Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-05
|Tri-State Group
Asks Extension
In Transit Probe
D. c. officioIs Plan
Testimony in Support
OF Public Authority

| Will JAIC 1dOC VI washing bOAl .
transit system still completely
undecided. the Tri-State Com
mission investigating 1t decided
yesterday to ask for a new lease
on life.
The commission, made UP Of
Representatives from Virginia,
Maryland and the District.
agreed unanimously to ask the
Maryland and Virginia Legisla-
lures for an extension to COM
Iplete their study into adequacy
of service and rates" in Wash
Iington metropolitan transit
systems.
Meanwhile, the District Com
missioners worked throughout
the day in an unusual Saturday
session on testimony they plan
to give Tuesday before the Sem
ate District Committee in sup
port of their bill to create a pub
Ilicly owned Washington Metro
politan Transit Authority.
Fail to Find Operator
They recommended creation of
the Government agency to take
over the franchise Of Capital
Transit Co. when it goes out Of
business by Act of Congress next
August IA. The recommendation
followed failure of their efforts
to find a satisfactory private OPP
orator to succeed Capital Transit.
Shortly before the Commits
sioners completed their session at
$3.50 pm, they received a visit
from Edward R. Carr, president
of the Washington Board of
Trade. and Max M. Kampelman.
Washington attorney and one Of
six applicants for the franchise.
| Mr.. Carr said they were re-
porting to the city heads on their
latest effort to raise funds to
finance a privately owned. all
bus system. He said Friday
that recent developments had
made this prospect a hopeful one.
Yesterday. he said frankly. he
and Mr.. Kampelman still have
to nail down our underwriting
and I have the job of raising
some local money"
1t has been reported that Mr..
Carr and Mr.. Kampelman have
commitments totaling 81 million
as initial financing for their
prospective company. They said.
however. that they have no
plans yet to appear before the
Senate District Committee.
| Former United States Senator
Willard e. Tydings, one of six
private applicants for the fran
chise, said that when he testifies
Tuesday before the Senate Com
mittee he will not make a ''spe-
cial plea" for the plan of his
clients. group Of Baltimore in
vestors.
Mr.. Tydings said he plans to
fanalyze and discuss all PROPOSE
tons and present the alterna-
tives" facing Washington from
his experience in seeking the
franchise.
Commission Plans Report
The Tri-State Commission,
which has been working In con-
junction with a $500. 900 study Of
area transportation problems
!direAted by the National Capital
Planning Commission. held its
meeting in the District Building
under the Craftsmanship Of Dis
trict Commissioner Robert E.
Mclaughlin.
Mr.. Mclaughlin said the Vir-
ginia and Maryland representa-
tives would submit to their legis-
latures an interim report unani-
mously approved by the COM
mission, accompanied by their
own comments and by another
report by consultant Jerome M.
Alper recommending establish
ment by interstate compact OF
an area-wide regulatory commits
sion to supervise privately owned
transit systems here. The in
term report, Mr.. Mclaughlin
said, would be released for pub
Ilication the afternoon of Feb
Iruary IA.
Published some time ago. the
Alper report has been largely
outdated by the apparent neces-
sity of having q publicly owned
authority take over the Capital
Transit operation.
/ MIR. Mclaughlin said the ques-
ton of having Mr.. Alper write a
supplementary report adapting
! his compact proposal to public
ownership might be considered
Friday at a meeting OF the Joint
steering committee which is d.
recting the 100000 study.
All Members Attend
! Mr.. Mclaughlin said the Tri-
State Commission meeting was
attended by all nine members.
These are, for Virginia, State
Senator Charles r. Fenwick,
Delegate Maynard Magruder and
Lester Hooker of the State Cor
poration Commission.
Members from Maryland are
State Senator Edwin S. North
Irop, Delegate Carlton r. Sickles
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$500 Take I
&c