Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-19
The Real Issue.

The street railway fare case enters
its second stage today with the Public
Utilities Commission considering the
petition of the Washington Railway and
Electric Co. But interest now centers
upon what is and always has been the
dominating issue in the fare question
corporate merger and unified operation
Of the street car lines.
The commission brought that issue up
last week when 1t placed before the
companies, with dramatic suddenness,
its own revised merger plan and asked
the companies to state their reaction
to 1t. There have been the usual OBJ
jections from the company representa-
tiveS. They do not want consideration
Of the fare case on its merits entangled
with that of merger. They want the
two questions separated and kept apart.
But 1t is idle to speak Of their separa-
ton. The petitioning companies are
now arguing for higher fares because
the last merger proposal failed. The
companies have admitted that a desir-
able effect Of merger would be econo-
mics of operation; that the expense Of
separate operation demands more
revenue. The commission has taken
the correct stand in refusing to separate
the two questions and the objections
registered by the companies can be con-
sidered as gestures, to be expected in
any sparring match.
Instead of opposing the introduction
OF the commissions merger plan, the
companies, to be consistent, should
welcome it. A few weeks ago the COM
mission invited them to submit their
own plans for merger. They declined,
and their destinations were well
grounded. But they reiterated their
former expressions of approval Of the
principle Of merger. They recounted
with some pride their voluntary and
pioneer efforts to bring about a merger.
They indicated that If a new effort to
merge is made. it should originate from
some other source, as the companies
have made their views a matter Of
record.
Now the commission has taken the
only natural course. With commendable
celebrity and an astute regard for the
rights Of the interested public, it has
placed before the railway companies a
proposed merger agreement that is
based upon the plan approved last
year by the corporations, the former
members Of the Public Utilities Com
mission, the Bureau Of Efficiency and
the committees of Congress.
It has made changes in this plan in
accord with its own expert views re-
garding the rights Of the car-riding
public. Those changes will eliminate
the doubts and objections registered by
opponents Of the former merger plan.
Some of them may raise new objections
from the corporations. None Of them
presents an impossible barrier to the
agreement on a merger plan that should
be reached by the time that Congress
convenes in regular session In Deem
Der. And there is little doubt that
Congress, presented with a merger plan
bearing the new Public Utilities Com
missions stamp Of approval, will move
speedily to its ratification.
The companies will continue the
submission Of evidence and presentation
Of their arguments in support of their
contention for higher fares. But the
already extensive hearings on the rate
case cannot be considered as closed or
complete until the companies have
made known their views regarding the
commissions revised merger plan. The
sincerity Of their expressed desires for
merger and its benefits can best be
demonstrated by willingness to CO.
operate with the commission IN the
necessary preliminaries. Nothing Of
any lasting value, either to the cor
porations or to the car-riding public,
will be gained by any other attitude.