Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-12
1t Should Be Done Now

In addition to ordering curtal-
nent of bus service in certain cities,
where savings of fuel and rubber
result, the once of Defense Trans
portation is co-ordinating interstate
bus service along the whole Atlantic
seaboard, providing for interchange
able tickets between competing lines,
pooling of operations, etc. Such
steps make it all the more difficult
to understand the delay in taking
substantially the same sort OF meas
ures in relation to Improvements and
possible economies in the Transport
tation systems serving the Metro
politan Area of Washington.
Senator Burton's special subcom-
mittee OF the Senate District Com
mittee is now exploring the posi-
bilities Of instituting, by volunteer
action on the part of various bus
lines, uniform fare between Wash
ington and such outlying Govern
ment buildings as the Pentagon, in
Arlington, and the Census Bureau in
Suitland. The uniform fare would
include interchangeable transfers
between competing lines and would
represent a distinct improvement.
But the amount involved in the uni
form fare remains to be disclosed and
evidently there is not yet complete
agreement on a voluntary step of
this sort.
There are complexities in the stu
alton in the Metropolitan Area which
probably are not duplicated any,
where in the United States. Regula-
tory control is divided between the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
which seems to agree to, rather than
fix, the rates of fare charged on
buses doing an interstate business;
the Public Utilities Commission,
which fixes rates in the District
without consideration of the busi-
ness done outside the District by the
same line; the Arlington County and
the Virginia and Maryland public
utility bodies, all of which exercise
some regulatory authority over Vir-
ginia and Maryland companies en-
tering the District. A committee Of
defense transportation co-ordinators
for this area is also concerned and
the Office of Price Administration
recently has interviewed in a bus fare
case. There are plenty OF cooks
with finger in the pie, each lacking
an authoritative voice In the in
gradients.
The obvious need is for some over
all regulation of Metropolitan Area
transportation, cutting across State
boundaries and doing whatever is
necessary, in fixing fares and pool
Ing equipment, to provide cheap, ade-
quate transportation Senator Bur-
ton said yesterday that his committee
will consider a proposal that the
District Public Utilities Commission
be given jurisdiction over all utilities
gas, electricity, telephone and mass
transportation services-in Federal
Government-owned areas In adjacent
Maryland and Virginia. Whether or
not the District Public Utilities Com
mission is the agency, certainly the
Federal Governments expansion
into nearby Maryland and Virginia
makes some such step, particularly
in relation to mass transportation,
eminently desirable for the immedi-
ate future.
The responsible Government, which
bought land and erected Office build
ings beyond the District limits and
which is sending increasing thou
sands Of its employees to work in
these outlying areas. is likewise re-
sponsible for seeing that they obtain
adequate utility services at reason
able rates. The Star is glad to see
that Senator Burton's committee is
moving in that direction.