Evening star., 1929-11-17
JOINT UTILITIES
HEARING AWAITED
D. C. Commission to Meet
With Virginia Group on Bus
Lines Proposal.

For the first time in history, the
District Public Utilities Commission
and the Virginia Public Service Corpo-
ration will hold a Joint hearing Tues
day when they will consider the appli-
cation Of the Nevin Bus Line for au-
thority to operate a motor bus line be-
tween Richmond and washington.
The hearing will be held in Rich
mond 1t is unlikely, however, that all
three members of the District commits
sion will sit with the Virginia commits
sion. Harleigh H. Hartman. vice
chairman is the only member who has
made definite arrangements to attend.
although there is a likelihood that Col.
William B. Ladue. Engineer Commis-
sioner Of the District, may join him.
Marks New Era.
The Joint hearing which is to mark
a new epoch in the relations between
the District and Virginia commissions,
is an outgrowth Of the initiative Of the
former to bring about closer degree of
cooperation with the Maryland and
Virginia commissions in the regulation
of public utilities engaged in interstate
business, About month ago the Dis
trict commission wrote the Maryland
and Virginia commissions suggesting
joint public hearings on all bus line
applications affecting the three juris-
dictions, and the replies indicated a
strong willingness on the part of both
commissions to cooperate.
For some years there has been
spirit of cooperation between the
Maryland and District commissions,
members of each having conferred on
several different occasions over matters
involving both jurisdictions, but never
before has the local commission CO.
operated to such an extent with the
Virginia commission.
Move Follows Application
The District commission made the
move for closer cooperation with the
Maryland and Virginia commissions fol-
lowing the action of the Nevin lines
in filing the Richmond Washington bus
line application. The petition filed in
Rit mond requests authority to operate
in the State of Virginia, while its ap-
plication to the local commission asks
permission to run the busses coming
into the District from Virginia over the
streets of Washington.
The District commission also has
several other similar requests from
other bus lines to enter Washington
from points in Virginia, but it feels that
only by joint consideration of these ap-
pllcations can it be satisfactorily de-
termined where public necessity and
convenience warrant the granting of
such applications In the letter to the
Maryland and Virginia commissions,
urging cooperation, the local commits
sion said:
Many Existing Lines.
"There are already a very consider
able number of interstate bus lines
1Ns saIa fNakr fnk
bia. These large vehicles do add to the
normal congestion of the city's streets.
The necessity and convenience of the
people of the city who are compelled to
use the streets must be given consider |
alton when there arises any question as
to the coming of other buses upon these
already crowded city thoroughfares."
Joint hearing with the Maryland and
Virginia commissions is regarded as of
far-reaching importance in local utility
circles because of the growth of WASH
ington beyond the boundaries Of the
District line and the extension of the
Districts utilities into those sections
While the joint hearings were proposed
specifically on applications of interstate
bus lines, 1t is believed that In the
course Of time consideration will be
corporations Of the District which serve |
nearby Maryland and Virginia COM
f1unities.
Other Utilities.
Gas manufactured In washington, 1t |
is pointed out, IS distributed in both |
Maryland and Virginia. The Potomac
Electric Power Co. sells current in
large section of Maryland, while both
street railway lines operate into Mary
land communities. In addition, one
railway line and a number of inde-
pendent bus lines come into Washing
ton from Virginia.
AS q result, it was explained, the
Maryland, Virginia and District COM
missions have a common interest in
the activities Of these various utility
concerns, which. 1t is believed, could be
better regulated and controlled through
joint action of the three commissions.