Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-02

Continued from First Page)
team work" not only between the
three Commissioners, but also be.
tween the District government and
the Federal agencies in the city which
may share a cooperative enterprise
with the local government. 1T the
general supply committee can save
the District money by the purchase or
supplies in a big pool, he stated, ne
thought that use Of this agency was
only good business sense. But he,
too, expressed himself as determined
to see that ultimate authority in
executive matters Of the District gov.
eminent was not taken from the
Commissioners as long as the organic
act remained in force.
Many Benefits Assured.
There is no disposition at the
District Building, Col. Bell pointed
out, to look with other than friendly
eyes upon the Federal agencies co.
operating with the District govern
ment AS far as the Gibson subcom-
mittee is concerned, he pointed out.
it is part Of the District government,
since it Is part of Congress, the legis-
iative arm of the District government.
in accord with the operations OF the
Gibson subcommittee, Col. Bell said.
They feel that much good has already
been accomplished from the activities
of that committee thus far. and are
assured that many benefits will be
derived from a follow-up of the
projects initiated by that subcom-
mittee.
Commissioner Taliaferro was en-
phatic in his statement that he could
foresee no reason for fear or appre-
hension that there will be any en-
croachment on the Commissioner S
authority by the Federal executive
agencies. He said that he wanted to
see the harmony existent continue for
the best interest Of the people of
Washington and for the general
welfare.
Traffic Lights Checked.
Investigators of the Bureau Of Eff.
ficiency, at work in checking up on
the receipts and installation Of equip
ment for Washington's signal lights,
were we'll along with their check-up
on these items today. They are mall
ing physical check-up Of lights in
stalled on the streets and equipment
in the store houses at the reques. Of
the Gibson subcommittee. 1t was ex-
pected that the check-up would be
finished late today or tomorrow. This
was the final step at the Gibson com.
mittee hearings, which In the last
two weeks had produced disclosures
from Col. I. G. Moller, resulting in his
suspension for irregularities in the
office Of traffic engineer.
Traffic Director M. 0. Eldridge, who
requested that Engineer Commits
sioner Bell assign some one In the
engineering or electrical department
of the city government to look over
the papers containing the specifica-
tions and bids from competitors for
the contract to provide the next big
batch of more than 500 traffic signal
lights for Washington and to ascer.
tain the fitness of the specifications
and If they are proper, then to desig-
nate the successful bidder under the
proposals, and met with refusal, to.
day stated that the bids were still on
his desk. The matter of awarding
the contract had not progressed, he
said. He added that he had decided
to obtain expert advice to determine
that the specifications issued By the
District for the traffic lights were so
drawn as not to exclude any legiti-
mate bidder and to ascertain, this
being SO, which bidder should receive
the contract. But he had not de.
cided where to obtain this advice, he
said. The matter for the time being
Is in status quo.