Evening star., 1938-04-08
OFFICIALS TO MAP
PLANS TOF|NANCE
DIME EPARK|NCL0T
Campaign for City-0wned
Space Given Impetus
at Dinner.
'PARKATERIAS' URGED
BY DIRKSEN IN TALK
Author of Legislation Says Streets
Are Inadequate for Modern
Traffic.
By G. ADAMS HOWARD.

Dy ". hDAVlo Ho AMI.
Efforts to find at least partial solu-
ton for Washington's perplexing park
ing problem moved forward today. as
a committee of District and Federal
officials prepared to meet for discus
sion of financial plans for the proposed
municipality owned "dime-a-day" park
ing lots
The campaign for establishment of
city-oWned lots was given impetus last
night at meeting of the Advisory
Board Of the District Motor Club. an
affiliate of the American Automobile
Association. at which Representative
Dlrksen, member of the House Dis
trict Committee. called for "parkaterias
instead of so many cafeterias."
The Illinois Republican. who intro
duced the pending bill for establish
ment OF municipal lots for off-the-
street parking, was one OF several
speakers at the Advisory Boards din
ner meeting in the Willard Hotel.
Members of Committee.
The group scheduled to take up the
parking problem today was appointed
by Commissioner George E. Allen
shortly after Mr. Dirksen introduced
his measure in the House. Members
OF the committee are Capt. H. C.
Whltehurst, director of highways:
Richmond B. Keech, vice chairman of
the Public Utilities Commission: Will
liam A. Van Duzer, director of vehicles
and trafflc; Vernon E. West, principal
assistant corporation counsel, and
John Nolen. representing the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion.
Presided over by John Vandegrift,
wee chairman of the advisory board,
those present at last nights meeting
heard Representative Dirksen declare
that. whether We like it or not, We are
living in an age in which the spirit
OF speed" is dominant-a situation for
which neither our cities nor the coun-
try at large is geographically suited.
Present-day streets are totally made
quate for the demands of modern
traffic. he asserted, because the engi-
neers have approached the problem in
an unlntelligent and unscientifc way.
Cars Still on Street.
Parkameters, limited parking and
the widening of streets do not solve
the problem, because the automobiles
still are on the streets, he added, and
then continued:
municipalities are responsible for
parking spaces, not individually owned
enterprises. Each city should provide
for place for an auto to light at the
completion of the journey. 1t is the
function of city government. The
District of Columbia should be in the
parking business. Parkaterias instead
of so many cafeterias."
He urged that the city obtain places
for parking lots or garages by con-
demnation proceedings and that the
motorist would have to pay only 10 or
Is cents day.
Representative Schultz, traffic SUBJ
committee member of the House Dis
trlct Committee, from Indiana, was
the flrst speaker. He also has taken
an active part in District traffic affairs,
He paid high tribute to the work of
Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen, Traffic
Director Van Duzer, Police Supt.
Ernest w. Brown. Inspector Will
liam E. Holmes and the Police Court
judges for their work in aiding traffic
conditions here He said that he was
opposed to the "parkameters," as thev
would not solve congestion in any
way. He stated that certainly life was
more valuable than parking spaces.
On resolution presented bv Isaac
Cans. vote Of appreciation was given
Mr. Schultz.
Bates Discusses Parking.
Other speakers included Represent
ative Bates, a member of the House
District Committee from Massachu-
sets and former Mayor of Salem: :
Elwood H. Seal, corporation counsel
and Mr.. Nolen. Mr.. Bates discussed the
situation concerning parking in his
State. and while approving Mr.
Dirksens bill, said that he had found
1t hard to get over a "so-called bet
terment tax to acquire property fol-
municipal parking. Mr.. Seals re-
marks were along the same line, and he
declared that in city like Washing
ton. with all the Federal agencies more
or less centrally located. the question
was "hoW to get the properties in q
convenient location"
Mr.. Nolen reported on survey made
in Is States. where there were many
municipal parking areas and stated
that all of them met with the ma
jority's approval and In most cases
more were recommended.
The Advisory Board took no def
mite action. but recommended further