Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-21
Traffic Committee Is Moved
by Storm of Protest Fol-
lowing Proposal.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO GO
TO D. C. HEADS TUESDAY
Consideration Of Increase in Levy
Along With Other Similar
Problems Favored.

Moved by the storm Of protest that
followed the proposal for raising the
gasoline tax and motor vehicle regis
tration fee, the Traffic Advisory Com
mittee, in its final report to the Dis
trict Commissioners, viii recommend
that consideration of the increases be
deferred.
The Executive Committee Of the ad-
visory group decided on this course Of
procedure at meeting yesterday aft
ernoon. at which it whipped into shape
the oficial report to be submitted to
the Commissioners. This report win
contain q series Of Recommendation
designed to improve traHic conditions
and bring Washington's system Of traf-
nc regulation and control into closer
conformity with the uniform code Of
the National Highway Safety Confer
ence. It viii be transmitted to the
Commissioners Tuesday.
Decides ON Postponement.
The proposed increase in the gasoline
tax from 2 TO cents q gallon and q
registration fee Of 50 instead Of 81
originated In the licensing subcommit-
tee OF the advisory group. Rather than
have this recommendation force into
the background the numerous other
proposals of the committee for bettering
traffic conditions, as it appears to have
done, the executive group came to the
conclusion that 1t would be far better
to postpone consideration.
Moreover, the Executive Committee
looked upon the question Of gasoline
kaa ri 81 lno~ "a
ly related to taxation, and will tell
the Commissioners 1t should properly
be considered in connection with other
tax problems and not taken up as Q
separate subject. The committee, how
ever, believes that the proposal should
not be completely abandoned, but
merely laid aside until the Districts
tax system and the question of fiscal
relations between the municipal and
Federal Governments undergoes study.
II this Is done the committees feels
tie broad subject Of taxatlcn, instead
20 being aznpaafled as at present rs q
separate problem.
Plans Carefully Reviewed.
The recommendation Of the various
subcommittee Of the advisory group
which viii 60 into the final report for
the Commissioners have all been care
DR.. Miller McClintoek. nationally
known trafnc expert, who made q
trafic survey In washington recently
for the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. At the request
of the committe, he comrsled the
recommendation into one report, and
added his own personal comment On
each.
The report has been separated into
two general parts, one relating to pure
ly trafiic matters, and the other to such
kindred subjects as the gasoline tax
and registration fees, and the proposed
Capitalization of the work of register
ing and licensing vehicles and drivers.
The part devoted to traffic questions
win recommend slight reorganization
Of the trafic directors Office so as to
provide time, personnel and facilities
for q greater engineering study OF
trafic problems than permitted under
the existing set-up, and such changes
in the trafIic regulations that win make
them applicable to the code Of the
National Highway and Safety Confer
ence, with minor notifications to meet
peculiar local conditions. These pro-
posed changes provide for substitution
of the standard left turn for the So
called rotary turn at traffic controlled
intersections and regulations to govern
the erection of trafic signs, signals, etc.
The Executive Committee report,
however, will recommend that further
study be given proposal for an annual
inspection of motor vehicles to de-
termine their mechanical fitness to be
operated in the interest of safety. The
committee, 1t was said, favors certain
restrictions on unsafe vehicles, but be-
to put the plan for an annual inspec-
ton into effect until a method of in
spection Is determined. The subcom-
mittee, which studied this subject, sug-
gested that the inspection be made by
the Traffic Bureau, the personnel Of
which would be increased for the
purpose.