Evening star., 1952-03-22
Area Authority
Is Only Solution,
johnson Holds
Senator Discounts
Study by IcC as
transportation Cure
By Don S. Worren

Dy Uon ,. WoFren
Creation Of a metropolitan
Area authority Is advanced by
Chairman Johnson Of the Senate
Commerce Committee as the ''only
real solution" to the morass Of the
National Capitals regional trans
portation problems.
He stressed this theme yester-
day. when he promised q group Of
area officials and civic leaders he
win schedule hearings before his
Senate unit as soon as possible on
bills dealing with area difficulties.
In doing so, the Democratic
Colorado Senator put q damper on
proposals for an investigation BY
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion OF the regional transportation
problems that some estimate would
cost as much as $225,00O.
There is no real short cut to
glory" he told the delegation after
listening to its protests against
the Capital Transit Co. and the
abandonment Of suburban bus
lines and curtailment Of District
services.
Sees Solution In Action.
you might just as well take
the long-range remedy. for you
could have investigations until
doomsday and you still haven't
solved anything unless you can get
somebody to take action"
His statement came in answer
to appeals by a delegation repre-
senting the Metropolitan Area
Transportation Committee for ac-
tion on the Byrd Robertson bill
to direct the ICC to make an in
vestigation Of the regional prob
lens.
The group, headed by Mason A.
Butcher, said it also is backing
the bill Of Senator johnson, CO.
sponsored by Maryland Senator's
O'Conor and Butler. providing for
compacts between the District,
Maryland and Virginia for re-
gicnal controls. But the delegate
said this would require at least
two years to go into effect and,
therefore, he wanted hearings and
action on the ICC investigation.
Promises Efforts.
Senator Johnson said his COM
mittee calendar was loaded with
bills dealing with national issues,
but that I'VE will do our best" to
squeeze in hearings on the Ma
tional Capital problems.
He said the local hearings
might not be possible before May
!, but that he would try to ex-
pedite them, because he knew the
issues here were aggravated"
Senator johnson was critical of
all affected agencies for not hav-
ing taken action on the Washing
ton area problem. He said the
1CC now has authority to go into
Interstate angles Of the issues.
He asked If there was any budget
request for funds to cover this
and was advised there was none.
He also noted that the District
Public Utilities Commission, the
Maryland Public Service Commis-
sion and the Virginia State Cor
poration Commission had failed
to work together" for a solution of
the regional problems.
Therefore, he concluded, the
only solution was legislation that
would give some common regional
authority common control over
the whole problem"
Critical Of Company.
He was critical also Of the tran
sit company for being overly in
terested in profits and concluded
''you just can't let such matters
rest with no one taking the re-
sponsibility."
He said he knew personally
about the problem here because
he had taken cabs to the District
line, only to be told there to
hop out, because the cab was
going no farther.
Transportation, Of course" he
said. "ought to be without regard
to State boundaries. The Dis
trict Is the only place where I
became conscious Of such State
boundary lines"
AS a cure of this. he said, the
bill sponsored by himself and
Senators O'Conor and Butler. to
allow regional control compacts,
would set the stage for creation
of q regional transportation
authority.
Among those appealing for
action were Mr.. Butcher, director
Of public works for Montgomery
County: Gerald j. Glassman. Of
the staff Of the Arlington County
Utilities Committee; Chairman c.
Stephen Duvall Of the Interfeder-
alton Council, DR.. Laurence KNAPP
pen Of the Arlington Civic Fed
Grafton, s. e Stonebraker from
the MONTGOMERY County Civic