Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-21
Spencer 10 Tell.
Transit Plans
Again Takes Stand
At House Hearing

lOpetlCcI tOQay WIS SClicOulcu dS
THE lead-off witness at the second
day of House hearings on the
Washington transit crisis.
1 He planned to give a detailed
outline of the city heads plans
ito set up a Washington Metro
lpolitan Transit Authority to the
Transportation Subcommittee of
the House Commerce Committee,
headed by Representative Harris.
Democrat Of Arkansas.
The Government agency is in
tended to take over the operation
|of mass transportation here after
the Capital Transit Co. goes out
lof business next August IA by
fact Of Congress.
Last Alternative
| Opening the series OF hearings
yesterday. Nh. Spencer said pub.
lie ownership was a fast alterila-
tive and is being proposed only
because no satisfactory private
operator had been found to take
,over the Capital Transit fran
ichise. r
The hearing began with sharp
questioning on the role of the
District Public Utilities Commits
sion IN last summers 52-day
transit strike, which led to legis-
lation killing Capital Transit Co,
Questioning Chairman George
E. c. Hayes of the p. U. c. yes
terday covered the commission S
role before and during the strike.
MIR. Hayes testified that the
fare increase application from
Capital Transit which was being
considered by the Utilities Com
mission when the strike began
July l had expressly" excluded
any consideration of prospective
costs Of the strike settlement.
Mr.. Hayes told Representa-
tive Dolliver. Republican of
Iowa. that it would be a dis
aster" If Congress fails to set
up the transit authority or if no
private operator is found.
All-Bus Operation Asked
He said the Public Utilities
Commission and the Board of
Commissioners had jointly agreed
to ask applicants to plan for
an all-bus operations. One rea-
son they did so. he said, resulted
from their Interpretation of a
clause In the Capital Transit
death sentence act requiring the
company to tear up street car
tracks on the order of the Dis
trict Commissioners.
Mr.. Hayes rejected a sugges-
tion by Mr.. Dolliver that a new
company. with an investment of
from $26 million to $50 million.
would require higher fares than
Capital Transit. which has an
investment of about $40 million
Mr.. Hayes insisted new operators
would be able to operate more
economically and to benefit from
tax savings.
IN opening testimony at the
hearing yesterday Commissioner
Spencer said an early morning
conference between a would-be
private operator and the Utilities
Commission had not produced
an alternative to public owner
ship.
Strike Action Questioned
Committee members demanded
to know why the Public Utilities
Commission had not settled the
transit strike by granting fare
increases similar to those later
negotiated with the company
by the District Commissioners.
Commissioner Spencer insisted
the Utilities Commission, then
considering a Capital Transit re-
quest for fare increases based on
conditions prior to the strike.
had no authority to grant fare
increase until after settlement of
the strike.
He explained that the Com
missioners had used powers con-
tanned in the Capital Transit
death sentence act to negotiate
new passenger rates with the
company and thus end the
Iwalkout.
He said the Utilities Commits
sion had made no effort to me-
Idiate the dispute because of Its
quaisi- judicial role in approving
passenger rates and service. In
stead, he pointed out. the medi-
alton efforts had been made by
the District Commissioners as
well as by the Federal Mediation
Service.