Evening star., 1936-07-19
BY JESSE C. SUTER.


on the hearing before the
~ Public Utilities Commission
which opened on Monday morning.
The earlier part Of this hearing
was devoted to the support OF the
company's petition for authority
to purchase additional equipment
and for the increase of one-man
car operation. Expert testimony
introduced from other Jurisdictions
included statistics showing fewer
accidents for one-man operated
buses and street cars than for the
regulation two-man cars.
The citizens associations and
individual citizens followed the
company's petition with vigorous
opposition to the acquisition of ad-
ditional secondhand cars, as we'll
as against converting the new
streamline cars to one-man opera
ton. There was also strong opposi-
ton voiced against any increase In
fares.
The attendance of civic organ
ization representatives at this hear
ing was the largest civic gathering
since the peoples counsel mass
meeting Of some weeks ago. Most
of these representatives appeared
under authority granted by action
of the Executive Committee Of
the several associations, as prac-
tically all citizens associations
have adjourned for the Summer.
The annual address Of Chairman
Offutt of the Alcoholic Beverage
Control Board, at mass meeting
of the liquor dealers. was an out
standing event Of the last week.
Mr.. Offutt read extensively from
the boards report for the fiscal
year ending June 30. 1896, which
indicates that the board Is very
well satisfied with the way In
which its job has been handled.
Personal Tax Office Center
Of Civic Interest.
THE Personal Tax Once is an
other center of civic interest
sought out daily by citizens In in
creasing numbers. The law requires
that all personal tax returns be
filed during the month of July.
These returns include all personal
property not specifically exempted.
with the exception of automobiles.
The returns on motor vehicles are
made when applications are filed
for registration. The tax Is pay
able in full in connection with the
registration fee. This method Of
handling the personal tax on motor
vehicles has the advantage of dis
tinctly tying this vehicle tax with
the nominal registration fee and
the additional advantage Of insur-
ing 100 per cent collection.
New Chain Bridge
Progress Being Watched.
THE interest Of our nearby Viz
ginia neighbors in the new
Chain Bridge continues on the in
crease. Strong opposition to the
construction of q two-lane bridge
has been voiced in an action by
the Fairfax County Chamber Of
Commerce. The bridge, it is de-
clared. is one Of the principal out
lets of the county and should pro-
vide at least four lanes for trafic.
The resolutions adopted by the
chamber appeal for support from
Senators Carter Glass and Harry
Flood Byrd, Commissioner Hazen
and Representative Howard w.
Smith. These officials are urged to
support the movement for a four
trafYic-lane bridge. These latest
opponents Of the two-lane bridge
have not indicated whether or not
they would urge that the State of
Virginia bear the additional cost
Of Q bridge of double capacity. It
Is not known at this time whether
the influence which Is being in
voked will cause the District Com
missioners to delay the completion
Of plans and awarding Of contract
for the bridge construction. Dis
trict Commissioners In the past
have been known sometimes to de-
lay such action under influential
congressional pressure.
John Philip Sousa Bridge
Urged n 1888 Budget Item.
THE indications are that South
east Washington, with the
united support Of the entire Dis
trict, will urge upon the Commis-
sioners inclusion of an authorize
ton to let q contract for the pro-
posed John Philip Sousa Bridge
at Pennsylvania avenue southeast.
The Commissioners will be asked,
in this connection, to request that
$3.50, 900, or about one-half Of the
estimated cost of the structure, be
made available for expenditure
during the next fiscal year.
The most recent action In sup
port of this project was by the
Southeast Business Mems Associa-
tion in the naming Of q committee
Of three to present such request to
the Commissioners. The citizens
associations on both sides Of the
Anacostia River In this section are
unitedly for this proposal, includ-
ing the naming Of the bridge after
John Philip Sousa, the native-born
Southeast Washington boy who be-
came the great band leader and
march king.
In the erection of this bridge
as . memorial to the composer of
STARS and Stripes Forever" it
has been pointed out that it will
naturally balance the Francis
Scott Key Bridge across the Poto-
mas at Georgetown, which Is .
memorial to the author Of The
Star Spangled Banner"
A novel feature has been sug-
gested for the John Philip sosisa
Bridge in that its design include .
chamber In which would be in
stalled . record-playing machine
attached to an amplifying system.
BY means Of this system electrical
transcriptions of some of Sousas
most famous compositions could be
automatically played and heard In
the vicinity Of the bridge. Such
device could be operated either by
electricity or clock-vork. This
xlaPgeSted feature has mot with en-.