INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE EIGHTY-THIRD CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON H. R. 1555 A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND STUDY BY H. R. 3771 and S. 922 BILLS TO PROVIDE FOR A COMMISSION TO REGULATE THE MAY 21, 22, 25, AND 26, 1953 Printed for the use of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce Text of CONTENTS Page H. R. 1555_ H. R. 3771. S. 922. Report of District of Columbia, Board of Commissioners of, on H. R. 1555_. H. R. 3771. S. 922__. Interior Department on H. R. 3771_ Interstate Commerce Commission on H. R. 1555_ H. R. 3771. S. 922. Statement of— Anderson, H. E., Jr., Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, Alexandria, Campbell, Edmund D., attorney, Arlington, Va_ Cheatham, William S., general counsel and secretary, National Capital Dollar, E. Erwin, president, Associated Taxicab Operators, Inc.. Gast, Fred W., Prince Georges County Civic Federation, Cheverly, Glassman, Gerald J., on behalf of Arlington County (Va.) Board and Hessey, John, chairman, Public Service Commission of Maryland, Hyde, Hon. De Witt S., a Representative in Congress from the State of Maryland.. 17 Johnson, Robert J., managing director, Arlington Chamber of Com merce 131 Leeman, Herbert P., past president, Federation of Citizens Associations of the District of Columbia_ 50 McLaughlin, Robert E., member, Public Utilities Commission, District of Columbia 105, 130 Pou, Leo H., assistant chief counsel, Interstate Commerce Commission___ 151, 171 Press, William H., executive vice president, Washington Board of 59 Riegner, Charles H., chairman, public utilities committee, Allied 134 Shover, Dr. John C., representing Federation of Fairfax County Citizens' Associations, Falls Church, Va.. 91 Spencer, Kenneth W., chairman, Public Utilities Commission, District of Columbia__ 97 Taubin, Harold, representing Montgomery County Council, Rockville, Md.. I now available to any members of the committee wo may wish to familiarize themselves with the viewpoint of the agencies. (The bills and reports are as follows:) [H. R. 1555, 83d Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL To provide for an investigation and study by the Interstate Commerce Commission of the adequacy and convenience of passenger carrier facilities and services and the reasonableness of fares in the metropolitan area of the District of Columbia, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Interstate Commerce Commission shall (1) make an investigation and study of the adequacy and convenience of passenger carrier facilities and services, and the reasonableness of fares on passenger carrier facilities, in the metropolitan area of the District of Columbia (including the District of Columbia, Montgomery County and Price Georges County, Maryland, and Arlington County, Fairfax County, and the cities of Falls Church and Alexandria, Virginia); (2) to the extent deemed necessary and practicable by the Commission, make such investigation and study jointly and cooperatively with the State Corporation Commission of Virginia, the Public Service Commission of Maryland, and the Public Utilities Commission of the District of Columbia; (3) issue such orders or take such other action pending the making of such investigation and study and upon the completion thereof, as it may determine to be in the public interest, in the interest of national defense, and in furtherance of the national transportation policy as set forth in the Interstate Commerce Act; and (4) report to the Congress as soon as practicable the results of such investigation and study (including an account of any orders issued or action taken pending or upon completion thereof), together with its recommendations, if any, for necessary legislation. SEC. 2. The Commission is authorized to require by subpena or otherwise, the attendance of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, and documents, to administer such oaths, and to take such testimony, as it deems advisable. Subpenas may be issued under the signature of the Chairman of the Commission or under the signature of any Commissioner or employee of the Commission designated by the Chairman and may be served by any person designated by such Chairman, Commissioner, or employee. Sections 102 to 104, both inclusive, of the Revised Statutes shall apply in the case of failure of any witness to comply with any subpena or to testify or to produce books, papers, or documents when summoned under authority of this Act. [H. R. 3771, 83d Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL To provide for a commission to regulate the public transportation of passengers by motor vehicle and street railroad within the metropolitan area of Washington, District of Columbia Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Act". SEC. 2. The Congress hereby finds (1) that the vast majority of the passengers carried in the Washington metropolitan area are transported within the District of Columbia or in interstate commerce; and (2) that the furnishing of an efficient and economical passenger transit system which will meet the needs of the inhabitants of the said area and of the Federal agencies located therein requires that transit facilities within the area be regulated by a single agency without regard for State lines, because (a) interstate and intrastate operations