Evening star., 1954-12-29
Congress toGef
transportation
SquabbIeAgain
3 Different Moves
Develop in Purieys
Seeking Solutions
D.. nfI b r.
By Horold B. Rogers

S~s - - 49,
The. Washington Metropolitan
Areas controversial transporta-
ton problem will be tossed into
the new S4th Congress amid pros
pects Of fresh conflicts over q
solution.
This became clear after a con-
ference late yesterday on Capitol
Hill attended by District officials.
planners, Board of Trade leaders
and two dissident nearby menu
bers of Congress.
Out of the conference, an out
growth of previous similar meet
ings, 1t appeared Congress prob
ably will be presented with three
different moves:
/. A request for appropriations
to the National Capital Planning
Commission to be used by the Ma
tional Capital Regional Council
to study mass transportation,
highway and bridge problems of
the Metropolitan Area. This was
agreed to personally by all with
the single exception Of Repres-
entative Broyhill, Republican, Of
Virginia.
Broyhill to Offer Bill.
2. Mr.. Broyhill, disagreeing
with the plan. announced he
would introduce in the new Con-
gress a revised version of his bill
for such a study by a presiden-
tially-appointed commission.
3. Representative Hyde, Re-
publican. of Maryland, in whose
office the conference was held,
said he opposed the Presidential
commission idea for strategic
reasons. He announced he will
introduce a revised version of
his bill for a three member regu-
latory commission to control
mass transportation in the Dis
trict, and nearby Maryland and
Virginia.
The issue of Washington's
snarled transit-transportation
problem which has occupied
Congress for years, resulted in
a bill passed by both House and
Senate late last summer. But it
was vetoed by President Eisen-
hover. 1t contained two COM
missions, one for the study, the
other for regulation of mass
transportation, in the District
and nearby Maryland. but not in
Virginia.
The regulatory commission
part of the measure was spon-
sored originally by Senator Johns
son, Democrat. of Colorado, re-
Gently elected Governor of his
State.
Virginia Protests Effective.
Both the Johnson bill and Mr..
Hyde'S similar measure for con-
troll OF transportation by street
railway and busses had called for
regulation over the three juris-
dictions, District, Maryland and
Virginia. But due to protests
from Virginia authorities, Vir-
ginia was cut out of the measure
by House Senate conferees.
In his veto message, the
President said the exclusion of
Virginia was a fundamental
deficiency in the measure. An
other fault, he pointed out, was
that the regulatory commission
failed to provide adequate safe
guards to local jurisdictions.
Both Representative Broyhill
and Representative Hyde said
they had revised their earlier
versions, hoping to avoid any
objections the President might
have.
Mr.. Broyhill. after the confer
ence yesterday. expressed the
opinion that a study by either
the planning commission or the
regional council would not have
the weight of a report by a
presidentially appointed COM
mission.
Hyde Cites Study Powers.
Mr.. Hyde insisted it would be
more economical and efficient
to have already established
agencies make the survey, in
stead of setting up still another
commission. Recent law, he
pointed out, specifically author
ICES the planning commission
and council to make such stud
les. Furthermore, he pointed to
the possibilities of differences
OF opinion between the proposed
presidential study commission
on the one hand and the plan
ming bodies on the other.
Asked how much money would
be needed for the study by the
regional council, Mr.. Hyde said
estimates he had received are
about $250,000.
William Cheatham, counsel
for the planning commission and
regional council, explained that
present law authorizes collabo-
ration between these two agencies
in making such study in this
area. He indicated a majority
OF members of the commission
favor the plan of asking funds
to do the job.
Others attending the confer
ence included District Commits
sioner Samuel Spencer, Chair
man Robert E. Mclaughlin of
the Public Utilities Commission.
Francis Kane. president of the
Washington Board of Trade;
Donald A. Mccormack, chair
man Of the boards railroad and
transit lines committee: william