Evening star., 1934-05-22
Parking Ban Must Be
Decreed Eventually

6dAtOA VA 4hC SboA'
2 cannot help but take excep-
ton to the remarks Of the party who
condemned the traffic director in his
letter published in Saturdays Star.
This mans attitude toward the traffic
problem in Washington is typical of
the average Washingtonian. Wash
ington, with its large cosmopolitan
population, the large number of Gov
ernment employees who owe allegiance
to some other city and State, seem to
take little or no interest in the city's
welfare or that of their fellow citizen.
Contrary to what has been said
about the traffic director and the Po-
lice Department, I feel that the direc-
tor should be complimented upon his
efforts to solve problem that must
be met in some way. Only few weeks
ago he placed ban on parking on F
and @ streets in an effort to remedy
situation that Is disgrace to the
city. Instead Of being supported in
his efforts to pave the way for a ban
on parking in the downtown streets,
leaving these streets open for the use
of the entire public instead of choice
few. the director was Immediately
criticized and citizens and merchants
together had the ban lifted. Double
parking in the downtown streets is a
common practice while some individ-
ual does shopping. Were it not for
the continual activity of the police
and the tickets" motorists in this
town would certainly go the limit.
They have no regard for their fellow
mans rights.
I own a car, but unless there is
ample parking facilities l place my
car in a parking lot, even though 1
have to walk a few blocks. The
streets belong to the entire citizenry,
not a few Of them who happen to
own automobiles. 1t is not right that
a motoriSt should be permitted to
store his automobile on some other
persons property. He should be re-
quired to provide a storage place for
1t the same way that he is required
TO provide some place to put his fur
niture and other belongings.
1t is true that Washington is not
In the same class with other cities. In
the other city the vast majority of
citizens are property owners, pay real
estate and street taxes and have a
more perfect right to use the streets
than the average Washingtonian. who
DO not pay very much toward the up
keep OF the streets. This burden falls
upon the very few in the city who do
own property and stand sixty per cent
OF the taxes; and most of the latter
class have their garages. On the
other hand, outsiders from all parts of
the country come to Washington, get
jobs in the Government service. rent
small apartments and buy automo-
piles. They get their tags for 81 a
year and pay very small tax on the
car. Then they want to park these
cars day and night on the streets, on
other peoples property. 1t is mani
testly unfair to property owners in
the city, and the District authorities
should have taken steps long ago to
put stop to this practice. 1t is more
difficult to stop it now. Naturally
these people are going to complain:
tney care little about the beauty of
the clty's streets or the property of
others. 1t is hoped that the city Off
Gals will not abandon the no-parking
proposition, but will take drastic
measures to remove all parking from
the streets. 1t must come sooner or
later. ROBERT E. MORRISON