927 by the
washington Railway & Electric Co,
amounted to $7s.2467s. while the
Capital Traction Co. paid out 4s.2SS.2S
for the same purpose. making . total
Of slaI50o. The Washington Rapid
Transit Co. does not pay similar tax.
Copy Of Plan Submitted.
The average cost to the Washington
Railway s. Electric Co. according 70
the letter. amounts to $i36 ,Sso.5l. The
cost to the Capital Traction Co. aver
ages $39. 1850,
The commissions letter was ac-
compan!ed by copy of the merger
agreement which was formally pre-
sented February Is,
The principal people involved in the
merger discussed the features Of the
merger agreement from two radically
different forums yesterday afternoon
and the net result was definite aSSur-
ance from Harley p. Wilson. owner Of
% per cent Of the outstanding stock OF
the Washington Rapid Transit Co, and
author OF the merger plan. that street
car fares would not rise Immediately
after uniacatton Is conS0nlnlatsd-
Mr.. Wilson made this promise before
a special committee Of the Washington
Board Of Trade. which Was appointed 10
consider the merger agreement nov
pending before the public utilities eNsa-
mission and which the transportation
utilities have pinned their hope oi
bringing about the long sought eonsea-
dation.
While this meeting was In progress,
Ralph Il rleharty. peoples counsel be-
fore the Utilities Commission. went De
fore the public through the medium ot
radio station WRHr and outlined the
cardinal features Of the plan og merger
1t was MIR. r,ehartyS initial APPEAR
ance before the micrcpsscle and while
he failed to reveal any oi the details
OF the campaign he has mapped out IL
protect the public interest In the I'M
pending merger Negotiations before the
Utilities Commission, he did pc,nt out
that the merger agreement dceS ncl
any assurance or prcsniSe that
car fares viii remain the same or ee
lowered
William Gibbs McAdss,. the chief
legal adviser OF MIR, Wilson. alSo at
tended the Bcard cf Trade cSsnm,ttee
and submitted to n eCneard-
(Cuntinl,ed ON page ;, Cs,lunn -