Evening star., 1932-12-23
Lower Branch May Accept
Changes or Send Them
to Conference.
AGREEMENT EXPEDITES
PASSAGE OF MEASURE
Consolidation of Street Car Lines
Now Nearer Accomplishment
Than Ever Before.

VI tIle DlStTlCC Is nearer accomplishment
today than ever before, as the resolu-
tion carrying the terms OF merger went
back to the House for action on the
changes made by the Senate when it
passed the measure yesterday afternoon
These amendments, which the House
may either accept or send to confer
ence, embody most of the important
changes Senators Capper Of Kansas
and Blaine of Wisconsin contended
should be made in the public interest.
Once these adjustments had been
agreed upon at conference early yes
terday between Senators, railway off,
cials and a delegation from the Citi-
zens' JOINT Transportation Committee,
the merger resolution went through the
Senate quickly, with Senator Austin Of
vermont, in charge of the measure, ex-
planning the agreement.
House Adjourns.
No action on the merger bill will be
taken in the House until after the
Christmas holidays, the House adjourn
ing shortly after the measure was re-
ceived from the Senate today.
Chairman Mary T. Norton of the
House District Committee. before leav-
Ing the Capital for the holidays had
reached an agreement with Speaker
brought up until later.
chairman Black of the House sub
committee which conducted hearings on
the DILL said there was probability
that after the House committee has
considered the Senate amendments an
agreement may be reached to accept
the bill as passed by the Senate with
out sending 1t to conference. 1t would
tnen go TO the White House for sigma
ture.
The only remaining step then required
under the resolution is for a majority of
the stockholders of the companies to ap-
tlon would have to be submitted to them
within SIX months and would have to be
acted on within two years. These are
the maximum time limits and do NOT
imply that that long a period will
elapse.
The Essential Changes Made.
The essential changes made in the
nnal conference yesterday, which
were:
Power clause-the Utilities Commits
sion was given authority to regulate
the price OF all the current to be fur
nlsheo by the Potomac Electric Power
20. for operation of the merged car
system. The old power clause, to which
Capper and Blaine objected, provided
that for is years So per cent of the
power would be paid for under terms
agreed upon by the companies, with the
commission regulating only the remain
ing 81 per cent. Under the new power
cause the Washington Railway and
Electric Co. would turn over to the Po-
tomac Electric Power Co. its existing
contracts for the sale Of power to other
railway companies.
Three-Cent School Fare.
School fares-The present three
cent fare for children going to and
from school was written in as one of
the terms of merger. The resolution
already had conferred general author
ity on the commission to establish a
reduced rate without specifying the
amount. The companies have been
contesting in court the present three
cent school fare law, but If they ac-
cept the merger plan as now worded
the three-cent school rate Is carried in
as one of the conditions of the agree
ment.
Transfers-The resolution originally
provided for universal free transfers be-
tween street cars, and left to the COM
mission the power to decide how trans
fers shall be issued from street car to
bus or from one bus to another. This
was not changed but the following pro-
vision was added to the transfer sec
tion: Provided. That this shall not be
interpreted so as to prevent the Pub
Tic Utilities Commission from establish
ing special fares lower than the basic
rate without transfer privileges" This
anticipates the possible establishment
of special reduced rates for short hauIs
when the merger has been brought
about, as a means of attracting more
car riders, and means that such rates
ing the transfer privilege which would
go with the basic fare.
Power Of Congress.
Power Of Congress-The saving clause
was rewritten to provide that Congress
reserves the right to alter. amend or
ing the merger. but the certificate or
incorporation under which the merger
would be brought about. 1t further
provides that any or all rights of fran
Chi. created by the resolution would
terminate one year following its repeal
by Congress.
Subsidiaries-The right of the merged
company to operate through subsidiaries
was modified to confine this authority
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