Evening star., 1953-07-24
Senate Passes
bill 10 Improve
Transit, Roads
House Gets Measure
Naming Commissions
For D. c. Problems
BY HoroId B. Rooers

Dy noroio b. Rogers
The Senate has passed and
sent back to the House legislation
setting up two different commits.
sions designed to improve trans
portation in the Washington
Metropolitan Area.
The two commissions are:
/. A three-member regulatory
body called the "WaShington
Metropolitan Area Transit COM
mission" to control transporta-
tion by public carriers In Greater
Washington.
2. A nine-member group called
the Metropolitan Washington
Commission" to investigate and
make recommendations on high.
ways, bridge and traffic prob.
lens Of the area.
Action came last night in the
Senate when the measure was
called up and explained. 1t was
passed without objection or de-
bate.
Senator Payne, Republican, of
Maine, chairman of a Senate
District subcommittee who had
handled the bill, outlined pro-
visions Of the measure.
Combination RiII.
He explained the legislation
was a combination of an earlier
Senate-passed bill for the regu.
latory commission, and a House.
passed bill for the study commits
sion.
In sending the legislation back
to the House, the Senate put it
in the form Of a House bill
amended by the Senate. It was
expected to be referred to the
House Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce, which
still has under consideration the
original Senate-passed measure
for the regulatory body.
Whether the new so-called
"one-package" bill for two differ
ent purposes can be put through
Congress before adjournment Of
this session remained a question
today.
The House Commerce Com
mittee has held lengthy hearings
on the earlier Senate-passed bill
for a regulatory commission and
has indicated several amend
mentS might have to be made in
it.
The study commission legisla-
ton, which passed the House
earlier and went to the Senate,
came out Of the House District
Committee. AS passed by the
House, it called for an 11-mem-
ber commission.
Identical Boundaries.
The geographical jurisdiction
OF both commissions would be
identical. It includes the District,
the counties of Montgomery and
Prince Georges in Maryland, and
the counties Of Arlington and
Fairfax and cities of Alexandria
and Falls Church in Virginia.
The three members Of the
regulatory commission, to have
wide powers to control public
carriers and their rates in the
area, would be nominated by the
President, subject to confirma-
tion by the Senate.
The nine members of the
study group would be two ap-
pointed by the President; one by
the President from Virginia and
one from Maryland. on recon-
mendation Of the State Gov
ernors; two appointed by the
President pro tenn of the SEN
ate, two by the Speaker Of the
House. and one by the District
Commissioners.
Another congressional move
growing out of the legislators
wide interest in WaShington's
transit problems may come up
for action soon.
Authorizes Investigation.
The Senate Rules Committee
has held hearings and may meet
soon to vote on a Senate reso-
luton for a broad Investigation
of Capital Transit Co. and other
public carriers serving the Dis
trict.
The resolution would give to
the Senate District Committe or
a subcommittee subpoena power
and $4,000 to conduct the probe.
Experts would be hired for the
committee staff. The investiga-
tors and the committee itself
could operate during the con-
gressional recess.
This proposal for an investi.
cation by the Senate committee
alone was launched after earlier
legislation for a joint investiga-
ton by a committee from both
House and Senate District Com
mittees had been passed by the
Senate, but stalled In the House
Rules Committee.
The Senate also passed and
sent to the White House two
bills previously approved by the
House.
One would authorize the Sec
retary of the Interior to grant
easements for rights of way
across the C. g. o. Canal and its
adjacent parkway from Wash
ington to Cumberland, Md. It
was briefly explained by Senator
Beall, Republican. of Maryland.
a sponsor of similar legislation.
The second bill sent to the
White House would modernize
the law to increase the maximum
sum allowable by court out of
assets of a decedent's estate for
funeral expenses. The present
limit of $500. set more than so
years ago. would be increased to
$500, and with special permis-
sion Of court to $1,000 in un-
usual circumstances.