Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-10

and authority the Commissioners may
exercise the same through the Metro
polltan Police and such other existing
ot1cers or agents Of the District as the
commissioners may by regulation deS-
ignate."
Control Is Changed.
Section two of the new bill, which
Is to be an amendment Of the trafnc
act passed in 1925 and setting up the
once Of the director of traflc, reads as
follows:
That such act be, and the same is
hereby amended, so that wherever the
word director appears in such act,
said word director shall be stricken and
in lieu thereof the word Commissioners
shall be substituted"
In the bill sent up on December I,
the Commissioners simply sought to give
to themselves the power now resting
exclusively in the director Of traffic Of
originating new traffic regulations. At
present the Commissioners have the
veto power over any new regulation
suggested by the director of traflc, but
all regulations must originate with him,
and II 1t happens that he does not
choose to recommend a regulation which
the commissioners want passed they are
helpless.
Agreement Is Claimed.
In the letter of transmittal to the
congressional Committee of the District
OF Columbia the Commissioners say:
This draft differs from that sub
mitted to you on December l, 1880,
with respect to the provisions concern
ing common carriers. It has been rec
ognized that both the Public Utilities
Commission and the Board of Commits
sionerS OF the District of Columbia are
interested in the regulation Of the
movement Of common carriers and as
result of joint conferences we have
agreed upon the revised proposal here
with submitted as a complete and sat-
is1actory adjustment of the differences
with respect to Jurisdiction over such
carriers in traffic.
To Correct Defects.
1--WE have endeavored to convey to
you the earnestneSs of our desire to
have this legislation enacted as soon
as possible. You undoubtedly are aware
OF the grave difficulties in the enforce
ment Of traffic regulations that have
arisen as a result Of defects in the
present traffic act, as we'll as of jul
risdiction of problems which have ham
pered and impeded the efficient admin
istration of the intention of Congress as
IF your committee desires to hold
public hearings on this proposal we
urge that such hearings be at the
earliest possible date. In view Of the
agreement Of the administration
agencies most affected by traffic prob
lens and the absence of controversial
matter in the proposed bill, we respect
fully solicit its early Endorsement and
enactment by Congress"
The section which was inserted to
dispose Of the clash of Jurisdiction be-
tween the Commissioners and the Public
Utilities Commission is found in a pro-
viso to another section giving the Dis
trlct commissioners power to make,
modify and enforce reasonable reglla-
lions with respect to brakes, horns,
lights, muffiers, and other equipment,
the speed, length, weight, height, rout-
ing and parking of vehicles and the es-
Enlistment of hack stands.
The proviso is: THAT as to all COM
mon carriers which enter, operate in
or leave the District of Columbia. the
power to route such vehicles within the
District of Columbia, to regulate their
equipment is vested in the
Public Utilities Commission of the Dis
trict of Columbia, but that whenever
any order from the District Commits
sionerS~ shall be made, involving the
movement of traffic, which is inconsist-
ent and repugnant to any order of the
Public Utilities Commission, or vice
versa, it shall be referred to a Joint
board to be composed of the District
Commissioners and the members of the
Public Utilities Commission, which Is
hereby authorized and created; and
such joint board may, by the afirma-
tive action of any three members there
OF, adopt rules and regulations, which.
when promulgated in accordance with
provisions Of this act, shall be binding
ana snail have the full force and effect
Of law; provided, further, that the En-
gineer Commission shall be the chair.
man OF such Joint board, and shall have
but one VOTE