Evening star., 1932-12-15
SENATE EXPECTED
TO ACT ON MERGER
OF CAR LINES SOON
Bill to Be Called Up When
Philippine Measure Has
Been Disposed Of.
COMPROMISES SOUGHT
ON CITIZENS PLAN
Subcommittee Formed by Trans.
portation Group to Meet 0bjec-
tions to Several Factors.

The action of the Senate today in
fixing January 5 as the date for taking
up the Glass banking bill improves
somewhat the prospects for considera-
ton Of the District of Columbia street
car merger resolution in the meantime.
The Philippine independence bill is
still before the Senate, and as soon as
1t Is disposed Of Senator Austin, Repub-
lican, of Vermont, plans to present q
motion to take up the merger question
The Austin motion will give the Senate
an opportunity to determine whether it
will consider the consolidation measure
at this time.
Moving to expedite action on the
merger bill the Citizens Joint Commit
tee on Transportation prepared today
to draft compromises regarding OBJ
jectionable features of the legislation,
which threaten its progress should it
come up for action.
The committee, which includes rep
resentativeS of leading civic and trade
organizations of the Capital, decided on
this course of action following con-
ference late yesterday with Peoples
Counsel Richmond B. Keech in the
District Building.
The group of citizens. seeking action
on the merger bill as part of a compre-
hensive program to bring about solu-
ton to what 1t describes as a crisis"
IN the city'S transportation system.
conferred with Mr.. Keech to discuss
those phases of the pending legislation
to which he is known to be opposed.
Subcommittee Named.
Thomas p Littlepage, president of
the Washington Chamber of Commerce
and chairman OF the committee, an
nounced today the appointment of a
special subcommittee which will work
with the peoples counsel, the Public
Utilities Commission and other inter-
ested bodies looking toward adjustments
In the measure designed to pave the
way for its approval by Congress.
Apprised by a group that it felt
the merger bill should be passed i'm
mediately, even with its minor faults"
in order that the chaotic" transpor-
tation system here might be improved,
Mr.. Keech said:
II cannot see the wisdom at this
time Of going into something which in
the end will haunt us. I am anxious
to see the merger brought about, but
not at such sacrifice
Outlines His Objections.
Point by point, the peoples counsel
outlined his objections to the commit
tee. They are:
l. He is opposed to the clause vest
ing the merged company with power
to acquire and operate directly or
through subsidiaries transit properties
within the District of Columbia and in
adjacent States. He feels the new
company should conflne its operation
to any Of the properties acquired under
the unification agreement, with the
right to operate, if it should see fit, in
adjacent States, either directly or
through subsidiaries.
2. The peoples counsel is against the
power clause, which would fix a power
rate for a period of Is years on the
basis of existing contract rates, at the
same time diveSting the Public Utilities
Commission of authority to make any
changes in the rate during that period.
This clause destroys the whole princl-
pie of utility regulation" Mr.. Keech
said.
8. He is opposed to the clause pro-
viding free transfers between street car
and bus, but excepting de luxe busses.
He believes free transfers should be uni
merged company.
Wants No Limit on Powers.
4. Mr. Keech is in opposition to that
section of the bill which would merely
give the Public Utilities Commission
power to authorize" abandonment Of
such property or operations as may be
found by the commission to be in the
best interests of improvement OF serv-
ice and effecting economies. The peo-
pies counsel feels the Public Utilities
-, H. fea
power to require such abandonments.
S. He objects to the reservation held
by Congress to alter, amend, or repeal
the resolution, and specifying that ANY
and all rights of franchise created by
this resolution shall terminate after one
year following its repeal"
Each of these objections is contained
in the list of amendments proposed by
Senator Arthur Capper. chairman of
the Senate District Committee, and
Senator John j. Blaine, in a minority
report accompanying the bill as 1t was
reported out by the District Committee.
Others in Conference.
The subcommittee appointed by Mr..
Littlepage is comprised of Ben T. Web
Ster, president of the Washington Board
Of Trade; Mark LanSburgh, president
of the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association: George E. Keneipp, chair
man of the Washington Chamber of
Commerce Transportation Committee,
and Col. A. B. Barber of the Interfed-
Grafton Conference. Mr. Littlepage will
also serve on the subcommittee.
The group which conferred with Mr..
Keech yesterday included the foregoing
and Robert j. Cottrell. secretary of the
Washington Board of Trade; Mrs. Hsr-
riet Howe, Zonta Club; Edward d.
Shaw. secretary of the Merchants and
Manufacturers Association; Miss Alma
McCrum, Quota Club; Col William O.
Tufts, president of the Federation of
Churches: Dewey Zirkin, president-elect
of the Kiwanis Club, and Henry A. Will