Evening star., 1934-11-02
CITIZENS INVITED
TO OFFER Center
FINANCING PLANS
Prettyman's Plea to Civic
Groups in Line With
Legislative Study.
P. w. A. GRANT ALREADY
ASKS FOR BEGINNING
Item in 1886 Budget Abandoned
Because District Could Not
Handle Extra Cost.

District civic organizations were
called upon today by Corporation
Counsel z. Barrett Prettyman to sub
NIT to the Commissioners any sug-
gestions they might have as to means
of financing first unit of the Munich
pal Center, to provide housing for the
Municipal, Police and Juvenile Courts.
The request was sent out today in
connection with public study Mr..
Prettyman is seeking on a proposed
District legislative program to be SUBJ
mitted to Congress at the approach
ing session.
The corporation counsel frankly
stated he and the Commissioners have
not formulated any plan for financing
the new courts building project. The
District has asked the Public Works
Administration for a grant to start
construction of the Municipal Center.
This was done some months ago, and
approval has not been forthcoming.
Budget Item Abandoned.
More recently Commissioner Melvin
c. Hazen expressed the hope that the
1886 budget might contain an item
for starting construction of the CEN
ter. This was definitely abandoned
by the Commissioners when they
found District finances next year
would not permit the extra cost II
the District Is to live within its in
come.
One important feature of the prob
lem which has caused District off,
cials to hesitate to initiate the con-
struction program is that Congress
as yet has declined to indicate how
much of the total cost the Federal
Government would assume as its
obligation. The center has been PLAN
ned on q scale to be suitable neigh
Dor to monumental Federal buildings.
The total cost has been estimated at
$4,000 900 or more.
Prettyman also asked the various
civic organizations to advise the Com
missioners as to whether they should
make a new effort at the next session
for enactment of bill to require taxi
cab operators to take out liability In
surance when they have been found
to have a bad driving record.
Killed Last Session.
Such o hin was killed on the floor
OF the House at the last session, large
ly through the efforts of Representa-
tive Patman of Texas, who claimed it
would force a boost In taxicab rates
and drive many taxicab operators out
Of business. The bill was sponsored
jointly by the Public Utilities Com
mission and the Board of District
Commissioners. Commissioner George
E. Allen, however, voiced q minority
view, opposing enactment
As drafted last year. taxicab op-
orators would be forced to take out
liability insurance when they were
found to have violated serious trafic
regulations or to have failed to meet
judgments resulting from accidents for
which they were held responsible. In
such cases they would be forbidden to
operate until they did take out liability
insurance. The request for sugges-
tions was sent to the Board of Trade.
District Bar Association, Women's Bar
Association, the Federation of Citizens
Associations and other groups.
These groups also were asked TO
send in comments on the proposed
new law to deal with the numbers
gambling racket and to submit any
proposals they have for amendment Of
the District liquor law.