Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-03-19
CAPPER TO OPPOSE
POWER CLAUSE IN
TRACTION MERGER
Joins With Senator Blaine to
Force Revision in
Agreement.
FAVORABLE REPORT DUE
IN SENATE NEXT WEEK
Field Restricted to Cars and Buses
Clauses on School Rates and
7-s Paving Also Inserted.

Chairman Capper of the Senate Dis
trict Committee it was made known
today will join with Senator Blaine,
Republican, of Wisconsin in opposing
the clause dealing with electric power
for the merged car lines In the street
railway merger resolution which was
ordered favorably reported from the
committee late yesterday.
Senator Capper said today he thought
the merger resolution as whole is in
better shape than it has ever been in
the past but that he objects to the
power clause as it now stssnds.
This clause provides that for period
of is years 63 per cent of the current
for the consolidated car system would
he furnished under the present arrange
ment existing between the Potomac
Electric Power Co. and the Washington
Railway & Electric Co., with the Public
Utilities Commission regulating the re-
naming 81 per cent. After Is years it
would all be subject to the Utilities
Commission.
Wants Fair" Provision.
Senator Capper said he does not re-
gard this as fair provision, and point
ed out that Peoples Counsel Keech also
recommended that this section of the
resolution be amended.
Before acting on the measure late
yesterday, the committee made a num-
Der of the amendments that had been
debated at hearings earlier in the
session.
The merged company's field of opera
tionS would cover street railway and
motor bus transportation" the COM
mittee having cut out reference to other
forms of public transportation, to meet
the objection of those who contended
the company should not operate taxi
cabs.
The original street paving clause was
modified by the committee to relieve
the merged company of three-fourths
of the expense now borne by the rail-
ways toward the improvement of streets
not previously paved. This would not
relieve the company in the case of
streets completely resurfaced. TIE
amendment was recommended by the
District Commissioners and the Utili-
ties Commission.
School Rates Guarded.
The committee wrote In a provision
under which the company would be
required to acquieSce in the authority
of the Utilities Commission to fix rea-
sonably reduced rates for school chill
dren. The present school rate, fixed
by act of Congress, is being contested
in the courts. The amendment does
not fix definite rate, but is intended
to insure the continuation of some re-
duction for school children under the
THic of ~
ments advocated by william NICK.
Clayton of the Federation of Citizens
Associations.
The committee left unchanged the
section providing for free transfers be-
tween street car lines, with the Utilities
Commission empowered to determine
whether free transfers should be issued
from cars to buses. Witnesses had
suggested universal free transfers from
car to bus as well as between cars.
Other amendments made by the
committee include: A provision making
subsidiaries within the District subject
to approval of the Utilities Commits
sion, making the articles of incorpora-
ton OF the new company subject to ap-
proval OF the commission before they
are recorded, that at least of the Is
directors be bona fide District residents,
empowering the commission to author
1ze abandonment Of property or opera
tons for the purpose of improving serv-
ice or effecting economies contemplated
by the merger.
Repeal Power Stressed.
The clause at the end Of the resolution
reserving to Congress the power to alter,
amend or repeal the resolution was en-
larged by addition of the following
words: And any and all rights of fran
chise created by this resolution shall
terminate after one year following its
repeal"
The resolution contains the section re-
neving the company from payment of
salaries Of crossing policemen. The
company also would be relieved of ex-
pense in connection with maintenance
and replacement of bridges, except such
expense as results from the require
ments of railway operation.
The resolution contemplates a VOL
untary merger of the Washington Rail-
way & Electric and the Capital Trac-
ton Cos, with authority for the new
company TO acquire the Washington
Rapid Transit Co. The resolution sets
forth the conditions under which the
companies would be permitted to merge,
subject to acceptance by the stock
holders.
When the committee meeting began
yesterday John Maynard Harlan ex-
pressed his views on one or two of the
amendments. Mr.. Harlan explained
that he had been asked by Harley P.
Wilson to assist in bringing about the
merger il Congress should pass the
authorizing resolution. Mr.. Wilson is
principal owner Of the Washington
Rapid Transit Co.
Mr. Harlan said the various amend
ments presented to the committee had
previously been considered by the
Utilities Commission, and suggested
that the committee consider only the
differences between the commission
and the companies.
Senator King, Democrat of Utah,
said he thought the committee should
not limit itself in the consideration Of
amendments Senator Blaine of Wis
consin pointed out that, since repre-
sentatives of the Utilities Commission
and other interested groups were not
present, the committee might be sub
ject to criticism if it continued to hear
arguments on the question. Chairman
Capper said he also had regarded the
hearings as completed. Mr.. Harlan
and Louis Barley, another attorney,
withdrew and the committee went into
executive session.