Evening star., 1928-12-07
MALTB|E EVOKES
NEW MERGER ROW
Friends of Transit Union
Proposal Prepare to War
on Experts Findings.

Upset by DR.. Milo r. Maltbie's un-
favorable report on the transit merger
agreement, officials of the street rail-
way companies and other supporters
of the plan today quietly made plans
for counter attack on the New York
utilities experts findings when the uni
f1cation pact comes up for formal con-
sideration in the Senate District COM
mittee.
The railway executives would not
discuss or reveal their plans, but it
is known that they intend to forcibly
answer all of DR.. Maltbie's criticisms
of the agreement, which one declared
is "discouraging." They feel, it was
intimateG, that the New York expert
apparently misunderstood many OF
the features of the pact.
Believe Obstacle Surmountable.
The merger advocates, however, do
not deny that Dr. Maltbie has placed
serious obstacle in the path of rati-
fication of the agreement by Congress.
but they feel confident that it can and
will be surnounted John w.
ChildreSs, chairman of the Public
Utilities Commission, also shared sub
stantially the same opinion.
Opponents Of the merger plan in its
present form, on the other hand, were
dicted that out of his report would
come reasonable" unification agree
ment equally fair to the public, the
transportation companies and the stock
holders.
Harley p. Wilson, principal owner of
the Washington Rapid Transit Co. and
author Of the original merger plan, was
the only transportation executive who
would comment for publication on the
Maltbie report. In prepared state
ment issued to the press, he declared
| that 1t Is the duty of Congress to decide
whether the transit utilities of the Dis
trict should be merged.
II have not seen the texts Of either
the Bureau of Efficiency or the DR.. Malt
bic reports on merger" he said. II
understand. however, that the first
recommends the approval of the merger
agreement as voted by the Public Utili-
ties Commission and the House District
committee, with possible minor altera-
tions, and that DR.. Maltbie suggests
radical changes on valuation.
Says People Want Merger.
"I gather that the Bureau of Efici-
ency abides by the court decisions, while
DR.. Maltbie thinks his own figures bet
ter. Apparently 1t is case where the
experts disagree. It will be the duty Of
Congress to decide whether or not we
are to have merger, which the people
of Washington have urged for IS years,
and which even DR.. Maltbie says will
be in the public interest.
II understand that DR.. Maltbie states
with q unified system service can be
improved; the amount of property re-
quired adequately to serve the public
reduced; the costs of operation cur
and convenienced. At least, all the
evidence appears to be in and perhaps
even opponents Of the merger will join
In securing a prompt decision"
Chairman Childress of the Utilities
Commission expressed the opinion that
the Maltbie report does not present
any "unsurmountable difficulty" and
that the pending agreement is fair and
workable"
IT have read DR.. Maltbie's report only
as outlined in the papers," he said
"and believe he has gone into all pos
sible contingencies of an unfavorable
nature WHICH nlgnC occur unQ6E Tie
unification agreement as approved by
the companies, this commission and
the House committee. At the same
time, do not believe they present
any unsurmountable difficulty in the
final ratification by Congress"
Calls Agreement Fair.
IT have not talked officially with
other members of the commission, but
have confidence that we and the peoples
counsel still believe that the agreement
as outlined is entirely fair and work.
able and its approval will result in the
best interest of all parties concerned"
Col Harrison Brand, jr., vice chair
man of the commission, said he would
study the Maltbie and Bureau Of Eff
cheney reports when he procured copies
of them and would reserve his comment
until later. Col. William B. Ladue,
Engineer Commissioner and third men,
Der Of the commission, was attending
a meeting Of the Board of Commis-
sioners and could not be reached.
william NICK. Clayton. chairman Of
the public utilities committee of the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
who, with William A. Roberts, former
vice chairman of the committee, led the
fight against certain features Of the
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