Evening star., 1954-01-03
Transit Hearing
To Be Resumed
Tomorrow
Senute and House
Groups Foce Several
Controversial Issues

SVbIttOVSIStO ISSUES
Senate investigators tomorrow
will resume public hearings
on Washington's controversial
transit troubles as the 03d Con-
gresS prepares to open its second
session Wednesday.
The mass transportation prob
lem Of the metropolitan area
will be only one Of many District
issues to be dealt with by legis-
lators in both the Senate and
House.
High on the list Of pressing
District affairs will be the
budget for next fiscal year, the
controversy over new Potomac
River bridges. proposed pay in
creaSeS for teachers, and Wash
ington home rule.
Legislation authorizing any
new increases in city expendi-
ture undoubtedly will be con-
Sidered by Senate and House Dis
tTict Committees in the light of
the Districts needs and its ability
to get sufficient revenues to meet
them.
Two Different Approaches.
The transportation situation is
to receive attention In two dif-.
ferent places. The first will be
hearings tomorrow and Tuesday,
by q Senate District Subcom-
mittee to continue its long study
Of the situation. Further hear
ingS also are expected. This
could lead to recommendations
for new legislation.
In the second place, bills al
ready pending. left over from
the first congressional session,
are expected to receive early
consideration in the House.
The Senate subcommittee,
headed by Senator Payne. Re-
publican. of Maine will meet at
10 am. in the Senate District
Committee, Room P-38 in the
Capitol Building. Witnesses for
tomorrow Ill be the three mem
bers of the District Public Utili-
ties Commission. They are:
Chairman Robert z. Mclaughlin,
Robert M. Weston and Brig. Gen.
Louis w. PrentiSs, the District
Engineer Commissioner.
Unions to Present Case.
On Tuesday, union labor win
have a spokesman on the wit
ness stand in the person Of WAL
ter j. Bierwagen. He is head
Of the Washington local Of the
Amalgamated Association of
Street Electric Railway and Mo-
tor Coach Employees Of America.
The national president Of this
group, A. L. Spradling of De-
troit, had been listed earlier as
q witness. but it was doubtful
last night whether he can ap-
pear.
Several bills proposing various
solutions to the mass transit
problem here are pending on the
House side. How they win be
handled remains to be worked
out by both the District Com
mittee and the House Interstate
and Foreign Commerce Com
mittee.
Newest step in this direction
came last night from Repre-
sentative Hyde, Republican, of
nearby Maryland. a member of
the District Committee. He an
nounced he has virtually COM
pleted proposed legislation to
strengthen bills already pending
for a three-member Washington
Area Transportation Authority
to regulate mass transportation
In the area.
To Detail Shift in Powers.
His proposal. he explained, will
spell out in more detail than
before the powers to be trans
ferred from the District Puoiic
Utilities Commission, the Inter-
state Commerce Commission. and
possibly some other agencies to
the new area body.
Two bills for such q regula-
tory agency have passed the
Senate. The first, sponsored by
Senator johnson. Democrat, of
Colorado would set up such an
agency. It is before the House
Commerce Committee, which
conducted lengthy hearings.
The second bill originated in
the House District Committee,
calling for a study Of the Wash
1ngton areas transportation
problem including bridges and
highways by a presidentially ap-
pointed commission. When !t
went to the Senate it was
amended by the Senate Com
merce Committee by addition of
the johnson bill for a regula-
tory body. Also approved by
the District committee it passed
the Senate.
This measure has not been
referred to a committee but is
resting on the House Speakers
desk.
House officials indicated last
. night this measure will await
first the initiative Of Chairman
Simpson of the House District
Committee as to it's disposition.
The House could be asked to