Evening star., 1928-05-11

Co. and the Washington Rapid Transit
Co. of which latter concern Har-
ley p. Wilson. a director In the North
American, Is the owner.
He further attacks legality OF the Two"
thirds vote by which the stocknolderS
of the local traction company ratifieo
the merger agreement, and alleges tna'
the stock voted by the North American
Co. was done SO Illegally, IN that u
exceeded 90 per cent OF the outstanu-
ing stock in the local company owneo
In violation of the law. He attacks alsc
the terms of the merger agreement
whereby the Washington Railway q
Electric Co. exchanges Its assets foI
stock In a new company and shall con-
tinue Its existence merely as holding
company under the merger.
win Suffer Injury"
Unless prevented by the court
Noonan charges that the North Ameri-
can Co. win continue TO hold its con-
trolling shares in the new company and
divert from the Washington Railway &
Electric Co the property upon which
the plaintiff relied In making his in
vestment In its stock. BY this disposal
OF the properties Of the local traction
company. he says he VIII suffer an
irreparabIe injury. and IL will be i'm
possible for him 70 get back In his
present status.
House Action Delayed.
Action by the House District com.
mittee on the merger was delayed to-
day when the committee. on motion oi
Representative Lampert. Republican OF
Wisconsin, voted to adjourn until ncxI
week after several amendments had
been adopted and several vigorous
speeches had been made I'm opposition
TO the merger by Representatives Gil-
bert of Kentucky, Hammer Of North
Carolina, both Democrats, and Repre-.
sentative Gibson. Republican. of Yer.
mont.
Chairman zihiman announced thai
the committee will hold another specia
session on this measure early next week
at which time several members have
asked to be heard. including Repre-.
sentative Combs, Democrat, of Mis-.
souri,. and Representative Cole Of Mary.
land. Representatives Gilbert and Glib
son, who expect TO be absent from tht
city next week. asked unanimous con.
sent TO be recorded In opposition u
the merger measure.
Representative Reid. Republican. ol
Illinois, offered an amendment x
strike out part OF the bill so that tho
action of the committee would be sim.
ply 10 approve the merger as proposed
under the unification agreement under
the law OF 1925. claiming that II thu
committee had any power 10 write iF
provisions for the benefit of the new
company they also had power to wrttt
In provisions for the benefit OF tht
people. This amendment was defeated
by vote Of 0 10 4. those opposed beina
Mcleod. Michigan; Jenkins, Ohio;
Whitehead, Virginia. Combs. Missouri
Cole. Maryland; Gilbert. Kentucky;
Hammer. North Carolina: Hall. Indiana
and Beers. Pennsylvania. Those IN
favor were Gibson, Vermont; Reid. IL
linois; Bowiea, Massachusetts, and Lam
pert. wisconsin
Seeks iialf-far Clause.
Mr.. Reid then offered another amend
ment 10 make mandatory on the Pub
lie Utilities Commission to require a
haif-fare for school children. AS q SUBJ
stitute for this. Representative Ham,
mer proposed authorizing this action
instead OF making II mandatory, and
the Hammer amendment prevailed by q
vote OF 0 TO B. Those In favor OF the
Hammer amendment were Mcleod
Beers, Olds. Hall. Jenkins, Hammer
Whitehead, Combs Those opposed were
Reid, Gibson, Lampert, Gilbert and
Cole
Another amendment offered by Mr.
Reid would compel the merged coni.
pany to deal with employees on the prin'
ciple 0f collective bargaining which
means dealing with the labor unions
Chairman zihlman read into the rec
| ord letter signed by w. M Poole
president, J. III Cookman. secretary arc
business manager, and r, j. OBrien
second International vice president ni
the Amaigamated Association of Rail
way Employees of America, notifying thu
committee that they had reached IN
agreement with representatives ot uit
| company whereby II will not be ncsea'
aary for Us al this time 10 have enacted
any labor code into the proposed
merger bill Mr.. zihlman said thi
delegation had notified him that iheJ
are In favor of this legislation The
| Reid amendment WIS carried by 4 vott
OF q 10 s, those In favor being Mcleod
| Gibson, Beers, Reid, Lampert, Jenkins
Gilbert and Whitehead. Those oppoAet
were Dowies, Hall. Hammer. Combs ans
Cole
1 arna Aaa Eaafkn. Ktsahlaxs.