Evening star., 1953-05-25
ice Unit Urged
To Rule Area
Transit Problem
But Commissions
Counsel Testifies
1t Lacks Authority
By Don S. Worren


Chairman Wolverton of the
House Commerce Committee to-
day suggested that the best way
to work out mass transportation
problems in the Washington
Metropolitan Area might be
through creation of a joint board
working under supervision of the
Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion.
He said his idea was only ten
tative but requested the ICC and
other interested parties to offer
reactions.
Calls 1t Worth Considering.
Leo H. Pou, assistant general
counsel of the ICC, on the wit
ness stand at the time. said the
idea was worth considering, but
that it would require consider
able study"
The question came up today
at a third hearing by the House
committee on the Senate-passed
bill calling for creation of sin
gle separate transit commission
to take over regulation of bus,
streetcar and taxicab services in
the Metropolitan Area. Also be-
fore the committee is a similar
measure sponsored by Represent
ative Hyde, Republican, of Mary
land.
The hearing is to be resumed
at 70 am. tomorrow.
Says ICC Lacks Jurisdiction.
Before Chairman Wolverton
made his suggestion, Mr.. Pou
had told the group the ICC lacks
authority to deal with the whole
regional problem here and indi-
Gated it does not want it.
Under the Motor Carriers Act,
Mr.. Pou explained, the ICC does
not have authority over rates
and services of bus passenger
travel in such regional cases.
The only exception. he said, is
where the ICC finds it's action
would promote national trans
portation policy. That was the
basis, he added, on which the
1CC acted in setting up joint
fares and transfers between the
District and Virginia services for
the Pentagon.
Representative Heselton, Re-
publican, of Massachusetts, asked
him ii he thought it would be
preferable to give the regional
control here to the ICC.
Fears Setting Precedent.
"No," Mr.. Pou replied. I'VE
are not equipped to handle the
local transit situation. Should
you give us that power I doubt
that we could discharge the duty
without a larger staff" Mr..
Pou also voiced fear that such
a move for the Washington
regional area might prove a
precedent for adoption of other
cities on State borders, such as
Kansas City and st. Louis, Mo.
The ICC official took the same
position on questions about di-
recting the ICC to make an over
all study of this areas regional
problem.
Representative Harris, Demo-
crat. of Arkansas, raised this
point and brought out that no
such overall study had been
made by any authorized and
qualified group" Mr.. Harris
asked if the ICC, provided with
necessary facilities, could do a
better job than some other board
that lacked ICC experience.
I'm not certain we could" ,"
Mr.. Pou replied. 1--WE deal with
national transportation and do
not have experts on the local
level. My commission is not too
anxious to do the job"
Cites Planning Commission.
Chairman Wolverton drew at
tention to a statement from the
Interior Department suggesting
that under the new law reor-
ganizing the National Capital
Planning Commission, this agen-
cy could make a well-developed
study within eight months or a
year. The Interior Department
said the planning commission
would need only funds to hire
experts to make such a study.
Mr.. Wolverton, Republican, of
New Jersey, agreed that if his
suggestion were adopted it
would be necessary to amend
the Motor Carriers Act so that
the ICC would be given specific
control over rates and services
OF lines serving the regional
area.
Under such a plan. he said
the ICC would have the basic au.
thority but would work out the
regional problems with loca
commissions of the District
Maryland and Virginia.
Mr.. Pou commented that such
an arrangement would depend
on the willingness of the State
commissions to participate. Mr.
Wolverton said the ICC woulc
not be prevented from goins
ahead under such a new law
even If a State declined to par
ticipate.
The House committee is ex'
pected to determine course o
action at an early executive
meeting. He said Saturday, how
ever, that once the committe,
adopts its policy considerable
work remains to be done in thu
drafting of a proper bill.