Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-03-20
Joint Session Marked by In
sistence Powers Be Only
Consultative.
STREET CLOSING BILL
FARLEY HELD "FRIENDLY"
Bearing of Subdivisions on Streets
to Be Submitted to Planners
for Approval.

The District Commissioners insisted
Yesterday, at a joint meeting with the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, that under the street
closing bill, now pending in Congress,
the planners merely have consultative
powers and not the authority of veto.
The municipal heads also asserted that
in the new planning regulations, re-
lating to subdivisions of land, the
opinion of the planners be sought
merely for recommendations, without
binding force.
The Commissioners took the same
stand they did before the Senate Dis
trict Committee, that inasmuch as
theirs is the responsibility they should
not be forced to accept the veto Of an
other body. Instead Of the word ZAP
prevail in the bill as drawn, they want
the words submitted for recommended
ton incorporated into the measure, TO
obviate any possibility of veto by the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
Future Subdivisions.
With reference to future subdivisions
of land by real estate men and the
bearing of this on streets, the Commits
sioners agreed to submit the plans to
the Park and Planning Commission,
but there again only for purposes Of
recommendation, without mandatory
effect.
The two commissions, which met be-
hind closed doors at 10 O'Clock yester-
day morning and continued the session
for two hours, inaugurated new pro-
cedure by this practice. This was the
first time joint session has been held.
Members Of the Park and Planning
Commission foresee an important step
in the offing, If they are deprived of
their prospective veto power on street
closing. They believe this will jeopar-
die their whole planning program for
the municipality. If the Commission
ers prevail in the forthcoming fight In
Congress on the street-closing bill, the
recommendations of the planners may
be rejected with impunity.
M Street Bridge Case.
This happened to the recommended
ton Of the Fine Arts Commission In the
case Of the M Street Bridge over Rock
Creek and the planners think this will
be common occurrence If the District
Commissioners win the legislative bat
tie.
The session Of the two commissions
was described by Capt. z. N. Chisolm
Jr., the Planning Commissions engineer
as "a friendly round-table conference ~
The planners found the Commissioners
adamant In their stand for mo veto
power" however.
The street-closing bill, giving the
planners veto power, was introduced in
the Senate by Chairman Capper of the
Senate District Committee, and In the
House by Chairman Norton of the
House District Committee. Both are
ex-ofhcio members Of the Park and
Planning Commission. Congressional
sources said yesterday the street-cloing
bill originated in the Planning Com
mission, Of which Lieut.. Col. U. S.
Grant. Bird, is vice chairman and ex-
ecutive officer.
Authority Sought I'm Bill.
Under present procedure, it is neces-
sary to go to Congress each time it is
desired to close street in the Dis
trict. Under the street. closing bill,
blanket authority would be given the
Commissioners to act, where blotting
out thoroughfare from the highway
plan Is indicated.
The third major matter taken I'D by
the two commissions was the question
Of port of Washington authority, de-
signed to boost the Capital as a mari
time center. 1t was decided further
elaboration is necessary on this mat
ter, and a subcommittee Of the Plan
ming Commission will be appointed to
study the subject. The State Of Vir-
ginia has just put on its statute books
q new law, granting authority to Alex
andria and Arlington County to come
in with the port of Washington author
ity, II desired The measure has yet to
be acted upon in Congress.