Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-15
Roll Call Is Not Taken as
District Committee Ap-
proves Resolution.
FIGHT ON FLOOR SEEN
BY OPPOSITION FORCE
Chairman Zihlman Will Seek Spe.
cial Rule for Consideration
at Early Date.

Without a roll call, the street car
merger resolution was ordered favor
| ably reported from the House District
committee today. The report was
ordered after surprisingly brief con-
sideration with the resolution in the
same form as previously placed before
the Senate, that is, with the S50,000,-
900 valuation eliminated in conformity
with the Maltbie plan
Chairman Zihlman was directed by
the vote to obtain special rule under
which the merger resolution might be
taken up in the House at the earliest
opportunity. He announced after the
meeting that he would confer, pos
sibly today, with Chairman Smell of
the rules committee and other House
leaders, and if the special rule is un-
obtainable now, he would consider call
ing the merger up under suspension.
AT the outset of a 15-minute hear
ing before the committee went into ex-
ecutive session it was evident that it
was the desire of a majority of the
members to send the report through in
the briefest possible time. The resolu-
ton was ordered reported in little
less than half an hour
BlantOn Opposes Plan.
While no record vote was taken, Rep
reSentative Blanton of Texas, who left
the meeting after 10 minutes had
elapsed, wished to be recorded as vot-
ing in the negative. He reserved the
.;erI Ino fol
submit a minority merger report and
likewise, with three other members OF
the committee, he reserved the right to
offer amendments on the floor, as in the
case of some members of the Senate
committee, to provide more ample safe
guards for the protection of the public
interests.
The other three members who re-
served the right to offer amendments
were Representatives Gibson of Ver-
mont. Lampert of wisconsin and Hale
of Indiana, Republicans.
MFR. Gibson, commenting causticaily
on. the action of the committee, de-
clared 1t was an absurdity to pass on
a question involving $50,00o,00o in
about Is minutes"
There ws~e IL members present dur
ing consideration of the resolution:
Hall. Beers of Pennsylvania. Underhill
of Massachusetts,, Bowles OF MasSachu-
setts. Bowman of West Virginia, Repub-
licans, and Blanton, Gilbert, Whitehead
of Virginia and Combs of Missouri.
Democrats.
When the committee first met Chair
man Zihlman extended an opportunity
to William NICK. Clayton OF the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations to Of
fer for its consideration number OF
proposed amendments which he de-
cIared met the views of the various citi-
zens' associations and would be offered
upon the floor of the Senate.
CIayton's Time Limited.
After about minutes Mr.. Underhill
cut him off abruptly, protesting that
Ii Clayton was going to enter into an
argument on the merits of his various
proposals, it would open the WHSLE
merger question to discussion. He made
a motion that Mr. Clayton be allowed
only 10 minutes in which to complete
his statement, limitation to which the
committee agreed.
Clayton only had opportunity to offer
three amendments. He asked the COM
mittee to strike from section 16 of the
resolution the provision declaring that
the Washington Rapid Transit Co. be
merged with the new company when
and if the Public Utilities Commission
shall so require. In place of this, Clay
ton declared, the bus line should be
merged with the street car lines with
out leaving the determination to the
utilities commission. I'VE have al
ways felt the bus line should be merged
also and this is not actually merger
SO far as the bus company is con-
cerned," Mr.. Clayton said. 1T should
not be left outside"
The resolution as it now stands re-
quires Harley P. Wilson to vest in the
new company 1927 shares of stock of
the bus company out of a total out
standing of 81 ,612, the idea being that
| the remaining shares would be taken
up later.
Mr. Clayton protested that if the
bus line is not taken completely into
| the merger, it would operate as an in
dependent company and If it is merged
| it would come under the same tax law
as the busses of the street car lines.
| AS a second amendment Mr. Clayton
| proposed free transfers between the
| bus line and the street car lines, instead
| of leaving a charge for bus transfers
| to be approved later by the Utilities
Commission.
He warned the committee that all
! future extension of lines in Washington
would be bus routes, and 1t was the
duty of 'the committee to provide free
| transfers now instead of leaving the
matter open to the future.
THE commission will do what it al
ways has done in the past-fix a charge
| of | or cents for bus transfers" he
| said
Reduced Fares for Children.
Reduced fares for school children
should be authorized in the resolution
CLAYTON suggested as a third amend
ment. instead of authorizing the Public
Utilities Commission to reduce the rate
For 13 years we have appeared un.
successfully before the commission ir
advocacy of reduced fares for schoo
children" Mr.. Clayton told the com.
mittee, land it may be another 13 year.
before the commission acts"
He estimated a maximum cost to the
companies for such reduced rates at be
tween $4,000 and $4,000, reminding
the committee that free textbooks ar,
furnished school children at cost Il
the taxpayers of about $3.50 900.
Asked If the merger resolution as re
ported to the Senate met with his ap
proval, Mr.. Clayton declared he ap
proved it only with the amendments HI
proposed and other amendments which
will be offered in the Senate
II am very regretful have not beer
given opportunity to offer some othe
amendments" Mr.. Clayton said
The committee gave no consideration
to the amendments which Senate
resolution in the Senate. and there wa
| IiffIo dicriccinYn Of tIe hill IN