Evening star., 1937-01-25
D. c. TRUCK AREA
HEAR|NG|SENDED
|. c. c. Hears Last Witness
on Determination of
Boundaries.

The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion hearing to set up metropolitan
area" for application Of the motor
carrier act was concluded today after
Washington's business interests had
continued their tight TO have Q sis-
able section Of nearby Maryland and
Virginia incorporated within the ter
ritory.
The principal witness at the final
session before Examiner Paul Coyle
was Robert j. Cottrell, secretary Of
the Board Of Trade, who said the
ordinary commercial zone served by
Washington merchants ran from 20
to IS miles in both Maryland and
Virginia.
Within the limits to be set up,
interstate operation by commercial
trucks and buses will not be subject
to the rates and licensing provisions
Of the act, and opponents have de-
clared that to allow too much lati-
tude will initiate against proper ad-
ministration Of the act.
Railroad Practice Cited.
This opposition has argued that the
area should end Ut the Districts
boundaries, and testimony designed to
show that railroads consider these the
proper lines also was introduced to-
day.
A. r. Eldred said that the Baltimore
& Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroads
confine their switching. operations to
the Districts lines and that the Penn
sylvania, B. g. o. and r., F g. p. con-
fine their free pickup and delivery
service to the same boundaries. The
B. & o. pickup and delivery goes out
a short distance into nearby Maryland
in the general vicinity of Bethesda;
Silver Spring and Takoma Park, he
said.
M. r. Palmer, representing A. p.
Woodson Co., coal dealers, said that
about 20 per cent of his firms basi-
ness Is in territories surrounding the
District. About 10 per cent Of the
business Is handled by contract car
riers, whose operations would be af-
fected by the zone limits. Private car
riers are not touched.
Disposition Is Speeded.
It was decided as the hearing ended
that no briefs will be filed, facili-
tating ultimate disposition Of the case.
Under commission procedure, Ex-
aminer Coyle will make q proposed
report. II no exceptions are taken
to this within 20 days his findings
will be entered as an order Of the
commission. Otherwise, the commits
sion will hear arguments on objec-
tions.
Specifically, Cottrell said in his
testimony the trade board would in
clude Gaithersburg and Laurel, Nd,
and Fairfax, Arlington and Alexan-
dria, Va, in the metropolitan area" !"
He said this Is q consumer market"
Of Government employees from WASH
ington and that deliveries involved
such items as dairy products, bakery
products and food In general. About
Is per cent Of the $500 members Of
the board are resident outside Of the
District, he said.
Concrete Operations Described.
r. Y K. Howat, representing .
group Of transit mixed concrete op-
orators, said there were five COM
panies in this group who make daily
deliveries to building operations as far
as Hyattsville, Silver Spring, Rock
vile, Arlington and occasionally Fair
fax.
Frederick k Bradley. representing
the Merchants Transfer q Storage
Co., offered in evidence publication
issued by The Star-"Interesting Facts
on Washington, D. G., Market"-to IL
lustrate the suburban trading area
open to District interests. He also put
in o chart from the Audit Bureau Of
Circulation to show the suburban cir
culation Of Warrington newspapers In
both adjacent States.