are intertwined both economically and in actual operation; (b) it is necessary that interstate and intrastate operations each contribute their share of the carriers' revenues, and no more; (c) to allow separate regulation of particular intrastate operations would be impracticable and may lead to discrimination against interstate commerce; and (d) intrastate operations within the area which compete with regulated interstate operations are likely to lessen the effectiveness of regulation of the latter. SEC. 3. As used in this Act (a) The term "metropolitan area" means the metropolitan area of the city of Washington, District of Columbia, including the District of Columbia, the counties of Montgomery and Prince Georges in the State of Maryland, and the counties of Arlington and Fairfax and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in the State of Virginia. (b) The term "motor vehicle" means any automobile, taxi, bus, or other vehicle propelled or drawn by mechanical or electrical power on the public streets or highways of the metropolitan area and used for the transportation of passengers. (c) The term "street railroad" means any streetcar, bus, or other similar vehicle propelled or drawn by electrical or mechanical power on rails and used for the transportation of passengers. (d) The term "carrier by motor vehicle" means any person which engages in the transportation of the general public by motor vehicle for compensation in the metropolitan area but does not include any person which engages in such transportation solely within the State of Maryland or the State of Virginia and which proves to the Commission that it transports no passengers traveling in interstate commerce, and does no include any person which engages in such transportation in the metropolitan area as part of an interstate operation which is in the major portion outside of such area. (e) The term "carrier by street railroad" means any person which engages in the transportation of the general public by street railroad for compensation in the metropolitan area but does not include any person which engages in such transportation solely within the State of Maryland or the State of Virginia and which proves to the Commission that it transports no passengers traveling in interstate commerce, and does not include any person which engages in such transportation in the metropolitan area as part of an interstate operation which is in the major portion outside of such area. (f) The term "person" means any individual, firm, copartnership, corporation, company, association, or joint-stock association; and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, or personal representative thereof. (g) For purposes of this Act, interstate commerce shall include commerce between the States and the District of Columbia. TITLE I-WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSIT COMMISSION SEC. 101. There is hereby established in the executive branch of the Government an independent agency to be known as the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission"). The Commission shall be composed of three Commissioners appointed by the President of the United States by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall have been residents of the Washington metropolitan area for at least two years prior to appointment. Not more than two Commissioners shall be members of the same political party. Each Commissioner shall be appointed for a term of six years, except that the Commissioners first appointed shall be appointed one for a term of two years, one for a term of four years, and one for a term of six years, and whenever a vacancy shall occur, other than by expiration of term, the person appointed to fill such vacancy shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of his predecessor. Each Commissioner shall receive a salary of the rate of $15,000 per annum. SEC. 102. Any Commissioner may be removed by the President for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, and shall not engage in any other business, vocation, or employment. No person in the employ of or holding any official relation to any carrier subject to this Act, or owning stocks or bonds thereof, or who is in any manner pecuniarily interested therein, shall enter upon the duties of or hold such office. No vacancy in the Commission shall Impair the right of the remaining Commissioners to exercise all the powers of the Commission. Upon the expiration of his term of office a Commissioner shall continue to serve until his successor is appointed and shall have qualified. SEC. 103. The Commission shall have a Chairman who shall be selected annually by the Commission from among its members, and may serve in such capacity for more than one term if reselected by the Commission. Such Chairman shall be vested with responsibility for administrative functions, efficiency, and staff supervision of the Commission, and shall assign, and reassign for expedition, matters for hearings, and for reports, all to the end that the public interest may he promptly and adequately served. SEC. 104. The Commission is authorized to arpoint and fix the compensation of such officers and employees, and to make such expenditures as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. The Commission may delegate any of its functions to such of its officers and employees as it may designate. |