Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-24
Final Hearing
Set Thursday
On Transit Bill
Group Will Hear
a More Witnesses
On Authority Plan
By HECTOR Mclean

by hECIOh MCLEAN
Congressional hearings on the
Washington transit crisis went
into a six-day recess today,
while the House Commerce Com
,mittee went to indianapolis over
the week end in connection with
lSalk polio vaccine problems.
The groups transportation
subcommittee, headed by Rep
resentative Harris. Democrat Of
Arkansas, yesterday ended o.
lfour-day series Of hearings on
the District Commissioners bill
Ito set up a washington Metro
Ipolitan Transit Authority.
One more hearing will be held
next Thursday, Mr.. Harris
announced. At that time, he
said, the subcommittee viii hear
-four witnesses who were not
able to appear this week.
Colladay May Testify
| One other witness will be-
Igiven a chance to testify II he
desires. Mr.. Harris said. He Is
Edward F. Colladay. attorney
for clients trying to buy out
controlling interest in the Cap
lital Transit Co., who had asked
that the record of the hearing
he held open until Wednesday.
The other four are two repre-
sentatives of the General Elec-
trio Co. who have been opposing
abandonment of the streetcar
system here. a spokesman for
the Interior Department and
Attorney Manuel ]. Davis, who
has represented suburban transit
interests.
Yesterdays session ended with
no indication of what the SUBJ
COMMITTEE might do. or when.
It was clear. however, that the
lawmakers regarded with ex-
treme distaste the idea Of put
ItIng the Government into the
transit business under the pro-
poseo plan.
Hyde Gives Views
The authority was recon-
mended after city officials had
failed to find a satisfactory
private operator to take over the
Capital Transit Co. franchise,
which will die by act OF Congress
next August IA.
The lawmakers heard one OF
their fellow House members,
Representative Hyde, Republican
of Maryland from Montgomery
County, warn that transit Is a
sick industry" and that '.it Is
entirely possible that the author.
lily tintended to be self-support-
ing) would become a burden on
the taxpayers, but we still have
ito have some mass transporta-
ton" IL private capital fails to
Iprovide it.
He suggested amendments de-
Iclaring 1t to be the duty of the
authority to provide adequate
service at reasonable rates
and allowing any user of the
service to sue to compel per-
Torrance Of that duty. In addi-
ton. Mr.. Hyde asked that one
jof the five members Of the board
Iof directors be named from
Maryland.
/ He also objected to q provi-
sion which would keep the au-
thority from taking over Capital
Transit routes in Maryland that
compete with those of other bus
companies.
Suburban Transit Protests
Later, s. Harrison Kahn, at
Itorney for the Suburban Transit
Co. objected to this amendment.
which he said also was to be
proposed by the District Com
missioners. He commended SUI
burban could not fairly compete
with operations Of the non
profit, tax-free and self-regu-
ilating authority as it does with
iCTC.
Another area lawmaker, Rep
resentative Broyhill, Republican
of Virginia from Arlington Coun-
ty. urged that the transit author
/ ity bill be broadened to handle
iairports. ports. bridges, tunnels
and other. projects. He suggested
this be done by adding to the
measure. as a separate title. q
bill he introduced several weeks
ago to set UP a tri-State author
Iity by interstate compact. to go
into effect--taking over the
transit system--when Virginia
and Maryland had ratified the
compact.
Sees Sounder Finances
Mr.. Broyhill said his plan is
being considered by the Cover
nors Of both States. He con-
tended that. by using the reye-
nues Of National Airport. the
broad scale authority would
have a much sounder financial
base than that proposed for the
transit authority.
Speaking for the Arlington
County Board, Charles e. Ham
mond, executive of the county's
Public Utilities Commission,
urged that the authority's board
of directors be composed Of seven
Imembers-three from the Dis
Itrict, two from Maryland and
two from Virginia, all residents
OF the Washington metropolitan