Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-14
'broyhi|I Plans
New Transit Bill,
Defends Veto
Quick Passage. Seen;
Forum Speakers Beck
Brood Area Survey
BY George Bexeridqe

Representative Broyhill, Re-
publican, of Virginia, said today
President Eisenhower was "ab-
solutely right. to veto the city's
dual-purpose transit bill, and
predicted Congress next year will
quickly authorize the new COM
mission to study the areas trans
portation ills.
The Virginia legislator spoke at
a forum on transportation, spon-
sored by the Northern Virginia
Regional Planning Commission
and held at the Huntington Tow
ers Apartments in Alexandria.
Generally, several speakers
leaned toward an exhaustive
study-with all the-area's polit-
ical Jurisdictions participating
as the most crucial need in the
transportation picture here.
The bill vetoed by Gen. Eisen-
hover a few weeks ago would
have set up such a study group.
But it also called for a commits
sion to regulate mass transit in
the District and Maryland. The
President found fault with both
commissions, especially the abb
sepce OF Virginia in the regula-
tory body.
Predicts Quick Passage.
Mr.. Broyhill called the regula-
tory proposal "a cancer" that
was added to his original study
commission bill. He said he in
tended to introduce new study
bill next year and predicted it
would sail right through Con-
gress and be approved by the
President.
Meanwhile. he said. each juris-
diction in the area should agree
to a Joint proposal it will back in
Congress. Stressing Congress
"unSympathetic attitude" when
there is disagreement as to what
the area needs. Mr.. Broyhill said
the District has a hard time get
ting even QuorumS of House and
Senate committees to consider
area problems. and added:
This makes it most important
that we get together among our
selves and agree on what we want
so we can go before Congress
with a united 'front.'"
Webb Urges Authority.
John C. Webb, Virginia's 10th
district Democratic nominee and
Mr.. Broyhill's opponent for the
House this year, sent the forum
today wire strongly backing
a metropolitan transit author
ity" to control transit facilities.
Harland Bartholomew, Ma
tional Capital Planning Commits
sion chairman. told the forum
he thought such a regulatory
body logically should grow out
OF the study of needs and not
precede it as separate matter.
The planner, who originated
the idea of an extensive transit
study two years ago, said its
members should be appointed
by the White House. He urged
that technical experts be drawn
for the study from the mass
transit and automobile industries
and from business administra-
ton and urban planning.
THE automobile industry up
to now has not recognized the
need for some form of mass
transit" he declared. "Fhe two
views never have been brought
together but must be-"
He envisioned the study as
possibly taking from two to three
years and costing $250,00O to
cover the scope it should.
Seeks Community Policy.
In other talks at the morning
session:
/. Leslie Williams, Philadelphia
traffic expert who surveyed
District transit problems last
year. emphasized the need for "a
community policy" on the role
of mass transit in the area and
said more basic study is needed.
2. William r. McConochie.
Chicago transit conSultant, said
mass transit systems all over the
country are reaching. the point
of diminishing returns" He
said some way "other than fare
raises must be found to assist
transit companies
AS one solution. he suggested
public ownership of the physical
facilities Of transit companies,
but with private operation and
maintenance through manage.
ment contracts granted by cities.