Evening star., 1932-12-13
AUSTIN TO SUPPORT
PROMPT ACTION ON
TRACTION MERGER
Vermont Senator Wants
Early End to ''ChaoS" in
City's Transportation.
TYDINGS HAS LITTLE HOPE
FOR VOTE THIS SESSION
Capper- Blaine Amendment to
Pending Bill Fixing 15-Year
Power Rate Is Opposed.

Declaring the time has come when II
should be determined whether or not
CONGRESS is going to fulfill It's duty to
the people OF the District OF Columbia
bv properly exercising It's tfusteeship
over The Capitals municipal affairs,
Senator Warren R. Austin, Republican,
of Vermont today pledged his AID 10
the Citizens Joint Committee on Trans
portation to bring about an end to
"chaos" in the city's transportation
system.
Approached by the group. represent
inp ! cros5-section of the Washington
public and embracing in its MEMBER
ship representatives OF leaolng civic,
trade and business organizations, Sena-
tor Austin stanchly advocated eohslG1
Grafton of the street railway merg-r Dill
during the present session:
Meanwhile. Senator Mlllard =. lyo-
tngs. Democrat. of Maryland. VINO was
also approached by the deieeatloli, ~, eA,
pressed little hope" the Legislation
would be enacted before adjournment OF
the short session.
Against Minority Plan.
Senator Austin made clear his oppo-
sition to the amendment suggested oy
the minority group. headed by Senator
Capper. chairman OF the senate Dls.IlI.
Committee, and Senator Blaine, wnlch
would strike out the clause setting up a
l5-vear power rate for the consolidated
traction companies.
In the light of betterment OF the
street car system and IN the interest
of the car riders" he asserted, that
,c n JnCt tr1ln
now pending in the Senate and recon-
mended to be passed is intended as
.straphanger's bill and its opponents
have consistently characterized 1t as a
traction companies bill. That amend
ment is a misguided one and cannot
hope to work out for the benefit OF the
people which was the intended obJec-
tive of the bill"
The Senator advised the committee,
which was headed by Thomas P. Little
page, president Of the washington
Chamber of Commerce, to concentrate
its efforts among members OF the Sen
ate in support of consideration of the
merger bill as the order OF unfinished
business in the Senate.
"Of course. there will always be ma
tional legislation before Congress- ne
said. but that body must not forget
its duty to the people of the District OF
Columbia, who are its charges.
Doubts Early Action.
Senator Tydings when approached by
the group with its resolution demanding
immediate action on the merger and
Improvement in the local transporta-
ton situation generally promised his
support to consideration of the measure
at this session. but held out little hope
for its coming up.
With more than 25 major issues OF
national importance, affecting the well
fare of the entire country" he said, 1t
is assininc to expect the National Con-
gress during its short session to take
up the matter of street-car merger IN
a single community. The Congress
should devote all its time to general re-
habililation OF the country"
Prior to visiting the Capitol the dele
cation Of citizens called on Peoples
Counsel Richmond B. Kecch in the Dis
trict Building. where the case OF the
people. as represented by the committee,
on the transportation situation was out
lined to him. The peoples counsel.
known to be opposed to some clauses OF
the merger bill as it now stands, eX-
pressed his qualification at the unified
action of the citizens on the issue, but
did not divulge his present attitude to-
ward it.