Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-24
SWAY Transit
Study Proposed
By Magruder
Virginia, Maryland
And District Urged
To Join in Probe
BY Alex R. Preston
Star SfaH Correspondent

S1aE SI0tI ~otTeSPoUoS"
RICHMOND, Feb. 24.-The
General Assembly today had a
new proposal that Virginia,
Maryland and the District of Co
lumbia conduct a joint study of
transportation problems in the
Metropolitan Area Of the Ma
tons Capital.
Delegate j. Maynard Magruder
Of Arlington said he was commu-
nicating the plan to Montgomery
and Prince Georges County rep
resentatives in the Maryland
General Assembly.
Mr.. Magruder ives Joined by
Delegates Harrison Mann and
Kathryn Stone, also Of Arlin yton.
in introducing a resolution yes
terday creating a three member
Virginia commission to take part.
in the joint investigation. The
measure invites the Maryland
Legislature and the District
Commissioners to designate
groups of three members each to
meet with the Virginia repre-
sentativeS.
Would Include Rates.
They would go into the whole
Metropolitan Area transportation
situation including passenger
carrying facilities and rates.
The group also would be di-
rected to investigate whether
joint action by the three juris-
dictions is necessary or desir-
able to regulate the transit facil-
tiles so as to provide "nondis-
criminatory and uniform serv-
ice"
This in no way commits us
at this time to the idea of q
single regulatory body" Mr.. Ma
gruder said. "The representa-
tiveS of each State and the Dis
trict would report back to their
own legislative or administra-
tive bodies with recommended
TONS"
Virginia members would in
clude a member of the House of
Delegates, a member Of the
State Senate and a person desig-
mated by the State Corporation
Commission.
Gas Tax Bill Recommitted.
Meanwhile, the Senate sent
back to committee Gov. STAN
ley's proposed 1-cent gasoline
tax increase bill. After holding
up action for three days. the
bills supporters agreed yester-
day to send it back to the A.
nance committee when they
were convinced they could not
muster the necessary 81 votes
out of 40 Senators to pass the
bill.
Last week the House of Dele
gates voted Sc to 40 to pass a
bill to suspend the automatic
income tax credit law after the
Governor personally interviewed
with letter urging its defeat.
The bill to suspend the tax since
has been killed by the Senate
Finance Committee.
The Senate approved, 81 to 16,
a resolution by Senators Charles
R. Fenwick of Arlington, and
John A. K. Donovan of Fairfax,
calling for annual sessions of
the Legislature, similar to the
plan now followed in Maryland.
If the House agrees the meas
ure must be passed again in 1856
before submission to the voters.
There was no debate and Sem
ator Fenwick made brief state
ment in which he said the Legis-
lature was attempting to run one
of the biggest businesses in the
country under adverse condi-
tionS. No businessman, he said.
would attempt to estimate reve-
nues two and a half years in
advance, as now required by
biennial sessions.
Sales Tax Issue Reviewed.
The House Committee on
Counties, Cities and Towns
meanwhile injected spark of
life in the sales tax issue which
was KILLED" on the floor last
week when Delegates turned
down an Arlington proposal.
The committee voted favor
ably on Senate-approved
measure for Washington County,
which has been amended to in
clude eight other counties. An
other Senate-approved Arlington
sales tax bill-identical to the
one killed by the HouSe-re-
manned in the committee.
Indications are that If the
Washington County bill gains
enough support on the floor by
other counties seeking to come
under it. efforts will be made to
get the Arlington measure started
out of committee. Otherwise,
it will expire on adjournment
March Is.
Bills Sent to Governor.
Among bills given final APP
prevail and sent to the Governor
by the Senate are:
A House bill to require motor
lists to dim their headlights
within 200 feet when overtaking
b car going in the same direc-
ton at night.
The Frost bill requiring auto
mobile sales contracts to show
plainly that no liability insur-
ance is included, when such is
the case.
The Arlington delegation bill
to permit that county to operate
swimming pools.
The Arlington House bill SIM
FalifxyiY1o. noVyY~ao ant V1r0Oor1Yfro for