Evening star., 1941-08-17


counsel for the Federal Power Coz
the Senate failed to confirm the
nomination before Mr.. Keech's term
expired June 80 Then the Chief
Executive renominated Mr.. Hankln
and this nomination still is pending
No one has been named to succeed
Chairman Elgen.
In the face of this handicap. the
commission has been far from in
active, however. BY one means or
another, it has been able to study
and act on numerous on-controver-
sial items. BY arranging conferences
with the utility companies, the COM
mission has worked out agreements
which were made effective by orders
issued by its lone member-now En-
gineer Commissioner Charles w.
KutZ, who succeeded Col. McCoach-
or by the Joint Board, which con-
sists of the District Commissioners
and the Utilities Commission.
Almost 100 orders have been issued
since the commission became one
man agency. This may surprise
even those who follow the commits
sion's activities, because the job has
been done without fanfare and with
q minimum of controversy.
The Joint Board acts in all cases
relating to public space, such as
taxi stands, streetcar and bus stops,
ETC., and many of the orders have
been on such matters. The COM
mission, in the interest of conServ-
ing gasoline, has eliminated about
200 bus stops on 13 lines. 1t has
authorized new bus service, desig-
mated new taXicab zones and elm
mated others, issued special regula-
-tions for operation of buses during
three parades; changed location of
bus terminals and changed routes
and names of the bus lines.
In other actions. the commission
authorized the Washington Gas
Light Co.. to render monthly gas bills
on an estimated basis when an
actual meter reading is not readily
obtainable, and adjusted street and
park lighting rates with the Potomac
Electric Power Co.
This activity, of course, does not
hide the fact that matters of con-
siderable civic interest and import
ance have been left hanging due to
the lack of a full-fedged commits
sion.
The controversial question of the
cross town bus service, on which for
mer commission members completed
public testimony, must await filling
of at least one Of the two vacancies.
There is also pending petition by
the Capital Transit Co. for permls-
sion to make a straight 10-cent cash
fare for the Takoma express bus
service in connection with other
changes in North Washington serv-
ice.
More recently the commission re-
ceived a petition for an increase In
taxicab rates, and this must await
an addition to the commission
membership. Other pending mat
ters include a proposal for establish
xnent of an express bus line Tor tne
North Sixteenth street area; a pc
tition by the Washington Gas Light
Co. for permission to sell s9,ooo,ooo
of additional preferred stock; a pc
tition by the transit company 10
convert 180 of its two-man cars 10
one-man operation; the plea OF
Connecticut avenue businessmen Tor
return of the Chevy Chase bus line
to lower Connecticut avenue; pro-
nosal to substitute natural gas Tor
the present manufactured gas, ana
the request of the Federation OF
Civic Associations for sale OF street.
car tokens three for quarter.
On the "all-clear'' side OF the
docket, however, the commission
has been accomplishing numerous
things that affect the daily lives OF
citizens of Washington, and the
commission staff has found the Cit
dzens ready and willing to cooper
ate. AS an example of the manner
an which the commissions orders
have been received, only one COM
.plaint was registered against the
lagency's action in eliminating some
200 bus stops to save gas and speed
up trafflc.
Here are the high lights of the COM
missions work since last March l.
On March 12-Restored old route
'of Anacostia- Congress Heights ous
line to permit operation along Canal
street: eliminated the first OF the
200 bus stops which have been
dropped.
. March 21-Issued special regu-
,lations for operation of buses dur
ing Army Day parade.
April 11-Authorized Alexandra.
Bancroft & Washington Transit co.
to operate buses over Arlington Me-
.rnorial Bridge. (Similar authorize
lions later were issued for the Airing
ton & Fairfax Transportation Co.,
land the Washington, Virginia 81
MARYLAND Coach Coz.
. April 11-Designated 48 fire hy-
sdrant locations for use as taxlcab