Evening star., 1926-11-15
MANY LOCAL PROJECTS
IN LIST LAID BEFORE
HOUSE COMMITTEE
Continued from First Page.)

as site for highway between these
two cities.
The Board Of Trade pointed out that
the entire cost Of operating and main
tanning the water supply system is
borne by water department revenues.
which during the present year VIII
amount to approximately $1,450,O 900.
The total cost of maintaining the
water department, including the filtra-
ton plant and aqueduck under the
control Of the water department and
including all appropriations for new
projects for the present year, will
almost approximate the water reVe-
nue..
Responsibility Of United States.
The board states it's belief that these
expenditures should be borne by the
general revenues of the District. in
cluding the amounts contributed by
Congress, as such plan Is more
equitable than requiring the consum-
ers in the District to stand this entire
cost, especially when the Federal Gov
ernment, as well as the municipal gov
ernment, receives free water service.
The board pointed out that the
Federal Government, during the
early years made certain appropria'
tions to assist in the building Of
the water system. but the total
amount contributed represents but
small part of the total cost. In
order to determine the relative in
terest in the water supply of the
Federal Government and the munich
pal government, it is proposed by
the board that an impartial investi-
cation and report be made by a
board of disinterested engineers and
accountants in order that a fair ad-
justment Of water charges might be
made.
'If this is not done, we look for
ward to further increases in the
water rent charged to private con-
sumers," Mr.. Cunningham said.
Ten recommendations for the Con-
gress Heights Citizens Association
were submitted by ]. Louis Goldman,
secretary. as follows:
Suffrage for the District along the
lines of other municipalities, both
national and local; greater recogni-
tion Of civic agencies until the above
is accomplished: if general suffrage
Is not granted, then an elective
school board greater development of
suburban sections; merger of street
car companies, with universal trans
fers; prohibition of new cemeteries
within the District: complete applf-
cation of constitutional guarantees
and all laws benef1ting the States to
the District, opposed to a bond issue
for the District; in favor Of the mag
istrate system for petty violations
preservation Of jury trials in all cases
allowed by the Constitution.
Physician for Traffic.
Traffic Director Eldridge advocated
the employment Of a physician by the
traffic directors office to examine per.
sons charged with driving while un
der the influence of liquor to deter
mine if they are drunk. He said there
is an average of two such cases daily,
and Chairman Gibson thought that
was a not very heavy record.
Mr. Eldridge said that the reckless
driving clause in the traffic law should
be amplified to make clear the duty of
the driver at narrow bridges, on wet
streets, and turning corners and at in
tersection. At the request of Chair
man Gibson. Mr.. Eldridge explained
the speed limit signs and why the
rate of speed varies on certain sec
tions Of a through boulevard and even
on different sides Of the same street.
Representative Frank r. Reid, Re
publican, of Illinois, who joined Mr.
Gibson and Mr.. Houston on the
subcommittee today, laid stress or
the fact that our traffic congestion
is caused in part by the fact tina,
drivers do not seem to realize that
they have a right to use the street
car tracks and so half of the street
is not used by the autoists. Mr.
Eldridge expressed the opinion that
the drivers have acquired a good
habit Of not following the street cars
on the tracks, on account Of the
danger Of skidding.
In urging that the Traffic Court
judges be called as witnesses, Mr..
Eldridge pointed out that two Of them
have been sick and the other two
have been working day and night
He empha sized that the court is not
crowded by petty cases, but con-
gested by the important or jury cases.
He advocated couple Of additional
assistants in the corporation counsePs
office, saying that now these assist
ants work all day In the District
Building and at night in the Traffic
Court.
Mr.. Eldridge during a lengthy dis
cussion Of automobile taxes said he
is not in favor of heavier taxes fol
automobiles because he believes thai
they now pay good. equitable taa
for such a small jurisdiction. He
gave some statistics regarding The
auto taxes in various States. ant
agreed to prepare statement fol
the committee showing all forms o
auto taxation in all the States. HI
declared his belief that the gasoline
tax is the fairest method.
Weight Tax Fairness.
Chairman Gibson argued that the
weight tax. especially on trucks,
would tend to make them pay fairer
share Of the cost of streets they wear
out, for which the gasoline tax Is not
equivalent. Mr.. Eldridge said this
might be true especially with regard
to solid tire trucks. He said the sub
committee should be careful not tc
place more of a burden on the auto
owners than is just and fair. He
estimated that automobiles do no,
contribute more than $1,750,00 in
revenue in the District.
Mr.. Eldrfdge said that the personal
property tax on automobiles Is 6
nuisancA He diecuare1 at length the