Evening star., 1932-12-24
REROUT|NG TALKED
AS TRACTION BILL
NEARSF|NAL VOTE
Probability of Passage Turns
Attention to Proposed
Track Changes.
STOCKHOLDER ACCORD
WILL BE NEXT PROBLEM
Congress Expected to Complete
Legislation Soon After Holidays.
Shares of Companies Rise.

The strong probability that street
car merger legislation will be completed
by Congress soon after the Christmas
holidays and submitted to the stock
holders of the companies for action
mas served to focus renewed attention
on the problem of rerouting and track
changing that could be considered
under unified system.
approximately five years ago. when
the present merger effort began to take
shape. detailed plans were discussed
by company officials and the Utilities
Commission as to how the railway sys-
TENS could be improved after consoli-
datlon II a merger results from the
JOINT resolution Which is now passing
through its final legislative stages the
indications are that these old plans
Will be used merely as basis upon
which to work up new studies in which
consideration could be given to changes
In conditions during the last five years.
Stockholders Must Act.
John H. Hanna, president Of the
Capital Traction Co, said today that
the more immediate problem, If the
merger resolution becomes law. is the
working out Of an agreement between
the two companies for the setting up
OF the new merged company. which
agreement will have to be passed on
BY a majority Of the stockholders.
Mr.. Hanna pointed out that when the
original merger resolution was drawn
up ABOUT hve years ago an agreement
was entered into between the COMPANIES.
but that it expired June l, 1929, and
lor that reason the details Of new
agreement will have to be worked out
Tor submission to the stockholders with
In six months after The authorizing leg
iSlatlon becomes Law. A majority Of the
stockholders must approve the terms,
and a maximum period of two years is
allowed within which they may act
On the question OF rerouting and
track arrangement. one of the first
problems likely TO be taken up is pro-
viding adequate transportation facilities
for the triangle area south of Pennsyl-
vania avenue, where the new Federal
buildings are going up. This problem
has been under discussion for some time
between officials of the National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commission.
other Government officials and the
transportation companies.
Fewer Turns Desired.
Aside from the triangle area, the
Park and Planning Commission also has
made studies Of how car routing could
be improved throughout the city under
a unified system. One Of the Sugges-
tions the commission has advanced is
that track changes be made that would
materially reduce the number Of turns
street cars are required to make under
the existing track layout.
While rerouting of existing lines
probably could be worked out without
much delay following consolidation,
plans which involve relocation of track
age are likely to be proceeded with more
gradually and with careful deliberation.
The resolution authorizing merger and
outlining conditions which must be
complied with has passed both branches
Of Congress and is awaiting only House
action on Senate amendments. The
House may either accept the amend
ments or ak a conference. If the
House concurS in the amendments the
resolution will go to the President for
signature.
Passage Of the merger legislation in
the Senate has greatly strengthened the
stock of the Capital Tracticn Co. Dur
ing the last week the stock has ad-
vanced from a low mark of 81 per share
to $40 per share. The Washington
Stock Exchange was closed today, but
yesterday the stock advanced 3l4 points
from the previcuS days trading. The
turnover has been largely in small lots,
but this stock is very widely held among
Washington inve-tors. There also has
been some trading in Washington Rail
way d Electric Issues since the merger
plan was again brought to the front.