Evening star., 1934-05-09
FOUR D. {. BILLS
GIVEN APPROVAL
One Requires Owners of
Cars Involved in Accident i
to Take Insurance. y

The House District Committee to-
day ordered favorable reports on four
bills, including one requiring owners
of automobiles involved in accidents
to take out liability insurance before
being allowed to drive again.
The other measures provide a new
insurance code for the District, au-
thorization for the Commissioners to
sell the old Tenley School to st. AIMS
Catholic Church, and clothing the
Commissioners with authority to pro-
mulgate and enforce harbor regula-
tions subject to the approval OF the
Secretary of War.
Taxicab Bill Blocked.
Action on a bill requiring financial
responsibility for owners Of taxicabs
and other public vehicles was blocked
by Representative Patman. Democrat
of Texas, who insisted that he be
given a thorough opportunity to dis
cuss the measure AS a result. a spe-
cial meeting was called for 1890 am.
tomorrow. The committee is anxious
to get the measure on the calendar
before Monday, which is expected to
be the final District day in the House
at the current session of Congress.
Patman also called Traffic Director
William A. Van Duzer before the COM
mittee and denounced in his pres
ence the movement for ban on all
night parking in the District
Van Duzer replied that such plan
is not actually contemplated at this
time, but that steps have been taken
for a survey to get public opinion on
the question He said personally he
had "an open mind on the plan.
II Just can't understand what Is
behind all this" Patman declared. Il
think that instead of trying to pre-
vent people from parking. you ought
to help them find place"
What harm can parked car do
on the streets at night after the move
ment of traffic has ceased? The only
people who have spoken to me about
this proposed all-night parking ban
are those who have garages to rent or
want to make money out of the plan.
That's the most selfish thing know
Of
Originated in Senate.
Van Duzer said the idea had orig
mated on the Senate side of the Cap
itol. and Patman told him that he felt
confident the House side would not
support it.
Patman also urged that steps be
taken to increase parking space in the
downtown section by return to an
gle parking on wide streets and the
oil ,i,oo nf nf the
reserved for taxicabS, buSseS and other
public vehicles. He said he knew of
no reason why automobiles could not
be parked at an angle on Pennsyl-
vania avenue and other wide thor
oughfares.
Incidentally, Patman commended
Van DuZer for strict examination of
applicants for drivers permits.
Il think you have careful drivers
in Washington" he said, ''and I be-
lieve that is due to the rigid law you
have with respect to the issuance of
drivers permits and the manner in
which it is being enforced"
Will Ask Special Rule.
Approval Of the new insurance code
was given upon the insiStence Of Rep
resentative Harlan Of Ohio, who de-
clared that the insurance situation in
the District under the present code Is
chaotic" The new code, he pointed
out, provides for close supervision of
the operation of insurance companies
by the Department of Insurance. 1t
also, he said, will aid materially in
keeping insurance companies out of
receiverships.
When the bill gets on the House
calendar, Harlan announced he would
apply to the Rules Committee for a
special rule to pave the way for its
early consideration. He said he is
anxious to have the measure enacted
into law at this session of Congress,
Favorable action was taken on the
bill authorizing the Commissioners to
sell the old Tenley School despite an
unfavorable report from the Board of
Education. The School Board said
the building, which is now being oc-
cupied under a lease by the st. AIMS
Parochial School, might again be
needed for public school purposes.