Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-18
STEPS ARE TAKEN
| FOR JOINT ACTION
| ON UTILITY PLEAS
Commission Acts for Closer
Cooperation With Virginia
and Maryland.
PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ALL
APPLICATIONS SUGGESTED
Would Affect Those Either in Two
or All Three of Juris-
dictions.

Inc PUBIC Ut1l1tleS Commission, it
was learned today, has taken the in
lt1at1ve in movement to bring about
a closer degree of cooperation and CO.
ordination with the Maryland and Vir-
| glnia public service commissions in the
regulation of public utilities engaged in
interstate business in the District and
| those two neighboring jurisdictions.
Recognizing the Importance of more
unified control over these interstate
utilities than has been prevalent in the
past, the commission several days ago
wrote to the Maryland and Virginia
| commissions suggesting joint public
hearings on all applications affecting
either two or all three of the jurisdic-
| tions.
The movement is an outgrowth of an
| application filed with the State Cor
poration Commission of Virginia re-
Gently by the Nevin Bus Line to op-
crate in that State between Richmond
and the District. The company also
has an application before the local
commission to run the buses from
Richmond over the streets of WASH
tngton. The local commission also has
several other similar requests from 9TH
er bus lines to enter Washington from
| points in Virginia, and it feels that
| only by joint consideration Of these ap-
| plioationS can it be satisfactorily de-
termined where public necessity and
convenience warrant the granting of
such applications.
Similar Letter to Maryland.
In its letter to the Maryland Public
| Service Commission, which is similar,
but not identical, in text to that sent
to the Virginia commission, the local
commission said:
From time to time this commission
| receives applications from interstate
bus lines desiring to enter the District
OF Columbia from points in Maryland,
| and it is believed that when such an
| interstate bus line desires to operate
| IN more than one Jurisdiction, its APP
pllcation should, in some way, be con-
| sidered jointly by the regulatory bodies
| In the territories through which it de-
| sires to run.
"It would seem that all of the perth
| nent facts might be developed at pub
| lie hearing, giving all interested parties
an opportunity to voice their views, in
| Guiding the proponents Of the proposed
line, any similar organizations already
| authorized to render service over COM
] peting routes and any citizens who may
care to make known their desires or
| opinions to the regulatory bodies con-
| cerned. Only in this way can it be de-
termined whether or not the necessity
| and convenience of the public warrant
Al.
There are already very consid-
cradle number of interstate bus lines
which come into the District of Column
| 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 cOnSid-
Grafton when there arises any question
as to the coming Of other buses upon
these already crowded city thorough
fares.
Joint Hearings Proposed.
eff your commission is in accord with
| the ideas herein expressed. would you
think it advisable to hold joint public
hearing or hearings in connection with
applications before the commission to
operate the bus lines in both your State
of Maryland and the District of Column
bia? If it seems well to you to proceed
In this way the Public Utilities Commits
sion OF the District of Columbia would
be very glad to join in such hearings at
any convenient place and upon dates
to suit the convenience of members of
your commission as well as ours"
The District and Maryland commits
SionS already have conferred on several
dl1erent occasions over matters involv-
ing both jurisdictions, but Joint public
hearings as suggested by the local Com.
missioners never before have been held.
In several instances members of the
Maryland commission also have attend
ed hearings in the District on questions
involving utilities which operate in
Maryland. and members of the District
commission have gone to Baltimore for
tween the District and Virginia COM
missions. however. has never reached
this extent.
Regarded as Far Reaching.
The move for joint hearings is re-
garded as of far-reaching importance
III local public utilities circles, because
of the growth of Washington beyond
the boundaries of the District line and
the extension Of the Districts utilities
into thoSs sections. While the Joint
hearings are proposed specifically on
applications of interstate bus lines. il Is
believed that in the course of time co,l-
s1deration would be given at such hear
lngS to applications of other utility COR
porations of the District which serve
nearby Maryland and Virginia COM
munitieS.
Gas manufactured in Washington. it
was pointed out, is distributed in both
Maryland and Virginia. Electric cur
rent generated at the Benning power
plant OF the Potomac Electric Power
Co. also is sold in a large section of
Maryland, while both street railway
lines as well as the Washington Rapid
Transit Co. operate into Maryland COM
munities. In addition, one railway line
and number of independent bus lines
operate into Washington from Virginia.
Thus the Maryland, Virginia and Dis
trict commissions, it was emphasized.
have common interest in the activi-
ties of these various utility concerns.
which most likely could be better reg
ulated and controlled through close CO.
operation and coordination of the three
nm ice