Evening star., 1936-04-13
B|[LSPREPARED
UPON REQUEST OF
|. SENATOR THOMAS
None Bears Directly Upon
Car Regulation Despite
Authorization.
BUDGET BUREAU TO GET
LEGISLATION FOR STUDY
Projects Deal With Snow Remov.
al, Parking Meters and Lots
and Cab Reductions.
-Four bills were being drafted today

-Four bills were being drafted today
for submission to the Senate subcom-
mittee on the District appropriation
bill as result of request made by
Senator Thomas, chairman, for new
proposals broadening the powers Of
the Commissioners to control traffic.
The surprising thing about the new
measures, however, was the fact that
none of them directly bears on traffic
control. despite the authorization
given last Friday to Acting Corpora
ton Counsel Vernon E. West.
Three of the measures being drafted
by West and Assistant Corporation
Counsel Edward Thomas merely au-
thorize the Commissioners:
To require property owners to
remove snow from the sidewalks
in front of their premises.
To establish licenses and issue
regulations for the operation of
parking lots.
To install patented parking
meters, at their discretion, along
the curbs for the convenience of
motorists.
Fourth Bill Deals With Cabs.
A fourth bill, proposed by Rich
mond B. Keech, vice chairman of the
Public Utilities Commission, would
reduce and maintain the number of
operating taxicabs from 1920, the
number now registered, to 1000.
This proposed legislation will be
forwarded to the Budget Bureau for
its approval at once so as to be ready
for the Senate subcommittee next
Wednesday as a rider to the District
supply bills.
At the meeting last Friday the
Commissioners and the Special Traffic
Committee fully discussed the request
made by Senator Thomas for addi-
tional traffic legislation and instructed
Corporation Counsel West to prepare
drafts of bills.
One of the proposals considered
was the banning of parking by COM
mercial vehicles on arterial highways
between m. and $50 am.
West explained today, however,
that the existing powers Of the Com
missioners were sufficient to take care
of this problem, and for that reason
this and other direct proposals for
traffic control we're not being re-
quested.
Direct Action Likely.
General parking of automobiles is
now prohibited on arterial highways
during the rush hours, but trucks are
permitted to load and unload, with re-
suit that traffic is seriously impeded.
1t was thought probable that the
Commissioners would act directly Of
their own accord to prohibit this prac-
tice in the future.
The proposal reducing the number
of taxicabs to 1000. Mr.. Keech said,
does not contemplate any increase in
existing taxi rates.
The legislation to be requested
would merely authorize the Commits
sioners to exercise their power over
the four problems involved and does
not direct them.
Mr.. Keech expressed the opinion
that the reduction of taxicabs would
increase the volume of business for the
cabs remaining in operation, this VOL
ume being sufficient to keep rates at
their present level. The removal of
at least 2,280 cabs from the streets,
he said, also is necessary to facili-
tate traffic. 1t would provide an
ample number of cabs to meet passen-
ger needs.
Reduction to 1000 Is Aim.
No new taxicab licenses would be
issued, West told Keech. until the
number is reduced to 1000. The re-
duction, he believes, would come about
by voluntary surrenders of licenses
and revocations Once the 1000 limit
is reached new licenses would be issued
only in sufficient numbers to maintain
the established quota.