Evening star., 1936-04-10
Thomas Wants Amendments
to Provide Any Powers
Held Necessary.
PHASES OF PROBLEM
COVERED AT HEARING
Senator Favors Strict Rules Gov.
erning Parking and Control
of Pedestrians.
BY J. A. O'LEARY.

The Commissioners were instructed
today by Chairman Thomas OF the
Senate subcommittee on the District
appropriation bill to prepare amend
n1ents to cover eny additional author
ity they believe they need to improve
traffic conditions.
After a two-hour executive hearing
In which spokesmen for city-wide Or
ganizationS and officials went over all
phases OF the problem, Senator
Thomas said the Commissioners stated
they have ample authority to specify
one-Way streets and to make parking
rules, but cited several other condi-
tions over which they are without au-
thority. In this connection they men,
toned the emergency no-parking rule
after midnight in Winter months to
expedite snow removal and the need
for regulations to govern parking lots.
Senator Thomas said he would favor
strict rules to govern parking and
control of pedestrians. Asked if he
had in mind abolishing downtown
parking entirely, Thomas said he had
suggested to the various officials pres
ent that they get together and figure
out what is the best course to pursue
to improve conditions
Lusk Suggests Meters.
The Oklahoma Senator said he was
"tired' of hearing in the past that
local authorities were without suffi-
cient power to pass all necessary
traffic regulations.
A proposal that parking meters be
tried out in Washington was sug-
gested by Rufus S. Lusk, who ex-
pressed belief that about $1,000 900
year in revenue could be raised.
The Commissioners also favored
passage OF the Magistrate Court bill
and bill for semi-annual inspection
of automobiles.
To relieve congestion in the morn
Ing and evening rush hours, they
urged a more general staggering of
Government Office hours. Some Offices
already have changed reporting time,
but the city heads advocated wider
application of the principle.
Only Enforcement Needed.
On the difficulty of finding parking
places downtown to transact business,
especially around public buildings,
Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen said
this is largely a matter of having
sufficient policemen to enforce a one
hour or Commute parking limit SO
that cars could move in and out.
1t is understood that organizations
represented at the meeting of the
subcommittee on the District appro-
priations bill disagreed on the ques-
tion of aboliShing all downtown park
ing, and indications were that the
Commissioners would prefer to have
this done by congressional action if
1t is to be done.
1t was suggested to the subcom-
mittee that the Police Department
should have Is more motor cycle men
and 100 patrolmen.
Walking Regulations Mentioned.
The Commissioners favored no park
ing on arterial highways.
The advisability of a jay-walking
regulation to regulate pedestrians was
brought up. Commissioner Hazen
said he thought it would be helpful,
but called attention to the difficulty
of enforcing it.
The purpose of the magistrate
courts would be to dispose of minor
violations quickly and only require
the more serious offenses to 90 to the
central Police Court on the day fol-
lowing the offense.
A bill for the mechanical inspection
of automobiles passed the House at
the last session and is pending in the
Senate District Committee.
Any additional authority the Com
missioners ask to help them in solving
traffic problems will be granted
promptly by Congress, Senator King,
Democrat, of Utah declared mean
while.
Ready Approval Forecast.
"If the Commissioners prepare a
bill covering whatever additional au-
thority may be needed, I believe it
could be put through the Senate in
48 hours" said Senator King. As
chairman Of the Senate District Com
mittee. King also is an ex-oficio men,
ber of Senator Thomas Subcommittee
on Appropriations, and expected to
take part in today's meeting
Senator King. in discussing the
problem generally. reiterated his con-
tention for regulation of pedestrians
at traffic-controlled intersections.
The subcommittee probably will have
only one more meeting to hear Budget
Bureau officials explain reductions
they made in the Commissioners orig
inal estimates for various purposes,
particularly upkeep of Gallinger and
other municipal hospitals. This ses-
sion will be tomorrow or Monday,
after which the subcommittee will be-
gin acting on changes in the House
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