Evening star., 1939-02-12
By JESSE C, SUTER.

by JESSE L. SUIEK.
Seldom, if ever, have the or
ganized civic forces of the Dis-/
trict of Columbia had more civic
food for reflection. Some believe
that the many important prob
lens now pending will suggest
the taking of a more active in
terest by fellow citizens who have
been observing the time honored
custom Of letting George do It,"
There is feeling extant that the
best thought and active interest
of all good citizens are needed if
the best solutions are to be found
for the pending important prob
lens.
Last week the Commissioners
promulgated the long looked for
regulations for the control of pc
destrians including a measure of
attempted pedestrian protection
for which there was an insistent
demand at the recent hearing. A
period of pedestrian education is
promised in advance of the rigid
enforcement of the regulations.
While the practice of giving tick
cts to motorists for violations is
to continue. reckless and dam
gerous pedestrians are to be ar
rested and Immediately taken to
the nearest police station, pre-
sumably in a patrol wagon.
The Public Utilities Commits
sion has been holding the hear
ing requested by the owners and
operators of taXicabs for an in
crease in rates. This problem in
many ways is far more complex
than that of the closely organ
lied public utility companies.
The several cab associations and
the large number of individual
independent operators make it
far more difficult to get at neces-
sary facts and figures than in
the case of the utilities COM
panies.
Another factor entering the
picture is the knowledge of the
commission that unless its find
ings in this case are to the liking
of Congress that all powerful
body will, in all probability, in
tervene and take the matter out
of the hands of the commission.
The commission, though sup
posed to have authority to regu-
lat the taxicab rates, is restricted
by a rider carried on appropria-
ton bills against any move look
ing to the installation of a
metered service.
On Friday the District Commits
sioners held the promised hear
ing on the parking meters and
listened to a general civic and
business organization approval
of the continued and more extern
sive use of the device. There was
some objection raised against the
Commute meters near the banks,
but it was the thought that this
objection would be overcome COM
pletely by more distinctive
marking of the meters in ques-
ton and the provision of addi-
tional one-hour meters.
Discussion of the completed
Griffenhagen plan for reorgani-
zation of the District government
has continued through the week
as also the Overton fiscal rela-
tions formula. The Overton bill
has been introduced in the SEN
ate and the plan is expected to
receive early consideration. The
Griffenhagen report is being
printed for congressional and
civic organization use and will be
the subject of a House subcom-
mittee hearing shortly.
Tomorrow is the first District
day in the House of Representa-
tives of the Seventy-sixth Con-
gress. The House District Com
mittee held a record-breaking
attendance meeting on Wednes-
day and expects to obtain action
on several bills which are ready
for consideration. The civic
leaders who were present at last
Wednesdays meeting of the
committee were impressed with
the 100 per cent attendance and
the lively interest shown by the
members in the District prob
lens with which the committee Is