Evening star., 1932-03-05
Committee Approves Report
Asking Legislation at
Present Session.
LIMITED FIELD OPPOSED
IN TRACTION OPERATION
Group Feels Companies Should Be
Free to Operate Cabs Also if Util-
tiles Board Is Favorable.


transportation merger legislation during
the present. session of Congress, stating
this legislation will make possible long
needed improvements in the transpor-
| tation services rendered to the people
| of the District"
The committee action came after
thorough study of the proposed merger
bill. during which representatives OF the
| street railway companies, independent
taxicab owners and sightseeing bus op-
orators conferred with committee mem
bers. The group also had the benefit of
the presense at one of its meetings of
Assistant Corporation Counsel William
| A. Roberts, who explained the attitude
of the Public Utilities Commission and
the District Commissioners toward the
| proposed bill
Limited Power Opposed.
In opposing any legislation seeking to
| limit the powers of transportation COM
panies concerning their services to mass
transportation, the committee saw no
| reason why the companies should be
prohibited by law from engaging in
taxicab operations "of character ap-
| propriate in connection with street rail-
| way and bus service" deemed by the
! Public Utilities Commission to be desir-
| able in the public interest.
Relief of transportation companies
from existing unfair burdens and es-
tablishment of conditions which will
| permit the new company to effect i'm
provements of service" also was recon-
| mended by the committee. In this
connection the committee stated:
Competition from taxicabs and pri-
vate automobiles in this territory is
such that in order to retain and attract
patronage the street railway and bus
| lines must render a high grade of serv-
| ice at reasonable rates. Therefore, we
believe that instead Of imposing addi-
tional burdens or restrictions upon the
| transportation companies, the public in
terest requires that the legislation pro-
vide for relief from existing unfair
| burdens"
Pointing to the changing conditions
affecting local passenger transportation
in American cities, the committee felt
that "the future interest of the public
will be best served by leaving the trans
portation agencies free, subject to
proper control by the Public Utilities
Commission, to develop their services to
meet the public need in accordance with
the Developments of transportation
methods"
Fair Dealing Seen.
Stating it believes the commission
can be depended upon to protect the
public interest and to deal fairly with
all the transportation agencies con-
cerned, the committee continued:
Experience in other cities does not
indicate any ground for apprehension
on the part of taxicab owners or opera
tors as to possible operation of taxicabs
by the transportation companies. If in
the future taxicab operations of char
acter appropriate in connection with
street railway and bus service should, in
the Judgment of the Public Utilities
Commission, be desirable in the public
interest. we do not believe the trans
portation companies should be prohib-
tied by law from engaging in such op-
| erations
1--WE find that the buses belonging
| to the transportation companies are
now and have for years been chartered
for sightseeing purposes. In fact, street
1 cars were regularly employed in sight
tSeeing business before busses came into
in Sneral use Prohibition of charter of
rk kses or street cars for sightseeing
moses would keep available equip
II, w0 idle during off-peak hours and
UT wou,impose a loss of revenue, which
of born9p the last analysis have to be
y street \ those who use busses and
". ton. y for their daily transporta-
economic therefore consider it un-
the chartef undesirable to prohibit
buses for sh transportation company
regular bus sseeing purposes AS the
ton connaniesces of the tranSporta-
d. of the Public JJtfe under the control
D is thus ample aus Commission, there
8 needed TO assure witty, If such we're
u h,,ssas for eiobteeeN the charter OF
- not be allowed to h purposes shall
It. regular transportation Vefe & WIN ns tns
,e by busses." wee rendered
Favors Liberal Prov
- The committee felt that
as requiring complete merger Rlslation
IL poration Of all the transportaEe cor
under control OF the transps unltS
Is companies would be "impracticaHtlon
ly unnecessary and the public interesSnd
II not require it." YES
le Liberal provisions. the commit
lie held, are necessary in regard TO relis
r from existing paving burdens If tn
purpose of the legislation is TO be ac
complished. These burdens at presen
l. impose upon street car riders con
n siderable part Of the cost OF pawn
ct used and worn largely by motor We
te hicles according to the committee.
l. We find considerable difference L
e the estimates as to the effects of tn
l. ed by the Public Utilities Commission,
If the trade body committee said. w
understand that the objections OF tn
n District Commissioners TO those provi
1 sions are mainly on the ground that tn
,r existing budget of the District of Co
= lunlbia makes tire District unable t
It assume the payment Of the prosperity
/ l<xtxA I,
" such an objection affecting only tn
# current budget or budgets should no
: stand in the way OF adoption of reason
n able provisions on this subject 1t
a to the public interest that the Distric
! should for the future assume RESPONSE
n bility for its proper share of pavini
costs, and thus further the general pur
g pose OF facilitating the improvement o
+. the service rendered to the public b.
v the transportation companies.
y Plan Held Reasonable.
I'VE regard the paving provisions a
contained in the bills as recommended
by the Public Utilities Commission am
o agreed to by the transportation com
r panies 10 be reasonable and desirabi'
: IN the public interest"
e The committees recommendation vii
( be passed on by the board OF director
i of the Board OF Trade Monday, and tn
arguments are expected TO be presented
II before the House District Committee
Il when that body holds hearings on thu
J. merger legislation next week.
vi John J. Esch II chairman OF the Pub
L lic Utilities Committee OF the trad
r body. The subcommittee which pre-
h pared and submitted the report wa.
i headed by A. 8. Barbour.
Sentenced in Dance Hall.
e Sydney Coulter OF Guildford. England
e was tried for murder, convicted an,
Ie sentenced TO hang at court sessions HEX