Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08
TRAFFIC BILL WINS
HOUSE APPROVAL
CentraIizeS Control in Com.
miSSionerS-Nine Other
Measures Pass.

On the first District day" in the
House during the present session of
Congress, 10 bills were passed yesterday
after a filibuster had been averted, four
measures being withdrawn by Chair
man Zihlman of the District committee
when opposition developed, and one
measure on the program not being
called up.
Outstanding among the measures
passed was the new traffic bill central
izing control of traffic in the District
Commissioners. This bill is the out
growth of the exhaustive study of traffic
conditions by the committee appointed
by the Commissioners It's introduction
IN the House was preceded by contro-
verSy between the Commissioners and
the Public Utilities Commission over
several of its features, with the result
that it was revised eight times before
it received the unanimous Endorsement
OF the various agencies interested in
traffic regulation and control.
Traffic Director Abolished.
Aside from placing traffic control in
the Board of Commissioners, the bill
also abolishes the Office of the director
Of traff1c, and provides for the titling
of all vehicles before they are permitted
to be operated in the District. The bill
further provides for the creation of a
joint board to be composed of the Com
missionerS and members of the Public
Utilities Commission to pass upon any
conflicting regulations regarding the
operation of public carriers.
Two amendments were made to the
traffic bill, however, before it was
passed. These were proposed by Rep
reSentative Gibson of Vermont. The
most important Is an outgrowth of the
expose in the House during conSidera-
ton of the District appropriation bill
for the 1882 fiscal year of the abuse of
special privilege Congressional" auto
mobile tags, when it was stated that
they could be bought at the 10-cent
store and that bootleggerS were using
them and claiming immunity. The
amendment directs that such congress
sional' tags must be numbered and
that policemen are to grant every con-
sideration to members using them on
official businssS-the only prohibition
being that they must not park in front
of fire plug.
other bills passed were:
Changing the name of B street from
Lincoln Memorial past the Mall to the
Capitol to Constitution avenue"
The so-called billboard bill" to regu-
late exterior advertising.
Elimination of Michigan avenue grade
crossing, which has already passed the
Senate.
Authorizing the widening Of the
Piney Branch road northwest.
Authorizing the District Commission
erS to sell two parcels of land to the
trustees of Howard University.
Amending the corporation law of the
District, which has already passed the
Senate.
Permitting a conduit for refrigera-
ton purposes across E and F streets
southwest.
Regulation Of Healing.
Clarifying the definition Of "natur-
opathy" and the intention Of the act to
regulate the practice of the healing art.
Authorizing the Commissioners to
compromise and settle a suit resulting
from the FORGETTING of the contract Of
the Commercial Coal Co. with the Dis
trict of Columbia.
The four measures that were with
drawn from consideration due to OPP
position were:
The so-called small loans bill"
which would legalize a 3 per cent a
month rate Of interest.
To authorize the District Commits
sioners to close certain streets, roads,
highways or alleys rendered useless or
unnecessary.
To establish a Lincoln Memorial
Museum in the building known as
Ford's Theater.
To require financial responsibility Of
taxicab owners In the District of Co.
lumbia.
The one measure that was on the
program which was not called up by
Chairman Zihlman was:
To regulate the erection of structures
on the Potomac River adjacent to the
proposed George Washington Memorial
Parkway