Evening star., 1932-02-13
|RA|L MERGER SPLIT
| CONT|NUESAFTER
|. LENGTHY HEARING
Senate District Committee to
Hold Further Sessions
Next Week.
POWER AND TRANSFER
ISSUES ARE UNSETTLED
School Children's Fares Also Dis.
puted-Differenees May Delay
Action by This Congress.

Although a long hearing before the
Senate District Committee yesterday
afternoon on the question of the street
railway merger ended with various in
terested groups still in disagreement
over a number of proposed amend
ments, the committee will continue dis
cussion of the subject. probably during
the coming week.
Among the questions still in dispute
between witnesses when yesterdays
meeting ended were: The clause in the
resolution laying down the terms under
which the new traction company would
be supplied with current by the Poto-
mac Electric Power Co.; the question of
free transfers between street cars and
buSSes and the inclusion of provision
to safeguard a reduced fare for school
children.
The suggestion raised at a previous
hearing that the merged company
should be limited to street car and bus
operation. to prevent it from operating
taxicab lines, appeared to have been
satisfactorily worked out between the
utilities commission and representatives
OF Lne ClLlZeTS.
Action at This Session Threatened.
At the conclusion of the meeting
Senator King of Utah, intimated the
committee might have to give up ef-
forts to bring about merger at this ses-
sion if more headWay is not made in
adjusting differences Chairman Cap
per said another meeting will be held
soon.
Among those who took part in dis
clLsSing the various proposed changes
in the plan Yesterday were Evan H.
Tucker. president of the Northeast
Washington Citizens Association; Will
liam NICK. Clayton, representing the
! Federation of Citizens Associations.
Peoples Counsel Richmond B. Keech,
Assistant Corporation Counsel w A.
Roberts, counsel TO the Utilities Com
mission, and officials of the street rail-
way companies.
Mr. Tucker advocated universal free
transfers and provision regarding re-
duced fare for school children. He
also submitted a number of other
amendments recommended by his as
sociation relating TO the financial set
up Of the merged company
Mr.. Keech urged striking out Of the
section defining the arrangement to be
| made for electric current between the
power company and the merged car
company, contending it is unnecessary
and that the question should be reg
ulated by the Utilities Commission
Mr.. Roberts replied that on the
! power clause the Public Utilities Com
mission followed the recommendations
of DR.. Maltbie, who was expert adviser
to the Senate Committee in the merger
negotiations several years ago
Transfer Discretion Urged.
Roberts also contended the commits
! sion should be given some discretion
J regarding transfers between cars and
| busSeS. He urged that bus line which
| is established into a new territory is
| different from a bus line which is
merely an extension of an existing car
/ line, and that in the former case A
| transfer charge might be advisable.
keech insisted there should be free
| transfers, declaring that one of the
| principal objects of merger is to make
! riding convenient to the public
The objections which have been
placed on file by the District Commits
sioners, asking for changes in the track
paving features of the merger plar.
were not reached yesterday and will
| come up at the next meeting Mr..
Clayton took part in the discussion of
certain amendments yesterday. but will
m9ke his final argument on behalf of
the federation at the next hearing.
Mrs. Gardner Orme who said she
appeared as a citizen and as a stock
holder in the Capital Traction Co, ap-
proved the merger as originally drawn
She deplored the effect taxicabs are
having on the car lines
Early in the meeting Senator Tydings.
Democrat of Maryland, presented his
amendment, intended to give the local
Utilities Commission jurisdiction to pass
on the terms of the arrangement under
which the Washington. Baltimore and
Annapolis line uses the tracks of the
Washington Railway & Electric Co. in
the District.
Commissioner Power Wanted.
George w. Williams, representing the
w. B. g. A, contended the local COM
mission should be empowered to pass
on the amount to be paid by his COM
J pany TO the w. R. e. E. system. Will
! liam F. Ham, president of the Wash
f, ington Railway & Electric Co., opposing
! the amendment. told the committee the
w.. B. & A. entered into contract
with the local company and that any
question of change in it would be one
! for negotiation between the companies
The resolution seeking to allow the
District Supreme Court to determine
what claim, if any. the Mount Vernon,
| Alexandria g. Washington Railway Co.
| has as the result of removal of its
tracks from the Federal building area
. south of Pennsylvania avenue came
up briefly, but was referred back to
Senator Austin of Vermont for further
| revision.