Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-31
Why "Ruv" This Merger z

Reduced fares for school children,
wholly desirable, may yet be written
down on the books as another item to
be charged against the people for
granting the railway corporations the
privilege of merging.
From the point of view of the cor
porations, merger is step that if not
necessary today will be tomorrow. They
cannot escape it indefinitely. There is
no reason why they should be paid
to merge.
But already the charges for merger,
to be assessed against the taxpayers,
have been computed as ranging be-
tween $250,0oo and 100000 a year.
They are the savings to the new COM
nary that lie in relief from payment
81 crossing policemen and paving be-
tween the tracks, costs to be borne
by the District In ten years the
price of merger would amount to
So 500 900 or So, OoO, 900. That is enough
to buy the airport.
At the same time the merged COM
pany would save an additional $l4O,o
q year as soon as it assumed operation
of the traction lines. Ninety thousand
dollars of this amount would represent
saving in power, the balance a saving
In overhead expenses.
The immediate loss to the company
would be about 100000, this item rep
resenting revenue from pay transfers.
Universal free transfers are provided
in the merger.
other savings to the new company,
to take effect eventually, but not I'M
mediately after contamination Of the
merger agreement, would lie In CEN
Trailing and eliminating duplicated car
barns and shops and rerouting the
cars. The value of this saving has
not been computed.
On the other hand, the enticement
held out to the public lies In the
promise of free transfers, which Is def
mite, and more convenient service,
which is indefinite but probable. The
pending agreement guarantees the re-
tention of the present rate Of fare for
two years. But the companies are
baking at that. About all they are
willing to grant concerning street car
fares is speculation to the effect that
the higher fare necessary" under
merger would not be as high as the
increase necessary without merger.
From these facts it is seen that as
soon as the merger takes effect the
taxpayers win lose from $4,000 to
S240, 900 a year and the companies will
gain about $3so,00o a year, considering
In both cases the free transfer item and
leaving out entirely the conjectural saw
ings to the company through eliminate
ing duplication Of car barns, shops, etc
The proposal for reduced fare for
school children, which every one favorE
in the sense that every one favors good
weather, can be looked at in two ways
It can be regarded as another and
desirable feature Of free education, such
as free text books. But when text books
were made free to school children, the
Government, and not the text book
manufacturers, assumed the burden Of
paying for them. If reduced fare fol
school children is to be regarded as 6
necessary adjunct to the free public
schools, the people, as Gen. Patrick
said the other day, may expect to as.
sumo the cost. either by paying flat
rate to the companies or proportionately
reducing their corporation taxes.
But one may also regard reduced far'
for school children as relatively small
concession from the street railway com
panies in exchange for the concession
already demanded from the public Al
accomplishments to merger. Mr.. Keeci
takes this attitude and is prepared Il
dght for it,
Certainly the street railway companie
are not the only ones able to bargain
over merger. The public should not b.
asking, How much will it cost us?" bu
'What will you give?"