Evening star., 1938-07-12
AUT0-RA|LER LINE
IN D. c. FORECAST
Virginia Firm to Renew Fight
to Extend It's Routes Into
Washington.

The Arlington b Fairfax Auto Rail-
road Co., today prepared to renew its
Tight before the District Public Utilities
Cohnfhi1iIGn fcr the r1sht to run its
autosxa,l cars into WfShlngton from
Virgins, .sgss Ia.
Fraukln x. Lane, president Of the
company, confidently predicted the
service would start within 30 days, but
Public Utilities Commission officials
indicated they still might consider
Interstate Commerce Commission au-
thorization necessary before granting
the company route for operation In
the District.
The I. c. G. ruled yesterday that the
proposed operations did not constitute
extension of . railroad line which
would require certificate Of con-
venience and necessity under section
l QS) Of the Interstate Commerce Act.
Mr.. Lane pointed out the I. c. G.
action, which formally dismissed the
company's application for a certificate
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the company itself and was not an
adverse decision as it was interpreted
In early editions Of The Star yesterday.
Extension Asked Before.
Two years ago q predecessor COM
pany filed similar application with
the I. G. G. under section II Of the
act, pertaining to motor carriers, but
obtained dismissal without q ruling on
its merits after q joint board had
found that public convenience and
necessity were not shown to require
the proposed operation.
The company now contends, Mr..
Lane said, that the proposed service
would NOT be that Of a motor carrier
subject to provisions Of part II Of the
Interstate Commerce Act, but merely
an extension Of transportation service
within its terminal area" which
would not require I. G. G. authoriza-
ton.
Mr.. Lane said he would demand
immediate action by the Public
Utilities Commission on an applica-
ton filed last year for approval of
. route for operation Of the autp-rail
cars over Washington streets, to un-
load and pick up passengers coming
from and bound for points in Vir-
ginia on its rail line.
/. C. C. Ruling Held Necessary.
The Public Utilities Commission
refused 10 consider the application
.eriginally until the company first
secured . certificate of convenience
and necessity from the I. G. c., or
ruling that none was necessary.
The problem now coming before
the Public Utilities Commission will
be to determine whether the I. C. C.
decision yesterday meets this require
ment, q spokesman said. He declined
to predict what action would be taken,
but pointed out that the I. c. c. had
limited its ruling to holding that no
certificate was necessary under pro-
visions Of the law pertaining to extern
ton Of railway lines: thus leaving
application Of the interstate commerce
motor carrier provisions open to con-
troversy.
Line New Runs to Rosslyn.
The company now operates q rail-
road line from Rosslyn, Va, to Fair
fax and Green Valley, w., with the
auto-rail cars, described as buses with
both fianged wheels for running ON
rails and rubber-tired wheels for
street operation.
It is seeking permission to run the
cars on their rubber-tire wheels over
Key Bridge and into downtown Wash
ington 20 as to be able to offer
through service to and from the down.
town area to its Virginia passengers.
No trafdc would be handled between
points within the District.