Evening star., 1937-01-21

resentatives of Woodward e.
Lothrop, the Palais Royal and the
Capital Transit Co. contended the
territories outlying properly be-
longed within the boundaries to be
set up
With witnesses decidedly at odds in
their views, the Interstate Commerce
Commission today opened hearing to
Ak the metropolitan area" of the Dis
trict of Columbia for administering
the motor carrier act.
In such areas to be created where
State lines lie. bus and truck trans
p0tation will be exempt from the rate
and licensing provision of the act.
About 40 witnesses were on hand
when the proceedings opened before
Examiner Paul Coyle.
w. c. Seibert Of the Virginia Cor
poration Commission. and Charles G..
Morgan, jr., assistant secretary of the
District Trucking Association. Inc,
argued that this exempt zone should
not extend beyond the District bound
aries. although Seibert conceded that
Rosslyn, Va, might be included.
20-Mile Radium Asked.
To the contrary, E. S. Pardoe,
spokesman for Capital Transit Co.,
asked for creation of a zone within
20mile radius of the Zero Milestone.
Seibert. the first witness, said fatty
the State of Virginia objects to ex-
tending the zone to Alexandria, Ar
lington County or any place in that
neighborhood. To put the limit that
far out, he added. would permit truck
ing operation. not subject either to
Federal or State regulation.
Pardoe said Capital Transit wanted
all its interstate bus operation except
that to Baltimore viewed as being
within an exempt zone. He would
go as far as Mount Vernon in Virginia
and to Rockville. Washington Grove,
Hyattsville and Laurel in Maryland,
he said.
Pardoe declared this was interurban
rather than interstate operation even
though State lines were crossed. He
told the examiner $500 Government
employees are served by these bus lines
and that the recent decision Of Dis
trict Court upholding the right of
children from nearby States to attend
schools here had also added pas
sengers.
State Permission Faster.
As a third argument, Pardoe said
that frequently changes in services
are necessary and that IF they could
not be made prior to a hearing by the
Interstate Commerce Commission, the
benefits TO patrons would be delayed" )"
This brought question from A. r.
Edred, representing rail carriers in
trunk line territory, who wanted to
know the difference between going
to the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion and State bodies for permission to
make operating changes.
Pardoe said the procedure in the
latter instances was faster.
Morgan said the District Trucking
Association was firmly convinced Con-
gress meant the exemption to apply
only to Large industrial areas and not
residential areas" He denied that
municipalities contiguous to Washing
ton are commercially part of the
District
He said. however he probably would
favor exemption of retail delivery and
mass transportation movements from
the restricted Interpretation he would
put on the act.
Pardoe previously had testified re-
tail establishments here make free
delivery up to Is miles.
Too-Wide Exemption Opposed.
Morgan also argued that railroads
performing pickup and delivery
freight service limit this to the Dis
trict boundaries. He added also that
to give too wide latitude to the exemp-
tion clause would pave the way for
widespread evasion Of the act.
More than 500 bus and truck oper-
ators in the District and adjoining
Maryland and Virginia have been ad-
vised Of the proceedings so they
may testify II desired. The hear
Ing Is the fifth of the kind UNDER
taken by the commission. Others
have been held at New York, Chicago,
st. Louis and Los Angeles, but in no
case has decision been handed down.
For that reason it still is uncertain
Just how much latitude the commits
sion will allow In these operations.
Tho case affects principally bus
and truck operators whose service
bases are here, but those operating
through Washington also have an in
terest as competitors.
The hearing probably Will 20 into
next week,