Evening star., 1943-03-30
Bill Would Put
Virginia Shore
Under DC. Rule
McCurron Introduces
Measure to Tuke In
U. S. Properties

Chairman McCarran OF the
Senate District Committee late
today introduced a bill which
would place the Virginia shores
of the Potomac River between
Key Bridge Plaza and a point
below the National Airport-in-
Guiding the Pentagon Building,
the Army Air Forces Annex and
the Navy Annex-under the jur-
isdiction of the District govern
ment.
The bill, which observers believe
will reopen the controversy on Viz
ginias rights over the area, provides
that the authority of police enforce
ment, the regulations of the Public
Utilities Commission and the juris-
diction of the District coroner'S Of
flee and the District Health Depart
ment would be applicable in the area.
Asserting that no properly defined
authority now exists for the terri
tory, Senator McCarran insisted
that the bill does not attempt to
settle the question Of whether the
territory should be in the District.
Bill Purposely Silent.
The bill is purposely silent on this
point so as to leave the way clear
for assertion by the Federal Gov
ernment at any time of its SOW
ereignty over all the land originally
made the seat of government of the
United States he declared.
The measure also seeks to set up
uniform transportation rates be-
tween Washington and the three
large Government buildings in Ar
lington Mr.. McCarran pointed out
that bus rates to the three varied
between 5 cents and 20 cents, de-
pending on the transportation line.
He explained that the transit
companies have contemplated petit
tioning the Bureau of Motor Car
riers for new schedule of trans
Potomac rates. The proposed rates
would constitute a limited reduc-
tion in fares for comparatively
small number of persons and at the
a considerable number now enjoy
ing a scent fare.
$500 Would Pay More.
Approximately $500 persons from
the Pentagon Building would lose
the scent fare privilege under the
proposal the companies are now
making, and almost 1900 of these
would have to pay from 262s cents
to 30 cents day for transportation
instead of the 10 cents they now pay.
Others would pay cents day
additional.
This proposal of the transit COM
panies," Senator McCarran said,
(which increases their present ex-
horbitant profits has received the
personal Endorsement of the di-ec-
,or of the Bureau of Motor Car
riers. but the Interstate Commerce
Commission has taken no action"
In the enforcement of law and
order the issue of jurisdiction is a
constant bugaboo, the Senator ex-
planned. Police enforcement may
be accomplished through the use
of the National Capital Park Police,
the Virginia State Police. the Arling-
:on County Police, special police
of the Washington National Air
port, Metropolitan Police of the
District and military police.
Might Extend Court Power.
Court jurisdiction may be exer-
cised over the area in question or
portions of it by the United States
Commissioner of Alexandria, in the
case of felonies; by military courts
martial for personnel subject to
military law, and in some instances,
by the courts of the District.
Frequently, the matter of police
and court jurisdiction is in doubt,
he said, and many instances have
been reported where no agency
would accept jurisdiction. Difficulty
is experienced also in cases requir-
ing the services of a coroner or
when there is need for ambulance
service. At the present time neither
Arlington County nor the District
will supply ambulance service. The
the choice of either contracting
with private party to furnish such
service or else making military am
balances available for military
cases.
There is a pressing need, Senator
McCarran Said, to have The jurisdic-
ton of the appropriate agencies in
the District embrace the buildings
and grounds referred to, as we'll as
the access roads all of which are
owned by the Federal Government.
only by this means" he added,
will the administration of these
Federal Offices located south of the
Potomac River be placed on an even
footing with Federal Offices on the