Evening star., 1953-04-02
County Groups
Urge Speed on
Transit Body
Senote Unit Asked
To Spur Creation
Of Area Commission
By Don S. Warren :

OSH - w NSbbSu
Spokesman for mass trans.
nortation riders from nearby
Maryland and Virginia areas
today urged a Senate District
subcommittee to speed enact
ment of the johnson bill tC
create Metropolitan Area tran
sit commission.
Nearly a score of witnesses
struck at lack of adequate Serv-
ice, increasingly high fare and
divided jurisdiction among four
regulatory agencies over lines
operating throughout the Met
ropolitan Area.
The was a lack of similar en-
thusiastic support from Wash
ington groups.
One witness, Joseph D. Malloy,
chairman of the Public Utilities
Committee of the Federation of
Citizens Associations, said his
group had not yet acted. The
question, he said. would come up
at the federation meeting Sat-
urday night.
Cites Increased Costs.
For himself, however, Mr.. Mall
10y warned that increased costs
of transit operations must be
considered. He added that he
did not believe lower transit
rates for suburbaniteS would re-
suit "juSt because the new COM
mission was created"
E. Erwin Dollar, for the Asso-
citation of Taxicab Operators,
favored the bill.
County groups appealed for
quick enactment of the measure
as the only hope of ending the
cycle of higher fares. reduced
patronage and costly programs
of highway and bridge construc-
ton to carry private automobile
traffic.
Kenneth w. Spencer, acting
chairman of the District Public
Utilities Commission, said he
wanted it definitely understood
he does not oppose the proposed
metropolitan area plan.
Won't Endorse Bill.
But he did not endorse the
bill. He asked the subcommittee,
headed by Senator Payne, Re-
publican, of Maine, to consider
a series of problems which he
insisted should be left with the
PUG and the District govern
ment if the regional commission
were created.
He listed such things. as the
termination of the bus mileage
tax. transit routes in the District
location of stops, loading plat
forms and bus and streetcar
terminals and various regula-
tions concerning inspections of
District-licensed public vehicles,
taxicabs and sightseeing opera
tionS.
Mr.. Spencer also brought out
that all but about Z per cent of
the operations of the Capital
Transit Co. are within the Dis
trict.
ICC Not Opposed.
Leo H. Pou, assistant chief
counsel for the Interstate Com
merce Commission, said the ICC
is not opposing the bill but did
have suggestions. He said his
agency is aware of existing and
divided responsibilities over Met
ropolitan Area services, but he
doubted if the present draft of
the bill is adequate to carry out
its purposes.
John H. Hessey, chairman of
the Maryland Public Service
Commission, said his agency had
taken no formal position.
Silver Spring Witness.
One of the most outspoken
demands for favorable action
was voiced by Charles H. Rieg-
ner, representing the Allied Civic
Group, Inc, of Silver Spring,
Md, which includes some 33
local civic groups in the Silver
Spring area.
He denounced the continuous
and marked deterioration" in
passenger service, coupled with
increases in fare.
Hyde Testifies.
The first witness was Repre-
sentative Hyde. Republican. of
Maryland, who is the author of
a, similar bill now before the
House Commerce Committee.
He suggested some changes in
the johnson bill but said they
would not alter its general pur-
pose.
Among those who championed
the bill we're Walter Kingsbury.
for the Public Utilities Commit
tee of the Arlington (Va) Civic
Federation: o. B. Allen, chair
man of the Washington Metro
politan Area Transportation
Committee, representing various
suburban and District groups;
Gerald j. Glassman, speaking for
the Metropolitan Committee and
as executive assistant to the
Arlington County Public Utilities
Commission; William c. Nemeth,
for the Arlington County Board;
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