Evening star., 1953-12-02
Transit Probe
Studies Ban on
Negro Drivers
FoiIure of D. C. Banks
To Buy Control Of
Firm Brought Up
By Don S. Worren


Senate investigators of Great
er Washington's transit ailments
were still digging for the facts
today, with a barrel of COM
plants. nostrums and advice
gathered from yesterdays five
hours of testimony.
Hearings are in recess until
next Tuesday, when Capital
Transit Co. officials, present and
past. will take the stand, but
there was no recess in the pur-
suit of solutions.
Newest developments include:
l. A full-fledged move to find
out why Negroes should be pro-
hibited from employment as
operators of buses or streetcars
OF Capital Transit vehicles. Half
a dozen persons yesterday de-
nounced the present policy and
cited successful experience in
other large cities now using
non-Segregation policies. Chair
man Payne of the investigating
group said he will call for a pol
icy statement from local union
officials.
Local Purchase Issue.
2. Questions as to why District
bankers failed to buy control of
the Capital Transit Co. during
seven long years" when the
market value Of the stock was
"going down and down" to low
OF about $11 a share before Flor
ida investors, headed by Louis
E. Wolfson, stepped in to buy
control of a $50 million plant for
a little more than 50 million.
In this connection, one citi-
zen witness, John v. Case, for
the Mid-City Citizens ASsocia-
ton, said Washington's big
bankers should be called to the
stand. He specifically named
Robert v. Fleming. president of
the Riggs National Bank, a for
mer director of the transit COM
pany.
Chairman Payne said he be-
lieves no new questions have
been raised by Mr.. Case that
were not covered by the staff of
the investigating subcommittee,
which includes representatives
of the nationally known account
ing and engineering firm of
Ernst & Ernst.
Might Call Fleming.
Pressed, however, as to
whether Mr.. Fleming might be
invited to take the stand as a
witness, Chairman Payne said
that might be-"
Senator Morse, independent,
of Oregon, a member of the sub
committee, said It'd like to hear
from Mr.. Fleming and perhaps
from some other representative
bankers as to their views on the
investment opportunities prior
to the time there was a sale of
controlling interest"
It was also suggested that
study be given to a radical new
approach" advanced by Charles
]. Bauer for the Building Owners
and Managers Association for
District government purchase
of blighted areas on the fringe
of the downtown area, to be
used as parking for private
autos.
This was proposed as one
means of promoting mass use of
public transportation, with the
idea that private car owners
would be willing to pay so cents
a day for fringe parking if they
could get rapid transit service
for a small extra fee to down.
town points.
More Commission Proposals.
In the background also were
renewed proposals for creation
OF a regional utilities commits
sion, with authority to take con-
troll over the entire Metropolitan
Area.
There was wide support for
this among suburban citizen
Spokesmen but this was coupled
with a warning from Virginia
that this move might run into
the difficult problem of amend
ing the Virginia State conStitu-
ton which might require a long.
long time"
In addition, the Payne sub
committee also was delving into
numerous specific complaints
from groups and individuals
about service to their areas.
Chairman Payne said all these
complaints would be checked by
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