Evening star., 1952-02-04
Hearing Slated
On District Area
Planning Bill
Legislation Would
Creote Oman Bourd
To Study Problems
By Harold B. Rogers

Legislation to set up iline-man
commission for a study Of regional
planning problems. including tax
alton, in the entire Washington
Metropolitan Area. today was
headed for public hearings soon by
Ia House subcommittee.
Representative Smith. Democrat.
|of Virginia, announced that he
plans for the House District Fiscal
Subcommittee. of which he Is
chairman. to hold hearings on the
bill
The Virginian said he had been
urged by Representative Sasscer.
Democrat, of Maryland, author Of
the measure. to bring 1t up for
public hearings and consideration
as soon as possible.
The Sasscer bill has been pend
ing for some time. but is now the
object of increasing demands for
action not only in Washington but
in some suburban areas.
Three Would Represent d. C.
The bill would authorize the
District Commissioners to appoint
three ofncials to represent WASH
lington on the commission. They
would act in conjunction with
similar appointees to be named
by the Governors Of Virginia and
Maryland.
Representative Smith raised the
question as to whether his SUBJ
committee might consider hear
lings simultaneously on the Sas-
seer bill and a measure now being
whipped into final shape for re-
organization of the National Cap
Iital Park and Planning Commis-
sion.
The Planning Commission bill
has been under consideration for
years on Capitol Hill, but after
many changes was blocked be-
cause Of disagreements over how
lit should affect the nearby States.
Plans to Introduce Bill.
The measure has been indorsed
lby official planning bodies in
nearby Virginia. Mr.. Smith said
as soon as he gets the latest re-
vision he will introduce it in the
House.
It seemed to him, the Virginia
LEGISLATOR said that the Sasscer
and Planning Commission bills
might be tied together in principle
although he recognized that they
probably should be considered as
two separate pieces Of legislation.
Mr.. Sasscer. who is running
for the Democratic nomination
for Senator from his State, has
been urged by many interests to
push for enactment of his regional
planning bill.
He introduced it in January,
1861. No move had been made
before today to get it out.
The proposed commission ought
to be set up so that it would not
take away sovereignty from Mary
land, Virginia or the District, the
legislator said.
Beall Supports Plan.
The commission would deter
mine If there is a need for an
area survey of transportation and
such other matters as civil de-
fense. sanitation, zoning and lie
|censing Of various sorts.
Representative Beall, Republic
can. Of Maryland, has declared
his support of the proposed sur
vey commission. Mr.. Beall's con-
|stituency includes Montgomery
County and Mr.. Sasscer represents
Prince Georges.
The Sasscer bill would set up
the proposed survey area to in
clude the Metropolitan Area. in
cluding the District: Montgomery
and Prince Georges counties in
Maryland, and Arlington and
Fairfax counties and the cities Of
Alexandria and Falls Church in
Virginia.
The commission proposed in the
Sasscer bill would make It's report
to Congress and also to the Legis-
latures Of Maryland and Virginia,
recommending the best methods
for bringing about coordinated
planning or action 1t finds advis-