Evening star., 1953-03-18
Broad Transit
Inquiry Ready
For Approval
Senate and House
To Be Asked for
Authority, Funds

Authority, Funds
Approval Of both Senate and
House viii be sought soon for a
joint congressional committee
investigation of public transpor-
tion serving the District.
Concurrent resolutions were
introduced today by chairmen of
Senate and House District Com
mittees.
The investigation, of broad
scope. was voted yesterday by
the Senate District Committee,
as key members of the House
District Committee sat in on
the meeting. The House Dis
trict Committee is scheduled to
act on the investigation resolu-
ton at 10 am. tomorrow.
The Senate group will report
to the Senate today a concur
rent resolution outlining the
nature Of the inquiry, to be con-
Quoted by a six-member joint
committee-three from the SEN
ate, three from the House. Sim
liar authority was to be asked
of the House today by resolu-
tions introduced there.
Capital Transit Not Named.
Originally directed at the
Capital Transit Co., the reSolu-
ton was greatly broadened to
give the joint committee wider
authority to look into many
other phases Of passenger trans
portation. The name of the COM
pany does not appear in the
resolution.
The scope of the investigation
was specified in a key section of
the Senate resolution as follows:
"It shall be the duty of the
joint committe to make q full
and complete study and inves-
tigation Of public transportation
serving the District of Colum-
bia, including the fiscal, manage
ment and operating policies of
common carriers which trans
port passengers in the District
Of Columbia, the regulation Of
such carriers by the Public Util-
tiles Commission Of the District
Of Columbia and other matters
related thereto"
The Joint committee would
have the power to subpoena wit
nesseS and documents. admin
lister oaths and employ "such
experts. conSultaIlts and other
employees as 1t deems necessary
in the performance of its duties. I"
$4,000 Maximum.
Expenses would be authorized
not to exceed $4,000 to be di-
vided equally between the Senate
and House contingent funds.
The committee would report to
the Senate and House from time
to time the results of its study
and would file its final report
not later than January 2, 1854,
with recommendations for legis-
lation.
The Senate resolution was
sent to the Rules Committee.
In the House, because Of diff
ferent procedure. two resolutions
for the identical purpose were
introduced. One, for authority
to investigate, went to the House
Rules Committee. The other,
for funds, went to the House
Administration Committee.
Introduces Measures Today.
Personnel of the committee is
expected to include Senator
Payne. Republican, of Maine,
chairman of the District SUBJ
committee on Business and Com
merce, and Representative Tale.
Republican, of Iowa, chairman
Of the District Subcommittee on
Public Utilities, Insurance and
Banking.
Representative Simpson, Re-
publican, Of Illinois, who sat in
by invitation on the Senate Dis
trict Committee meeting yester-
day. said he would introduce the
necessary measures in the House
today.
But, he added, the inquiry
need not conflict with his pend
ing bill in the House relating to
the Public Utilities Commits
sion's proposed power over dec
laration Of utility dividends here.
. h.