Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-31
Leader in Move to Console
date Transit Lines Might
Try Again, However.
FAILURE OF CONGRESS
n TO ACT SPELLS DOOM
Bees Inevitable Increase in Street
Car Fares Because Unifca-
tion Unapproved.
BY JAMES f. CHINN.

With the transit merger agreement
destined to die tomorrow through con-
gressional inaction, Harley Peyton Will
son, moving spirit behind the first def
mite plan to bring about the long
sought consolidation of Washington's
transportation companies announced
today he would make no effort to re-
vive the negotiations under present
conditions.
Mr.. Wilson indicated, however, that
he does not intend to pass out of the
merger picture entirely, or that he/be-
lieves the hope of consolidation falls
into oblivion with the expiration Of the
unification agreement.
Future Course Unsettled.
1T shall not attempt to bring about
o merger under present conditions" he
declared. But under certain conditions
! might be willing to try again"
Mr.. Wilson did not disclose the Ger
tain conditions" under which he might
renew the merger negotiations, but said
his suggestions may be pertinent to
Congress and the city of Washington"
In the failure of Congress to ratify
the unification agreement, Mr.. Wilson
sees an inevitable increase In street car
fares. and pointed out that the Capital
Traction Company is now on the verge
Of filing an application for a higher
fare.
The Public Utilities Commission has
expected the Capital Traction Co.'S ap-
plication since last March, when the
board OF directors authorized the
executive board to seek financial relief.
The board has held off, however, hop
ing that Congress in the extra session
would approve the merger and remove
the immediate necessity of a higher
fare. but with the agreement now on
its deathbed and the resumption of
indications negotiations unlikely until
the regular session in December the
company is expected to file the in
creased fare petition within the next
week.
Agreement Signed in 1928.
The joint agreement of unification
under which the transit companies
planned to merge voluntarily, was
signed February 10, 1928, by the official
representatives of the Washington Rail-
way g. Electric, the Capital Traction
and the Washington Rapid Transit Cos.
after series of preliminary confer
ences. The instrument pointed out that
unless the plan is carried out as here
in contemplated on or before June /,
1929, each party is restored to complete
liberty of action and shall not be deem
ed prejudiced by any concessions herein
made
No obsequies are planned by the three
transportation companies to mark the
passing of the agreement, as it has
been apparent to them for several weeks
that the merger was as good as dead.
Aside from the Capital Traction Co., no
plans have been made for the future,
ostens;bly.
Ham Reported Fishing.
William F.. Ham, president of the
Washington Railway e. Electric Co.,
confident that the merger agreement
would not be ratified at the extra
session, left Washington three days ago
and now Is reported to be deep in
the Canadian wilds on a fishing ex-
petition with George r. Dunlop, chief
counsel for the rival Capital Traction
Co. John H. Hanna, president of the
Capital Traction Co. and Mr.. Wilson,
who owns nearly all of the stock of the
bus company, are the only transporta-
ton executives left In Washington to
bury the merger agreement.
The expiration Of the unification
agreement is not looked upon at the
Capitol as the end of the merger nego-
tiations. In its present form as revised
by the Senate District committee on the
advice of DR.. Milo r. Maltbie. New
York valuation expert, who made an
exhaustive study Of the plan of CONSOLE
dalton, it was pointed out. the agree
ment would have to be returned to the
stockholders of each of the transit COM
panies should it be ratified by Congress.
The failure OF Congress to act at the
special session, therefore. is looked upon
as a delay i'll the unification rather
than its death.