Evening star., 1952-01-24
Action Sought
On D. C.. Area
Bill
Special Commission
Wanted to Study
Regional c o-ordinotior

/ Efforts were going ahead today
Ito get Congressional action on a
long dormant bill that would set
lup q special commission to deter
mime the need for co-ordlnated
regional planning for the Metro
Ipolitan area.
The measure, first introduced
lby Representative Sasscer. Demo-
lcrat Of Maryland, In 1850, has
been gathering dust In House Dis
itrict subcommittee files since Mr..
lSasscer reintroduced 1t q year ago.
The Congressman, whose con-
stituency includes adjoining Prince
Georges County. asks for the or
lganization Of q nine member ad-
Ivisory commission. This body
would ascertain feasibility Of
closer cooperation In solving In
lterrelated public service problems
lin the Metropolitan area.
Equal Representation.
An equal number of represen-
ltatives from the District, Mary
land and Virginia would serve on
the commission without pay.
While Mr.. Sasscer specifies that
the commission look especially
into tax legislation as 1t might
affect that three Jurisdictions, he
Leaves the field wide open by ask
ling that the commission be en-
powered to explore "other mat
Iters."
c. Stephen Duvall, chairman Of
1.-THE Inter Federation Council
which is comprised Of civic rep
lresentatives from Washington
tand the surrounding counties, said
|he plans to get in touch with Mr..
ISasscer today on the possibility
Iof stirring subcommittee action.
Mr.. Duvall pointed out that the
Inter-Federation has been inter-
Iested In regional development Of
the area for many years.
Question Raised 4 Years Ago.
eve first raised the question
four years ago and we are anxious
to get action on Representative
ISasscer's bill as soon as possible. "
Mr.. Duvau said.
He said he expected to discuss
the subject with the Congressman
this afternoon, after Mr.. Sasscer
returns from a brief out Of town
"trip.
The Washington Board G..
Trade. meanwhile. was proceed
ing with its extended study Of
regional development. A special
committee, originally assigned to-
investigate the possibility Of set
ting up an area airport authority,
lmodeled somewhat Oh the opera
ton Of the highly successful New.
York Port Aiitliosity. now ts try-1
ling to see whether some sort of
authority may be established to1
cover all area public service OPP
erations.
District Commissioner r. Jo-|
seph Donohue. who announced his
| Endorsement Of area uniication at
Ian er-Federation meeting last
Monday, was due to discuss the
subject at the regular Board Of
Commissioners meeting today.
Underscoring one Of the present
problems Of co-ordinated action
lin the area, the Alexandria City
Council last night declined to par
|ticipate In q joint conference on
public transportation sought by
Arlington County.
Meeting Listed for Wednesday.
Arlington is sponsoring . meet
ling at pm. next Wednesday in
Ithe County Courthouse to co-ordi-
mate testimony favoring pending
Legislation calling for an area
wide transportation survey.
To date, only four area units
have accepted invitations to con-
fer. They are Montgomery County,
Falls Church. the District Fedora
|tion Of Citizens Associations and
the Fairfax Citizens Federation.
These organizations will be joined
Iby the Air Force on behalf Of the
Federal executive branch.
A spokesman for Alexandria ex-
Iplained the city's rejection Of the
Invitation by saying that excel
lent" bus service Is being pro-
|vided by the Alexandra, Bancroft
land Washington Transit Co.
Roy Bragg. chairman OF the
city councils transportation COM
mittee, said the ABB w. line has
always co-operated with the city's
wishes for service. He added that
lin any event the Interstate Com
tmerce Commission and the State
Corporation Commissions are ca
lpable Of seeing that satisfactory
TRANSPORTATION is provided.