Evening star., 1934-05-27

the situation Is likely to remain
| new automobiles, gasoline, lubricating
oils and tires. and the reduction in
volume would curtail their receipts
and this loss in tax revenues would
no doubt be made up in some other
form of taxes
| IL. The District government col
lects tax on gasoline and ON an
automobile as personal property, as
well as fees for titling and registering
automobiles and driving permits, and
by reducing the number of automo-
biles sold and decreasing their use
and the number of people operating
them it would materially lower the
tax receipts of the District Of Colum-
bia, and this loss would naturally have
to be met by increasing the rates of
other taxes.
13. The reduction in the sale Of
the commodities previously men
toned and the lowering of the volume
| Of business done by service and lubri-
cation stations and auto laundries,
due to lesser number Of automo-
biles being operated, and q smaller
number of miles being driven by the
automobiles still In use due to the
increased cost of operation brought
about by the compulsory renting of
a garage, would naturally reduce the
volume OF business, and consequently
the merchants engaged In the sale
Of such merchandise and service
would be compelled to reduce their
operating expenses, and this no doubt
would be done by the dismissal of q
number Of their employees.
IA. These employees naturally
make purchases from the butcher,
the grocer and the candlestickmaker,
and If they do not have the where
with to do so this will reduce the vol
ume Of all lines of business in the
District Of Columbia, with these mer-
chants being compelled to take the
same action in connection with their
personnel as set forth In the final
portion OF the previous paragraph.
Garages insufficient.
Is. There are not q sufficient mum.
Der Of garages at this time within the
District of Columbia to garage the
automobiles now owned and operated
here.
16. It would take a considerable
period Of time to erect garages on the
limited number Of plots of ground
available for garage purposes, and in
view of the present trend of the
money market to stay away from the
financing of building operations, the
erection of garages would not proceed
as quickly or readily as they would
under q different situation.
II. The price for anything is regu-
lated by the law of supply and de-
mand. The conservative figure of
S. per month for garage rent has
been used, but If all-night parking was
prohibited the demand for garages
would exceed the supply, consequent
ly much greater average monthly
rental than IS would be charged,
which would make the condition pre-
viously outlined more appalling.
18. A large number of women
operate automobiles in the District of
Columbia. The majority of the ga
RACES now obtainable are located in
alleys and these woman automobile
owners, even if they could afford to
pay the garage rental, would no doubt
dispose of their cars for the reason
that they would be afraid to put cars
in and take cars out Of these alley
garages after dark.
10. The period from 8 am. to 8
pm. Is when automobiles and pedes-
trians are using the streets to the
maximum. Between 8 pm. and IL
midnight there is a minimum use,
while from midnight until am. the
use Of the streets as a whole is prac-
tically nil, therefore nothing Is gained
by eliminating automobiles from park
ing when the streets are free from
automobiles in operation and pedes-
trians. 1t would seem that If it is all
right to park automobiles on the
streets when foot and vehicle trafic
is at its highest point that there Is
no wellfounded reason for prohibit
ing them to park when the streets are
not being used.
Financial Burden Seen.
20. In conclusion, it is desired to
record that the above conclusively
demonstrates that the elimination Of
all-night parking would place an i'm
mense financial burden upon the great
majority of the residents of the Dis
trict Of Columbia that could not be
satisfactorily borne by them. It would
disastrously affect business in the
| District of Columbia and that all of
the above greatly overshadows any
reasons advanced for the elimination