Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-25
Case Asks Veto
OF Area Transit
Control Bill
Chairman Simpson
Of D. c. Committee
Also Opposed

~ -. ~. SOitttstIttCS
Also Opposed
Chairmen Case and Simpson
of the Senate and House District
Committees last night an
nounced their opposition to leg
islation that would establish an
only partially representative
Metropolitan Area transit con-
troll commission.
Senator Case, Republican, Of
South Dakota even took it upon
himself to wire President Eisen-
hover at his Colorado vacation
spot, urging a presidential veto
of the Congress-passed measure.
At the same time, the Mont
gomery County Council also
wired the President asking him
to sign the bill. The measure
declared:
1.-THE County Council for
Montgomery County, Md, is ex-
tremely anxious to see legiSla.
ton effected which will insure q
more uniform public transit sys-
tenn in the Metropolitan Area Of
Washington.
Adequate System Needed.
"The Council feels the growth
Of Montgomery County since
World War II, which now has a
population of a quarter million,
needs an adequate public transit
system. The Council, sitting in
executive session this morning,
voted to urge that you. Mr.. Pres
ident. sign the Area Transit
Commission Bill H. r. 1896 now
before you"
This morning, however, the
District Commissioners for
warded to the Federal Budget
Bureau their request for a veto
Of the bill. The letter. under
stood to be more than three
pages long, was put in final
shape yesterday. 1t is believed
to be worded so that the Presi-
dent could use part of it In .
veto message.
Senator Cases wire listed
three objections to the bill:
l. The bill was passed with
out co-ordinating transportation
regulation principles with the
studies of the Senate District
subcommittee that investigated
local transit problems.
2. Mass TRANSFORMATION is sep
arated from the other public
utilities now regulated by the
District Public Utilities Com
mission.
Virginia Excluded.
8, A representative of the
State of Virginia is not included
on the proposed three-member
regulatory commission for the
area. Under the provisions Of
the bill, only the District and
Maryland would have represent
tation on the commission, whose
third member would be any one
of the Presidents choice.
Representative Simpson, Re.
publican. of Illinois, said that.
while he respects the judgment
of Representatives Hyde, Re-
publican. of Maryland and Broy.
hill. Republican. of Virginia
two active supporters of the
measure as passed-he will go
along" with the opposition Of
Senator Case.
There was a possibility that
Chairman Simpson. too, may
ask for a presidential veto.
Cases Telegram. .
The text of Senator Cases
telegram to President Eisen-
hover follows:
Believe veto of area transit
bill. H. r. 1886, is warranted on
two grounds-first, that no effort
was made to coordinate prin-
ciples for transportation regu-
lation with studies of District
transit problems made by Sena-
tor Payne's subcommittee in spe-
cial investigation: second, that
the bill separates transit from
other utilities such as telephone,
electricity and gas services which
within the District are now han
dled by District Public Utilities
Commission along with transport
tation. These same services are
also carried on throughout the
area by District utilities.
ITO me the elimination of Vir-
GINA is undesirable, If we are
to have area District utility reg
ulation, but that could be rem
edied later, if joint experience
with Maryland proves desirable
ity. However. the two reasons
cited suggest the incomplete
consideration given to problems
involved and suggest that more
wholesome legislation could be
developed by more comprehensive
consideration"
Neither the city heads nor the
District Public Utilities Commits
sion, which also opposes the bill.
would disclose any details of their
communication. But both agen-
cies are known to. be strongly
against an area regulatory body
that lacks representation of all
three Metropolitan jurisdictions.
To the second section of the
measure-that calling for an
area transit study commission
none has voiced serious cbjec-
ton. City officials. in fact, favor
such a commission, whose find-
ings and recommendations could
be useful in forming an area