Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-26
Senators to Ascertain if 1t
Will Be Considered by
House Leaders.
COMMITTEE IS NAMED
TO GET INFORMATION
Vandenberg Believes 1t Unwise to
Push Issue Now-Fare Raise
Is Discussed.

The Senate District committee today
appointed subcommittee 10 find out
from House leaders whether there Is
any prospect that the House would con-
slider the street railway merger at this
session If the Senate should act on it.
The decision to confer with those in
charge of the legislative program in
the House was reached at the end of a
brief meeting of the Senate group, at
which the only question discussed was
whether the traction merger problem
should be taken up at this time.
The general opinion seemed to be
that there was little to be gained by
bringing the subject before the Senate
unless there was some likelihood that
the House would take 1t up also.
Vandenberg Not Present.
In opening the meeting Chairman
Capper said it was for the committee
to decide whether anything should be
done prior to the regular session In De-
cemher.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican, OF
Michigan, author of the merger resolu-
ton, was unable to be present, but sent
a note in which he said it would be
unwise to, attempt to legislate on the
merger or any other District matters at
this special session, pointing out that
the program calls for farm relief, CEN
sils and reapportio and tariff re-
vision. He expressed doubt whether
there would be any time after, these
matters to get action on, the merger.
Senator Copeland, Democrat, of New
York, asked il it was correct that the
merger agreement, entered into by the
companies would expire In June If Con-
eress does not act In the meantime.
Chairman Capper said there was a
clause at the end of the agreement
stating that the companies would not
be bound by 1t after June of this year.
Asks About Fare Raise.
"Is it true, as reported, that there will
be an mediate request for the To-
cent fare?" Senator Copeland inquired.
He was told there had been published
reports to that effect.
At this point in the discussion, Sem
ator Blaine, Republican, of Wisconsin,
opponent Of the merger as worked out
by the Senate committee at the last
session, interrupted to say he thought
there was a misunderstanding regarding
the effect OF letting the question 60 over
until after June. He argued that the
merger agreement originally drawn UP
BY the companies has already been
modified to a considerable extent by
the Senate committee and that there
fore the companies would have to 20
back to their stockholders for approval
Of the plans now pending anyway.
Senator Glass, Democrat, Of Virginia,
said 1t was his understanding that the
controlling stock interests had agreed
to accept the legislation as framed by
the Senate comittee, although there
may not have been a formal meeting
OF the stockholders
Committee IL Named.
Senator Copeland added there was at
least a tacit understanding to that
effect. Senator Jones, Republican. Of
Washington then made the suggestion
that the chairman should find out from
House leaders whether they proposed to
do anything on the subject, and Sena-
tor King, Democrat, of Utah followed
with the motion to send subcommittee
Of three to ascertain the situation in
the House. The subcommittee will be
composed OF" Chairman Capper and
Senators Vandenberg and Glass.
The Senate committee at the last
session made favorable report on a
modified merger resolution in which
they struck out the fixed valuation of
$50, 000. 900, provided for the making of
q new valuation within two years, with
no change In the rate of fare during
that time, except the putting into effect
of free transfers between car lines.
The two new members OF the COM
mittee, Senator Keen, Republican. of
New jersey, and Senator Tyson, Demo-
crat, Of Tennessee, attended the
meeting.