Evening star., 1934-08-03
PROGRAM IS FIXED
FOR HEARINGS ON
CARS REROUT|NG
Date for First Session Is
Set for August IS De-
spite Protest.
w. A. ROBERTS DEMURS
AT PROPOSED SCHEDULE
Peoples Counsel Says Time In
adequate to Permit Study
Of Report.


The Public Utilities Commission
yesterday announced officially the de-
tails OF plans to be followed In con-
Quoting the coming hearings on re-
routing OF the merged street car and
bus transportation system In the Dis
trict. It's statement followed one by
Peoples Counsel William A. Roberts.
in which he had complained that the
interval between publication OF the
re-routing study, August 10, and the
first hearing, August IS, would be
inadequate to permit study Of the
report.
It developed that the commissions
intention originally had been to hold
the hearing even earlier, The COM
mission statement said. THE prelimi-
nary hearing was originally expected
to be called on The 18th of August.
Due to prior engagement Of the
peoples counsel. who win be out of
the jurisdiction on the 18th and 18th.
the matter has been carried over 10
the 18TH"
Report Due August 7.
The commissions statement said
that John Beeler, Of the Beeler
organization, retained to make the
transportation study, had promised
the commission ito have ready for
circulation preliminary summaries Of
hts views not later than August T."
The chief engineer OF the commission.
it said, win also make such q report
available next week.
At the hearing August Is IL Is
planned to let Beeler, Fred A. Sager.
chief engineer OF the commission, and
Harland Bartholomew, engineer re-
tanned by the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, and the en-
gineers retained by the Capital Tran
sit Co, expound their respective plans.
Continuing, the statement said:
1T is understood that no examina-
ton can be conducted with q view to
sustaining or breaking down any plan
at the preliminary hearing on the 18th.
/ The purpose Of the hearing Is In keep
ing with the previously announced
policy Of the commission, to see to 1t
that all interested parties are given
the maximum opportunity to become
acquainted with all proposals.
TT may be that Mr.. Beeler. Mr..
Sager, Mr. Bartholomew and the en-
gineer presenting the matter for the
transit company may not have, by
their many plans, touched upon some
proposal Of citizen or civic organi-
zation. II such be the case, an op-
portunity will be afforded, after those
groups have given their views, forsthe
| presentation Of such citizen or citizens
organizations OF their proposal. Here
again those present viii have an op-
| portunity TO ask such questions as
may be necessary to explain the pro-
posal.
Recess to September 10.
After the presentation Of the
various plans by the four principal
groups mentioned above and such as
the citizens or their organizations
may desire 10 present for considera-
ton, and such questions as may be
necessary to explain the various
propositions presented, the commits
| sion viii recess the hearing to permit
Of q thorough study thereof by all
concerned. The proceeding will be
resumed ON September 10 with the
| right OF all parties to examine the
| proponents OF the various plans.
1T is believed that the maximum
intelligent understanding Of the vari-
Gus views may be had In this manner,
| and the public advised fully not only
as to the summaries, but by detailed
statement as to them, with the right
to have explained the purpose and
| intent of any plan. Furthermore, IL
| affords the public an opportunity to
be promptly advised, and, likewise.
| gives them an opportunity to get the
picture direct from the experts.
Following this full hearing the
commission will investigate all plans,
testimony and recommendations, and
publish a tentative order embracing
recommendations Of the commission.
A final hearing viii be held promptly
by the Joint Board, consisting Of the
public utilities commissioners ind the
Commissioners Of the District Of
Columbia.
Prompt Action Sought.
The commission realizes the neces-
sity for as prompt action as possible.
However. the importance Of this mat
ter has required that thorough con-
sideration be given to all factors.
After these reports are available
for study 1t Is doubly important that
the public shall be afforded ample
opportunity to hear them In detail,
to study their effect, and then to
question those who advocate their
adoption, before final determination
Is made by the Joint Board
Speed is an important element in
transportation, thus the necessity for
direct routing Is VITAL Likewise the
study now being made should relate
not only to the present, but give due
consideration TO the future. The
determination Of this matter win, in
all probability, have q lasting effeNt.
The transit industry might well le
enih ~ ha af Nn