Evening star., 1932-12-12
Plea to End Chaotic Trans
portation Conditions Of
fered Formally.
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
PRAISES CIVIC INTEREST
Declares He Favors Action at This
Session on Car Lines and
Taxi Problems.

The resolution of the Citizens Joint
transportation Committee calling for
an end to the chaotic" condition Of
Washingtons transportation system, to-
day was laid formally before Senator
Arthur Capper, chairman of the Senate
District Committee, by a delegation
representing the Capitals leading civic
and trade organizations.
In receiving the group. the Kansas
Senator voiced his approval Of what he
described as the first organized move
ment on the part of Washington's cit
liens designed to hasten the merger of
the city's traction companies, and bring
about better plan of mass transporta-
ton"
Heretofore" Senator Capper said,
"a comparatively small number Of pub
lie spirited citizens have been actively
behind the merger plan, as against an
army of lobbyists for the traction con-
Germs. These latter have steadfastly
and consistently opposed provisions in
the legislation to merge the companies,
which I contend are necessary to prop
erly serve the public interest"
Urge Taxi Regulation.
The resolution of the civic group,
adopted at a meeting last week held
under the sponsorship of the Washing
ton Chamber of Commerce, called for
immediate merger of the traction COM
panies, and proper regulation of taxi
cabs by the Public Utilities Commis-
sion. 1t treats the matter of Washing
tons transportation problems not from
any single angle, but as a whole.
Senator Capper told the delegates he
was doubtful If the merger could be put
through without some concessions being
made on the part of both street car
companies. He referred especially to
the power clause which would set up q
power rate for Is years for the traction
concerns on basis far below the rate
allowed the Capitals business houses
and the public. $50
MY advice to the Citizens Com
mittee," Senator Capper said following
the meeting, lis to prevail upon the
two traction companies to yield in many
of their demands This merger pro-
position is matter of compromise"
Favors Early Action.
The Senator said he felt the merger
bill should be passed at the present
SCooAOAA OA OO4ASACoo dAlu LIE
civic group he would cooperate toward
this end
The delegation was headed by Thomas
P. Littlepage, president of the Washing
ton Chamber of Commerce. Others in
the group included Joseph D. Ashby,
president Typothetae of Washington;
George w. Peasley, president Federation
of Civic Associations; w. H McCarty,
vice president Cosmopolitan Club; Mark
Lansburgh, president Merchants and
Manufacturers Association; Miss Alma
McCrum, president Quota Club Will
liam o. Tufts president Washington
Federation OF Churches; r. w. Prince
Of the Washington Federation of
Churches; Ben T. Webster, president,
and Robert J. Cottrell. secretary, Wash
ington Board of Trade: Henry A. Will
lard. I'd, president Optimist Club, and
George E. Keneipp, chairman of the
Transportation Committee of the Wash
ington Chamber of Commerce.
This group will call on other mem
bers of the Senate District Committee
to present the resolution tomorrow.
Copies of it are going to every member
of Congress. The transportation prob
lem is expected to be discussed at
length at meeting of the Washington
Chamber Of Commerce at the Mayfiower
Hotel tomorrow night, at which Henry
I. Hartman, president of the Chamber
of Commerce of the United States, will
be the principal speaker.