Evening star., 1941-05-18
Traffic Survey
Wins Approval
OF Federation
Citizens Associations
Frown on Cos Tax
To Finance Program

After three hours of debate, the
Federation of Citizens Associations
last night approved the major fea-
lures of the s44,5OO,0oo Whitehurst
highway development survey, but
voted against any increase in the
gasoline tax to pay for the suggested
Improvements.
The delegates, called into special
session to consider the matter and
the problem of recreation, also ap-
proved an amended form of the
Hunter bill establishing a nine-man
recreation board.
A special committee appointed at
a previous meeting brought in a
report favoring the major projects
suggested in the Whitehurst report
and suggesting a 1-cent increase in
the gasoline tax to pay for them
instead of the 2-cent hike advanced
In the WhitehurSt study. The COM
mittee turned a vigorous thumbs
down on any plan for tunnel under
the Potomac from Sheppards Land
ing to Alexandria.
Under the final action, the fed
Grafton contemplated paying for the
projects out of present gas tax rev.
enues with the expectation that
these would be materially increased
from the influx of population to the
District in recent months,
Stull Leads Opposition.
The drive against the gas tax raise
was led by President Harry N. Stull,
who relinquished the chair to take
the floor against that phase Of the
committee report.
"Once the tax is imposed" he
warned, I'VE will never be relieved
of it,
No living person, he contended,
can predict what will be the circum-
stance of the country even six
months from now and, with other
forms of taxation due to increase,
he asked why the citizens should
bind themselves in advance to such
an expensive program covering many
years in the future.
Defenders of the report, led by
Baxter Smith, chairman of the Spe-
cial committee, Harry S. Wender of
Southwest and M. M. Mclean of
Brookland, emphasized that the
federation had demanded five years
ago just such report as the White
hurst survey. The city, they de-
clared, must be willing to pay the
freight" for these Improvements.
There's nothing sacred about the
gas tax" observed Mr.. Mclean. It
think our worthy president Is max
ing little to much ado about l.
cent increase"
Principal Amendments.
Principal amendments to the
Hunter recreation bill would sub
stitute another representative of
the public for the representative
of the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission proposed in
the bill, require Commissioners to
fill board appointments within so
days of the effective date of the act
and to fill vacancies within go days;
make all board meetings open to
the public except committee ses-
sions dealing with appointment of
personnel; create a merit system
for appointment of personnel, and
give Metropolitan and Park police
joint jurisdiction for maintenance
OF order.
1t was also suggested that Ian
guage regarding certain functions
to be retained by the Board of Edu-
cation be clarified before or at the
hearings on the bill Tuesday at 10
am.
Mr.. Wender made an attempt to
keep the Planning Commission rep
resentative on the board but was
voted down.
IN other actions the delegates
approved a plan for staggered Gov
ernment pay days; reiterated sup
port of South Capitol street
bridge across the Anacostia; called
Tor a bridge across the valley in
Fort Dupont Park; called for ade-
quate bridges across Rock Creek
replacements for the Park road,
klingle road and Pierce Mill
bridges: study and possible REIN
forcement of bridges in line of Kali
mia road and Sheriff. drive; called
for opening Southern avenue to re-
lieve a bottleneck in Bradbury
Heights: asked for more cherry
frnnc q In Lal
entrances into Piney Branch park
way for pedestrians from the Co.
lumbia Heights area.
Commends Service of McCoach.
A resolution of commentator of
the service of Engineer Commits
sioner David McCoach, jr., together
with regret at his impending trans
fer, was voted.
In reporting on the highway pro-
gram, the special committee ad-
mitted 1t had not had time to study
IN detail all the proposals, but
pointed out that many had already
been separately approved by the
delegates.
The committee felt that master
plan for the development of sys-
tenn of radial highways should be
established free from interference
with cross traffic and asked that
grade separation structures be given
priority over any new highway i'm
provement items. 'r
1t also urged a change in the
present method of street assess
ment 80 that all paving widths in
excess of 80 feet would be charged
to the highway fund instead of
against abutting property owners.