Evening star., 1952-02-03
House 10 Hear
Transit Probe
Plea Tomorrow
Mcmillan Prepared
To Icy Foets' Before
District Committee
By Harold B. Rogers

By Harold B. Rogers
Proposals to investigate the
Capital Transit Co. will be con-
sidered this week by congressional
committees.
Demand for such an inquiry by
Representative Crawford, Repub-
lican. of Michigan will be laid be-
fore the House District Commit
tee tomorrow morning by Com
mittee Chairman Mcmillan.
Representative Mcmillan, Dem
ocrat, of South Carolina. who has
gathered comprehensive data on
the transit line, said he will "lay
the facts" and Mr.. Crawford's de-
mand before his committee at its
regular monthly meeting.
No Specific Suggestions.
Explaining he will make no spe-
cific recommendations, Mr.. Nc
MILAN said he has several
documents from the Public
Utilities Commission relating to
the line. He also had lengthy
personal report from PUG Chair
man James H. Flanagan on the
matter.
AS for the company's earnings
and dividends to stockholders, of
which Mr.. Crawford has COM
planned, Mr.. Mcmillan said the
Flanagan reports showed these
now were mot too far out of line
with the earnings of transit COM
panies in other cities"
Believes Profits Ample.
However. the District Commit
tee Chairman said, he personally
feels there Is now a question as
to whether the passengers are
getting their moneys worth" out
Of the higher fares paid.
IT feel" he said, that if the
company is making a good profit.
and then gets increased fares, itI
ought to give extra service for
the higher rates"
"The Public Utilities Commis-
sion." he added, Ought to look
into it to see if the public is
getting any extra sevice for higher
fares"
Complained to PUG.
Representative Crawford made
his demand for a probe of the
transit line January 8, in a letter
to the PUG. He complained that
the company had reduced service,
increased rates, and declared a
dividend to stockholders which
amounted to the equivalent of $10I
d share on the stock which new
controlling owners had purchased
for $40 share.
He charged that the new own
ers from Florida were milking"
the property at the expense of
riders. .....--
Company Spokesmen said they
would welcome any congressional
investigation and that their books
were open.
The House District Committee
may act tomorrow on some city
bills, including those to authorize
police to conf1scate and destroy
weapons taken from suspects;
raise the amount of salary that
can be garnisheed from employees
to meet debts, from the present
500 to 5000, and amend the law
regulating boxing contests here.
Transport Issue on Agenda.
There is a possibility the House
Commerce Committee may make
some decision soon on what ac-
tion to take on a bill calling on
the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion to investigate all passenger
carrying facilities in the entire
Washington Metropolitan Area.
Representative Beaa, Republi-
can, of Maryland, the bills spon-
sor, said Committee Chairman
Crosser personally promised him
last week to give consideration to
the measure as soon as possible.
The committee meets this week on
an important national bill involv-
ing communications.
The Beall bill is one of several
looking towards the growing de-
mand for a better coordination
of various public facilities in the
metropolitan area.
Extensive Study Set.
To lay the groundwork for a
House District subcommittee con-
sideration of the Senate-passed
bill for limited home rule for
Washington, the committee staff
will launch an extensive study of
the measure this week.
William N. Mcleod, jr., commit
tee clerk, said he will ask the Leg
islative Representative Service Of
the Congressional Library for as
sistance. Compared in detail will
be the new bill recently passed
by the Senate; the so-called
Kefauver-Taft measure which
passed the Senate in the 81st
Congress, but died in the House
District Committee; and the
AuchincloSS bill which died on
the House floor after lengthy
debate in the 80th Congress.
Elections Survey Planned.
Also to be investigated, Mr.. Nc
Leod said, will be the election ma
chinery in other cities comparable
in size to Washington, and the
: methods of government and elec-
tions in capitals of leading coun-
tries of the world.
The survey was requested by
the District judiciary subcommlt-
tee headed by Representative Har-
ris, Democrat. of Arkansas. He
said last night there was mo
rush" about getting the survey.
Brief hearings will be conducted
I~A~s - sofl n.Yt ha indicated