Evening star., 1926-03-23
BATHING BEACH BILL
is GIVEN APPROVAL
Senate Committee Orders
Favorable Report-Traf-
fic Measure Speeded.

| Showing IA disposition to have i'm
portant local measures enacted before
| adjournment, the Senate District COM
mIttee yesterday afternoon ordered II
favorable report on the bathing beach
bin and practically completed con-
| sideration OF the bill to broaden the
original traffic law.
The bathing beach bill authorizes
an outlay OF S345,0O0 to establish one
pool each for the white and colored
| populations at points to be selected
| by the Commissioners. This bill has
| passed the House and will be reported
| to the Senate today or tomorrow by
| Senator Copeland of New York, in
| charge of 1t as chairman OF d sub
| committee.
| Although the committee did not
| reach a vote on the traffic bill yeSter-
day evening, it completed IA study of
| all its provision and will be ready to
act within a few days. Senator King.
| Democrat, OF Utah. asked the commit
| tee to delay action until he can eX-
anime the stenographich record Of the
| hearings. He also said he had some
amendments to offer.
| Traffic Bill to Be Pushed.
| Chairman Capper characterized the
| traffic bill as one of the most impor-
| tant local matters awaiting action
and it is expected he will seek to have
1t reported out at the next meeting
| of the committee. The traffic bill
+, also has passed the House
| The Senate committee agreed YES
| terday to strike out the section of the
bill inserted by the House which
| would have had the effect of prohib-
lting taxicab companies from main
! tanning stands in front of hotels and
Union Station.
| The committee agreed TO make sew.
eral minor amendments suggested by
Traffic Director Eldridge that were not
In the bill as it came from the House.
one would place all traffic violations
under the corporation counsel in the
District branch of Police Court, in.
stead of having some offenses tried in
the United States branch by the as
sistant District attorney.
Would Clarity Powers.
Another amendment agreed to by
| the committee would clarity Ian
guage under which the director has
authority to require heavy trucks to
maintain slower speed than pas
senger vehicles. and also to give him
dennite authority to require low.
| speed limits over bridges. Mr.. Ed
| ridge told the committee questions
| as to his present authority on these
subjects have not been raised, but
| that there was room for making the
language clearer as to his authority
to fix limits under % miles an hour
| for certain purposes.
The committee indicated it was
| favorable to the portion of the bill
| giving the director additional author
ity to revoke operators permits in
cases other than those resulting from
a conviction. The committee, how.
| ever, proposed two amendments. one
requiring that the reason for the re.
vocation or suspension be made a
| matter of record in the traffic Office
and changing the method of appeal
from the traffic office. The House bill
would give a motorist right of ap-
peal to the District Court Of Appeals.
Senator Capper, chairman Of the com.
mittee, explained that he had received
| a communication from the judges in.
dicating that 1t would be better ar.
| rangement to permit these motorists
whose permits have been suspended to
apply to the Court of Appeals for a
writ of error rather than making a
straight appeal Of the cases.
To Extend Lights.
Members of the committee displayed
| a keen interest in the automatic sig
nal lights on Sixteenth street, and
Chairman Capper asked Mr.. Eldridge
If he proposed to extend the system.
! He replied that such was the inten-
| ton of the District authorities as
rapidly as funds are appropriated.
| Mr.. Eldridge suggested several
| amendments, one to increase the mum.
| ber Of assistants to the corporation
counsel at Police Court and another
| affecting the right Of Jury trial in Ger.
tain cases. but withdrew them from
| consideration after members of the
| committee had suggested that they
might lead to controversy in the Sen.
ate to the detriment Of the bill.
Senator Capper expressed the belief
that this measure to improve the orig.
| inal traffic law was one of the most
important pieces of District legislation
before Congress and in making
amendments the committee sought to
avoid proposals that might endanger
its passage. Edward F. Colladay at
tended the meeting as spokesman for
the Hotel Mems Association to re
quest the elimination of that section
| Of the House bill which would pro
hibit taxicabs from having stands in
| front of Union Station and hotels.
/