Evening star., 1938-06-14
By JAMES E. CHINN.

By JAMES E. CHINN.
Chairman Palmisano of the House
District Committee announced today
he would make no further effort to
seek reconsideration of the compulsory
taxicab liability insurance bill at this
session Of Congress.
IT am satisfied it would be futile
to attempt in the closing hours of
Congress to get the House to again
consider the taxicab BILL" he declared.
II am convinced, too, if the present
bill is enacted into law. the 5000 or
more taxi operators in Washington
would form one company and put up
blanket $4,000 policy to escape the
insurance That amount would not
be sufficient to give the public proper
protection.
"At the next session of Congress
the committee will sponsor a new bill
that will be free of loopholes that
might allow a cab operator to escape
carrying policy sufficient to protect
the riding public. I'll guarantee that
now, and the taxicab liability legisla-
tion will be placed as No. / on the
committees must program in the next
Congress"
Earlier, Representative Nichols,
Democrat, of Oklahoma held out a
faint ray of hope that Congress might,
before adjournment, enact the taxicab
insurance bill.
The long-sought legislation was
virtually killed in the House late
yesterday, when it rejected a con-
ference report on a bill that would
have required Washington's 5000 cabs
to carry separate liability insurance
policies.
Insists on Individual Policies.
The House objection to the con-
ference report is Senate approved
provision that would allow operators
of cab fleets to create a sinking fund
or provide surety bonds as an alter
native for individual policies for each
cab. The House insists on individual
policies.
The taxicab liability bill met its
death as it reached the very threshold
OF enactment. Only House approval
Of the conference report was needed
to send it to the White House for
President Roosevelts signature But
the House refused to accept the re-
port by decisive 104-27 vote.
Lobby Activity Blamed.
Mr.. Nichols laid the blame for op-
position to the bill to Harry c.
Davis. president of the Independent
Taxi Owners Association. which oper-
ates the Diamond cabs.
Although the House rejected the
taxlcab conference report, 1t passed
number of other District bills. The
major ones on which legislative action
was completed will make more than
$33,000,000 available for public i'm
provements and to initiate a compre-
hensive program of slum clearance
and low-rent housing projects.
One of the measures approved a
Senate bill changing the Alley Dwell
ing Authority Act, which will turn
loose about s15,0O0,0Oo to rid Wash
hgton OF its slums. The other au-
thorizes the District to borrow s18,-
100000 of Public Works Administra-
tion funds for construction program
under the As per cent grant terms en-
1oyed by the States.
Both Of these measures are on their
way to the White House for the Pres
ident's signature.
Other bills passed by the House and
ready for the Presidents signature
provide:
1-Modernization of the original
District zoning law enacted in 1920.
2-Simplifying procedure in levying
and collecting taxes and assessments.
3-Authorizing the Healing Arts
Commission to issue a license to DR..
Sigfried Speyer.
Three other bills passed by the
House, however, await Senate ap-
proval. These provide:
Am increase in the height limit
OF property on the southeast corner of
Thirteenth street and Massachusetts,
avenue NV. from 80 to ITO feet.
2-An amendment to the charter of
the Society of American Florists and
Ornamental Horticulturists.
3-An amendment to the District
banking code to enable trust COM
panies to follow the same procedure as
national banks in reducing capitaliza-
ton.
House action on these bills cleared
its calendar of all pending District
legislation.
The amendments to the Alley Dwell
ing Authority legislation contain three
important provisions: First, the Au-
thority Is authorized to acquire prop
erty outside of alley squares to provide
housing for families substantially
equal in number to those whose
dwellings it demolishes in the alley
squares; second, 1t is empowered to
borrow 81 .00o. 900 q year for five years
from the Treasury for reclamation
OF slun1s not adapted to low-cost
housing, and, third, it may borrow
from the United States Housing
Authority for low-rent housing.
The Authority announced it will
call meeting to formulate its future
program az soon as the President