Evening star., 1932-05-09
Move Made by BIanton to
Recommit Measure Is
Defeated.
Representative TAKES
ISSUE WITH MRS. NORTON
Sees Only Transfer Privileges Un-
der New Law Instead of
Farreaching Benefits.

without q record vote, the House this
afternoon passed the street railway
merger bill
The House had previously defeated
by a vote of 1872 to 100 a motion to
recommit the bill offered by Representa-
tive Blanton, Democrat, Of Texas, who
had pleaded with his colleagues to send
the bill back to committee until amend
ments by Senator Capper could perfect
the bill 80 that we can all vote for it" J"
Before taking up the street railway
merger bill, the House today corrected
a technical error in bill which had al
ready passed both the House and Sen
ate requiring all insurance companies
incorporated in the District Of Colum-
bia to maintain their main offices and
their books in the District of Columbia.
Challenges Norton Statement.
Opposing action upon the street rail-
way merger bill, Representative Blan-
ton challenged the statement by Chair
man Norton of the District Committee
that the District citizens are in favor
of this legislation. He read letter
from the Federation OF Citizens Asso-
Citations which on Saturday night took
action approving the bill as reported to
the Senate by the Senate District Com
mittee with amendments proposed in a
minority report by Senators Capper and
Blaine. but opposing the bill as reported
by the House Committee.
This bill does not do a single thing
for the people but to give them inter-
changeable transfers" said Represent
ed. half baked, half understood piece
of legislation" and said that this is the
first time m the history Of Congress
that they had to resort to a preamble
such as is carried in the House bill.
He declared that it would be sent back
to the committee and wait for while
until Senator Capper can get 1t fixed
up. He said he has received big
batch of letters from District people
who begged him not to let the merger
bill pass.
Many Advantages Seen.
Representative Black, Democrat. of
New York, called attention that for
years the people of the District and
Congress have been trying to bring
about the street railway merger. He
assured his colleagues that under the
House bill the people will Immediately
be given free transfers, better service,
better equipment and that the merged
company will be able to keep up en-
ployment and asked his colleagues to
act favorably upon the measure as soon
as possible.
Representative Holmes, Republican, of
Massachusetts spoke in favor Of the bill.
He emphasized that the sale of power to
public utilities through power contracts
objected to by Senators Capper and
Blaine permits low rates to domestic
consumers. He pointed out that the
merger would afford better conveniences
for car riders and a more economically
sound system.
An amendment by Representative
Gilbert, Democrat, of Kentucky, placed
upon the street railway one-hah the
cost of repaving between the tracks
and 2 feet on either side and all Of the
cost when the street or bridge is not
being paved The bill has previously
provided that the merged company
should pay one-fourth of the costs OF
such repaving.
Disagree With Blanton.
Representative Chindbloom, Repub-
lican, of Illinois, said that the letter
read by Representative Blanton did not
speak for the Federation of Citizens
but a group which had been fighting
the Public Utilities Commission, which
has approved the proposals in the
House bill. Representative Blanton in
sisted that the letter had come from
the federation and represented a vote
against the House proposal for a mer-
ger taken Saturday night and spoke
for the people of Washington 100 per
cent
Send this bill back to the committee
until the Capper amendments are
made" pleaded Mr.. Blanton, and I
will guarantee you will get a proper
bill that all of us can vote for"
After all amendments and the pre-
amble had been approved, Representa-
tive Blanton offered a motion to re-
commit, which was voted down on a
rising vote of 81 to 25, and he then OBJ
jected to this vote because there was
not a quorum present. On the required
roll call vote, his motion to recommit
was rejected, 1872 to 100, and the
merger bill was passed.