Evening star., 1929-07-02
TRACTION MERGER
TO Be CONSIDERED
Companies Agree to Submit
Reply to Commissions Invi-
tation in Near Future.

The Washington Railway & Electric
and the Capital Traction Cos. today
promised to give serious consideration
to the invitation Of the Public Utilities
Commission for q resumption Of mer-
ger negotiations.
The attitude of the companies with
respect to reopening the merger dis
cussion and on what basis they would
be willing to consolidate probably viii
not be definitely known, however, be-
fore the end Of the month.
Expect Answers Shortly.
The Capital Traction Co. Is expected
to submit its reply to the commissions
communication by the end of the week,
according to John H. Hanna, president,
but the Washington Railway g. Elec-
trio Co., 1t was said by William F.
Ham, president, is not likely to have
It's answer ready until the latter part
of the month.
Mr.. Hanna, who has been out of the
city, did not see the commissions inv
tation to renew the merger negotiations
until he returned to his office this
morning, but said he expected to answer
it ''in a very few days" He plans to
arrange this afternoon conference
with the board of directors at which
the communication Of the commission
will be considered and q reply drafted.
The only move made by Mr.. Ham
was to acknowledge the receipt Of the
commissions letter and advise Maj
NJ Tn~k ,s4AI< fk~ nIa Svsv~n
that consideration would be given the
proposal as soon as Is practicable.
Directors Are Scattered.
Mr.. Ham explained THAT the directors
of the company who will have to de-
termi1e the course of action, are scat
tered in all sections of the country and
that it would be virtually impossible to
get them together this week. Moreover,
he said he plans to leave Washington
tomorrow and will not return until
The next regular meeting of the di-
rectorS Of the Washington Railway &
Electric Co. Is scheduled July "a, celd
indications are that the commission s
letter may not be considered until that
time.
The commission did not fix time
limit for the submission of replies to its
but Tile 1kARtCcoAOA PIC
walls there that it expects an answer
within 10 days. The companies, 1t was
said, will not be pressed for an early
reply, If there are indications that the
invitation Is to receive consideration.
Harley p. Wilson, principal owner OF
the Washington Rapid Transit Co. and
author of the original plan Of unifica-
ton, was apparently surprised that the
commission, on its own initiative, had
moved to renew the merger negotia-
tions. Since his company has not been
invited to participate in the new pro-
ceedings, it Is unlikely he viii figure
so prominently In new plan Of merger
If it Is evolved as an outgrowth OF
the commissions action. Mr.. Wilson
however, is q member Of the board OF
directors Of the Washington Railway &
Electric Co. and win sit with that group
when 1t frames an answer to the COM
MISSIONS letter. He also is q director
In the North American Co., the New
York utility holding corporation which
owns controlling interest in the
Washington Railway q Electric Co.
Mr.. Wilson Is known to feel that fur
ther negotiations for q consolidation OF
the transit lines would be virtually USE
less unless Congress gives the commits
sion power or creates some other body
to finally pass on q merger plan after
1t Is drawn up and agreed to by the
companies.