Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-27
MERGER DEADLOCK
FACED, CONFERENCE
PLAN IS ADVANCED
Lampert Calls on Commits
sion and Traction Interests
to Get Together.
HEARS OPPOSING VIEWS
ON COURT AUTHORITY
Bowen Willing to Seek Solution,
but Hartman Doubts Success
of Negotiations.

Declaring that the entire merger
proposal for the street railways here is
threatened by a deadlock between the
Public Utilities Commission and the
traction interests over the ';tter's claim
that the merger bill would deprive the
utilities of "due process Of law" repre-
sentative Lampert of Wisconsin, MEM
Der of the House District committee,
today called on the commission and
the railway companies to attempt to
iron out their differences in conference.
The Representatives statement came
as the committee concluded its lengthy
hearings on the merger bill proposed by
the Public Utilities Commission.
Although the commission doubted
such conference would result In an
agreement, the committee adjourned
with the understanding that efforts
would be made to bring the divergent
groups together on q basis that would
not further imperil the merger move
ment.
Representative Lampert, after listen
ing to Numerically opposite views on
the meaning of section IL of the merger
bill, which would define the scope OF
court authority over decisions Of the
commission, announced his fear that
the whole merger hearing would end in
failure.
Bowen Ready to Confer.
s. Russell Bowen, attorney for the
Washington Railway g. Electric Co.,
said he would be willing to enter into
such q conference and expressed the
hope that the difficulties might be
Strengthened out.
Harleigh H. Hartman, member Of the
Public Utilities Commission, declared
such q conference already had been
held and had ended in failure. He ex-
pressed the opinion that further nego-
tiations would end the same way.
Mr.. Bowen replied that the confer
ence referred to did not consider the
particular subject Of court jurisdiction
and charged that the commission itself
thwarted such q consideration when
the topic was brought up.
Representative Lampert insisted that
further efforts should be made to obtain
an agreement and the committee was
given TO understand that this would be
done.
Section Is Explained.
The section In controversy would give
the railway companies the right OF re-
view In the courts Of q decision OF the
commission where matters OF law are
1nVOtVeO, Dllt, 2CCOEQI1B W Tile u1AAAe4Cot
would not permit an appeal from an
arbitrary or unreasonable ruling OF the
commission. The companies insisted
they should have the right Of appeal to
the courts under all circumstances,
claiming that otherwise their rights un-
der the Constitution to redress In the
courts would be abridged.
Mr.. Hartman replied to these argu-
ments with the charge that the utili-
ties were shadow boxing against an
imaginary condition which would never
exist" He commended the wording Of
the section did not deprive any citizen
or corporation from proper appeal
to the courts and cited various legal
opinions.
william r. Ham, president Of the
Washington Railway g. Electric Co.;
BENJAMIN s. Minor, representing the
washington Gas Light Co., and Dor
sey w. Hyde, Jr., secretary of the Wash
inrton Chamber of Commerce, also APP
peared before the committee today.
Among other things, Ham questioned
claims Of the Utilities Commission that
the merger would defeat large and
definite savings In cost Of operation and
pointed to the added costs Of rerouttng
lines, revaluation proceedings and other
changes. Minor Endorsed arguments Of
utilities counsel against court provisions
In the bin.
HYDE presented TO the committee q
statement reporting action Of the
Chamber Of Commerce In tndorsing the
merger proposal.