Evening star., 1939-02-05
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

BY JESSE c. SUTER.
During the past week there have
been introduced in the House and
Senate a number of bills affect
ing the District of Columbia.
These, added to the batch which
went in at the opening OF the
session, give the two District
Committees an array of prob
lens for consideration. The new
House committee has sustained
the loss by resignation Of one
member, Representative Wood,
Democrat, of Missouri. Mr.. Wood,
who had been on the committee
for four years, gave as his reason
for retirement the press Of his
duties on the Committees on War
Claims and Labor
The report of John A. Marshall,
director Of the Unemployment
Compensation Board, has dis
closed that the pay roll tax Of 3
per cent paid by employers In the
District of Columbia is accumu-
lating funds twice as fast as re-
ouired. His recommendation that
the rate be cut to 117 per cent is
before the House District Com
mittee ar IS promised early con-
sideration. The present surplus,
the report shows, Is 1886, 900,
and the director says that If the
present rate continues, will &C
cumulate at the rate Of $4y000,-
900 q year. The proposed cut in
the rate will result In a substan-
tial saving to Washington busi-
nessmen.
Among the legislative proposals
sent to Congress by the Commis-
sioners during the week was q bill
to reduce the number Of taxicabs
in the District. This would be ac-
complished by a gradual process
in order to avoid any hardship
on present taxicab owners and
operators. The Commissioners
would also change the time for
issuance Of Licenses to taXicabs
md small sig.at-sc ceing buses to
he same date as that on which
automobile tags are issued.
An important announcement of
the week was that the elimination
of the Districts last grade cross
ing has moved up several steps
and is nearing the final prelim-
mary stages. The plans have
been submitted, as required by
law, to the Bureau Of Public
Roads. II approved, the Com
missioners will advertise for bids
for construction Of IN overpass
at the Bates road crossing. The
overpass will be known as the
Taylor street viaduct over the
Baltimore d Ohio Railroad. A
new approach street, which will
connect with the Taylor street
viaduct, is to be known as Hawaii
avenue.
The grade crossing elimination
fight has been a long one, which
has on occasions slumbered until
some new fatalities would occur.
The fight would be resumed only
to become entangled in some
elimination program which Con-
gress failed to carry through. A
number of the civic groups have
kept up the fight In the face Of
many discouragements, but their
most helpful ally has been the
deaths which have occurred ut
these death traps.
Hearings on the District tax
bill, which were tentatively set for
last week by the Fiscal Subcom-
mittee Of the House District Com
mittee, have been postponed
by Chairman Nichols because OF
the absence Of expert Pond.
The Public Utilities Commis-
sion has ordered the expected
rate reduction to become effective
on the February bills of the Poto-
mac Electric Power Co. The cut
will aggregate 1894, ,0s5.3 81 and be
apportioned to consumer groups
as follows: Residential, $141, 500,
and commercial. $252, 500.
The Public Utilities Commis-
sion will hold a hearing during
the week on taxicab rates. Some
of the taxicab interests applied
for rate increase. The hearing is
for this purpose and on each cab
has been levied q fee to pay the
expenses Of the hearing and in
cidental proceedings. There Is .
marked difference OF opinion -
to rates among the operators
and also among the public as
represented by the civic organ
izations.
The commission in the fixing Of
rate will have to conflne its
action to a zone rate, as 1t Is
prohibited by act Of Congress
from considering the use Of me-
tiers. Many operators and some
of the public favor the use Of
meters with q low rate and claim
that such system would be fairer
to both the riders and the oper-
ators Of taxicabs.
Liquor Law and A. b. c. Board
Unpopular With Civic Groups.
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