Evening star., 1938-04-03
D. C. PARKING LOTS CHEVY CHASE LAKE|
PURCHASE IS GIVEN STRIP PURCHASE Att
CITIZENS SUPPORT $4,000 IS OPPOSED
Vote Favors Dirksen Bill Commissioner Hagner Is
to Acquire Spaces for Seeking Condemnation
Lower Use Rates. Proceedings.
OPEN TERED GARAGES WILL OFFER RESOL UTION
SUGGESTED BY HAZEN AT MEETING TUESDAY
Federation Dsapprove Refusal Sell at 5000 Was
Costly Construction of Based on Acreage Assessments
Underground Areas He Declares.
Vote Favors Dirksen Bill
to Acquire Spaces for
Lower Use Rates.
0PEN.TIERED GARAGES
SUGGESTED BY HAZEN
Federation Disapproves as Too
Costly Construction of
Underground Areas.

Strong support Of the proposal of
Representative Dirksen, Republican,
OF Illinois, for operation of munic-
ipally-owned parking lots in downtown
Washington at low rates, was voiced
last night by the Federation Of Cit
izens' Associations.
On motion by Chairman Harry S.
Wender of the Safety Committee, the
body voted approval of the principal
of Mr.. Dirksen's bill for purchase by
condemnation or private sale of pri-
vately-owned parking lots. The Fed
Grafton urged prompt approval of the
measure.
The body approved the committee
declaration thai This is believed to
be the only solution to our parking
problem so long AS our Government
Departments. as we'll as our principal
business establishments. are concen-
trated in a comparatively small part
of the CITY,"
The plan of Mr. Dirksen, which has
jority of the Board of Commissioners
of the District, calls for operation of
the proposed municipal lots at the rate
of 10 cnts a day. The Federation
action did not go into the question Of
the financial operation. except to ex-
press the hope that the lots would
be operated cheaply enough to permit
universal use.
Open-Tiered Garages Urged.
Tied to the proposal was a sugges-
win c. Hazen, that on the lots there be
constructed open-tiered garages so as
to permit the parking Of many more
cars than could otherwise be accom-
fnodated. The Federation previously
had approved the suggestion of mu-
nicipally- parking lots The
body disapproved, as too costly. the
suggestion of provision of subterra-
mean garages, as suggested about two
years ago.
Other portions of the report of the
Wender Committee approved plans
Of the Traffic Department for banning
parking on the flow" side OF arterial
highways, declared enforcement of
parking regulations has been LAX"
protested against the use Of Conflict
ing parking and traffic signs in vari-
Gus blocks, declared that double
parking" of vehicles should be pro-
hibited at all times on streets having
less than five lanes. except in outlying
sections; called for stringent enforce
ment of parking restrictions, and urged
adoption of rule that no vehicle be
permitted to park within so feet of
an intersection, instead of the present
25-foot rule.
The resolution also suggested that
the Commissioners extend throughout
the downtown section present restric-
tlons in the more congested zone
against any parking during the morn
Ing and evening rush periods or on
the flow side of all arterial high
ways.
Sign Regulation Favored.
In other actions, the federation
voiced approval of congressional plans
for moving the deadline for the pur-
chase Of automobile tags from .Decem-
Der 81 to April and approved pro-
posed control over neon advertising
signs on the ground they are confused
with traffic control signals and are a
traffic hazard
The body urged that congressional
committees grant early hearings to
the Capper- Norton bill for national
representation for the District and
to the Lewis-Randolph bill for a re-
publican form of government for the
District, In adopting a report by Miss
Eta Taggart, chairman of the Ma
tional Representation Committee.
The federation disapproved a sug-
gestion that the Commissioners be
authorized to require medical exam
nations Of all applicants for automo-
bile driving permits, or for renewal of
driving permits. on the ground that
such blanket power might result in
refusal OF permits to some physically
handicapped persons who have been
proved to be capable drivers and "ex-
cellent risks"