Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-07-19
Debate
Action
On Transit Bill
BY HECTOR MCLEAN

11OuSc approval VI Tile WASH
ington transit bill is expected to-
morrow after a two-day delay
over the civil rights debate.
Action was postponed yester-
day by House leaders to keep
Southerners who oppose the adj
ministration measure from pro-
longing today's floor battle.
Representative Harris, Demo-
crat of Arkansas. leader of the
House transit conferees who
wrote the measure intended to
keep streetcars and buses rolling
here after August IA, said he
had planned to ask for House
ratification of the conference
compromise yesterday. if he
could get recognition.
At the end of the day, Repre-
sentative Hinshaw, Republican
of California, and a member of
the conference committee, said
he understood the House leader
ship had refused to recognize
Mr.. Harris because of the civil
rights debate.
Would COmpIicate Debate
He explained that opponents
of the civil rights measure re-
|portedly were planning to de-
mand full reading Of the House
journal of yesterdays session
The journal, the official record
of House action, NJ ally is read
only Sketchily. He said oppo-
nentS of the civil rights bill were
planning to force a full reading
to postpone as long as possible
a resumption of the civil rights
debate.
Since House action on the
transit conferees report would
have added a measure which
extended for is columns in the
Congressional Record to the
journal, Mr.. Hinshaw said, the
leadership refused to accept the
measure in hopes of terminating
the debate today.
Mr.. Harris said the transit
measure could not be brought ur
today because the House mad
agreed that the civil rights de-
bate should have overriding pri.
ority over all other business
Ialthough conference reports
normally have top priority.
Senate to Act Quickly
Mr.. Harris said he would seek
to get House approval of the
! measure tomorrow.
II The Senate was expected tt
approve the bill Immediately
, thereafter and send it to the
] White House for presidential,
signature.
The conferees' transit bill
; would grant a 20-year franchise
: to the D. c. Transit System, Inc.
founded recently by o. Roy
/ Chalk, wealthy New York rea,
esate owner and airline operator
) Mr.. Chalk, who has a $780,
! 600 contract to buy out Capita
Transit Co. when its franchis,
. expires on August IA, today an.
nounced postponement of an or.
i. ganizational meeting of D. C
j Transit System which he haC
scheduled for tomorrow.
E. F. Colladay, who made thu
announcement as an attorney
, for Mr.. Chalk. said it had beer
, decided not to hold the meet.
Iing-at which directors and Off
GERS would be named-unti
after the deal lis all sewed up.
. Must Have Approval
! ! The Chalk-CTC contract Il
: subject to approval by holders
. of two-thirds of etc stock at {
!, special meeting August 3. Mr.
: Colladay said the organizations
meeting will not be held unit
after that.
T The transit bill would author.
i ize the District Commissioned
to grant the same franchise
+ which includes exemption from
! several taxes and notification
of Public Utilities Commission
regulatory procedures. to any
other buyer should the ChalE
deal fall through.
The Commissioners also coulc
authorize Capital Transit tt
continue operating if the dea
fell through or if more time wal
needed to complete the contract
&&