Evening star., 1953-05-22
Wo|vertonCa
For Action on
Transit Setup
Problem Requires
Solution, Not Study,
Committee Head Saws
BY Harold B. ROGERS

Chairman Wolverton of the
House Interstate and Foreign
Commerce Committee today de.
clared it was time Ito get up
and act" on some solution to the
greater Washington transporta-
ton problem.
1T is surprising to me-" the
New Jersey Republican said.
that with the general recogni-
tion that something should be
done with the transportation
situation here the talk is still
let us have a study"
Making this statement in the
midst of a two-day hearing on
several proposals to solve the
huge transportation problem of
the area, Mr.. Wolverton said:
1T is time to get up and act.
The situation is something like
Joe Walcott was in the other
night"
SS'CA" "ALICSScS f1cdEO.
The committee heard several
witnesses today on pending legis.
latlon for new metropolitan
area transit commission. It was
hoped to conclude the two-day
public hearing probably some
time today.
Testimony today varied from
criticism of the proposed new
commission to strong support of
the project.
chairman Kenneth w. Spencer
OF the District Public Utilities
Commission proposed several
amendments to the so-called
Hyde-Johnson legislation.
He suggested certain local au-
thority over transit lines be re-
talned by the Public Utilities
commission instead of being
transferred to the new area
agency. If his changes were
made, Mr.. Spencer said he would
have no objection to the bill. But
without such amendments he
said ne opposed the legislation.
Maryland Official in Favor.
John Hessey, chairman of the
public Service Commission of
Maryland, told the committee
that although his agency was
not supposed to officially recon-
mend legislation he gave the
personal opinion that the pend.
ing legislation for the area COM
mission would be beneficial in
this community.
He pointed out that he was
a firm believer" in States Rights
out when he realized the prob
lemS facing greater Washington
area he felt the Congress could
give enough power to a new
agency to solve it's problems.
William S. Cheathem, general
counsel of the National Capital
Planning Commission and the
National Capital Regional Plan
ming Council approved, with
some amendments, a new bill
introduced yesterday by Repre-
sentative Hyde, Republican, of
Maryland. This measure would
set up the proposed three-mem-
Der regulatory body to control
passenger carriers here but also
would order the agency to make
a sweeping study of all area
problems including bridges.
highways and automobile traffic.
Fairfax Group Approves.
John c. Shower said the Fed
Grafton of Fairfax County Cit
izens' Associations, of which he
is member, last night reiterated
its unanimous approval of the
area commission bill.
Edmund B. Campbell of Arling-
ton, whose suggestions to a Sem
ate committee led to the johnson
bill passed by the Senate, made
several suggestions for improve
ment in the pending legislation
to meet objections voiced yester-
day by witnesses opposing the
bill.
Laurence S. Kannapen of the
1nterfederation Council of the
Greater Metropolitan area and
o. B. Allen of the Washington
Area Transporter
ton Committee filed statements
strongly supporting the legisla-
ton.
Hyde First Witness.
Mr.. Hyde was the first and
witness for his bill
when the hearing opened yester-
day. He may return for further
testimony today.
The Broyhill bill, sponsored by
the Arlington County Va.) Re-
publican, and which provides
only for study" of area traffic
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