Evening star., 1932-04-08
TRACTION MERGER
BILL APPROVED IN
REPORT TO HOUSE
Hornor Casts Only Dissenting
Vote of District Com
mittee.
AMENDMENT EXCLUDES
OPERATION OF TAXICABS
Legislation Little Changed, How
ever, From Draft of Public
Utilities Commission.
The House District COMMITTED in ex-

The House District Committee in ex-
ecutive session last night ordered a
favorable report on the traction merger
bill, with only one dissenting vote, that
of Representative Lynn S. Hornor
Democrat. of West Virginia.
The bill was amended to exclude the
operation of taXicabs from the field
of the merged company's activities and
require majority of bona fide Dis
trict residents on the board of the
merged company.
Last-minute efforts to have the, bill
carry provisions for universal free
transfers. and a repeal clause such as
is in the Senate bill, were made in
vain by William NICK. Clayton, chair
man of the Public Utilities Committee
of the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions, ana by Evan H. Tucker, presi-
dent Of the Northeast Washington Citi-
zens Association.
Differs From Senate Bill
AS acted upon, the bill is quite differ
ent from the measure reported by the
Senate Committee last week which
carries SO amendments. while the House
bill is changed little from the draft pre-
sented by the Public Utilities Commits
sion.
The bill as reported will relieve the
merged company of $350,000 expenses
for paying crossing policemen's salaries
and from defraying any paving costs
except between tracks and six inches
beyond. The protest of the District
Commissioners that the merged COM
pany be relieved of only $150,000 costs
was ignored.
The amendment prohibiting the
merged company from operation of
taxicabs was offered by John H. Hanna,
president of the Capital Traction Co.,
and S. r. Bowen, general counsel for
the Washington Railway g. Electric Co.,
stated that this provision was accepta-
Bile.
Dispute over the Public Utilities
Commission order for installation of
meters in taxicabs threatened to COM
plicate the situation, but this was dis
sipated by exclusion of taxicabs from
the authorized scope of the merged
companys activities. ....
AS approved, the merger bill carries
a clause extending for Is years con-
tracts under which the Washington
Railway & Electric Co. buys current
below cost from the Potomac Electric
Power Co., and retails it, A similar
clause in the Senate bill provoked bit
ter opposition from Senator Capper of
Kansas and Senator Blaine of Wiscon-
sin, both Republicans.
Halts Taxi Discussion.
Previous to action on the merger bill
there was brief hearing on the rela-
tionship of 'taxicabs to the merger pro-
posals. This was stopped by Chairman
Norton who insisted upon attention be-
ing given exclusively to the merger bill.
Representative Loring Black of New
York, chairman of the subcommittee
reporting the merger BILL explained
that taxicab competition was one of the
chief arguments for merger, but that
if meters are required there will be
fewer taxicabs and so less need for
consolidation.
Albert Jacobsen, counsel for the City
Cab Co. notified Chairman Norton that
petition will be presented to the
House District Committee requesting
that the Public Utilities Commission be
blocked from enforcing its meter in
stallation order.
Leon Brill. jr., president of the Bell
Cab Co, urged continuance of the pres
ent zone system, citing inequities under
the meter system.
Mrs. Marie Flynn Maddox, chairman
Of the Utilities Committee of the Co.
lumbia Heights Citizens Association,
questioned the sudden enthusiasm"
during the past two years Of street car
companies for merger which they op-
posed for many years.