Evening star., 1953-05-12
Regional Control Plan

Congressional impatience with the muddled
transit situation in the Washington Metropoli-
tan Area was evidenced in the quick Senate
approval of the Johnson bill to create regional
transit regulatory agency here. The sound
theory underlying this control plan is that the
growth Of Greater Washington has made pres
ent regulatory procedures antiquated and in
adequate. 1t has been obvious for some time
that some sort of integrated regulation of buses,
streetcarS and taxicabS serving the area eventu-
ally must be worked out, in the public interest.
Senator Johnson of Colorado in an effort
20 expedite action pressed his bill in preference
to the slower approach involved in such a
proposal as the Broyhill bill for a commission
Of inquiry. Sentiment in favor of the Johnson
bill developed rapidly as a result of recent
dividend-cutting policies of the Capital Transit
Company, capped by its petition for higher
fares. The bill was approved in executive seS-
sion by the Senate Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce, without benefit Of public
hearings. The Senate referred it back to the
District Committee for study, with three-week
deadline for reporting The Virginia State Cor
poration Commission, which opposes the john
son BILL has complained that it did not have
time to send its counsel to voice its protests.
It is not surprising, therefore, that the
Senate-passed BILL while meritorious in its OBJ
jectives, has defects which might have been
eliminated had more study been given to the
complex problem of a drastic change in the
regional regulatory system. For example, there
Is no assurance that all jurisdictions covered
by the proposed commission would have rep
resentation on it. The bill merely provides that
the three members Of the new agency must
have resided within the Metropolitan Area at
least two years prior to appointment by the
President. It is conceivable, therefore, that
commission composed entirely of residents Of
nearby Maryland and Virginia might be vested
with authority to regulate all transit services
In the District of Columbia; or that commits
sion composed wholly of District residents might
exercise authority in the suburbs. Charges Of
favoritism toward any particular part Of the
area would carry little weight If each jurisdic-
ton had a representative on the commission.
And If Virginia were represented the argument
Of Virginia authorities that the plan invaded
States rights would be weakened. The Virginia
State Corporation Commission has branded the
bill frankly as another proposal that the Fed
eral Government duplicate and encroach upon
State regulation"
Other shortcomings of the bill have been
pointed out in the past, including its failure to
make clear whether the District Is to retain
control Of the use Of street space by buses,
either for routing or terminal purposes. This
control certainly could not be transferred to
some regional agency without producing serious
confusion and conflict. The House should give
careful consideration to these problems when
the Hyde bill, identical with the Johnson bill,
comes before it. The House would be wise to
consider carefully, too, Representative Broy-
hills proposal for study of the whole area
transit situation before definite remedial leg
islation is passed. The slower Broyhill approach
would lay solid foundation for permanent leg
islation that would meet with approval by all
jurisdictions concerned. Any plan opposed by
high officials of any Jurisdiction would have
two strikes against it at the outset.