Evening star., 1941-11-06
US. Must Share
New Road Costs,
Citizens Insist
Government Given
Blame for Present
Traffic Problems
Bv JAMES E. CHINN.

studying DlStrlct tramc proDleIIlS
that the Federal Government be re-
quired to pay at least so per cent OF
the cost of all new highway projects
made vitality necessary by national
defense activities.
Two civic leaders, Harry S. Wen
der, first vice president OF the Fed
Grafton Of Citizens Associations. and
Frank T. Shull of the Conduit Road
Citizens Association, bluntly de-
clared it would be unfair to the tax
PAYERS and motorists of Washington
to force them to pay the entire cost
of the proposed new bridge across
the Anacostia River and additional
approaches to the bridges across the
Potomac River which largely would
be for the accommodation OF Gov
ernment employees working a. the
Naval Air Station and Boiling Field
and the new War and Navy Depart
ment Buildings in Arlington Coun-
ty. Va.
These projects, Mr. Wender
argued, are directly related to ma
tional defense activities.
Mr.. Shull echoed this argument.
declaring the proposed improve
ments are strictly a Government
problem"
Government Caused Problem.
"The District ought not De taxed"
he said, because the Government
has seen fit to place some OF its
new buildings in Virginia and create
q new traffic problem.
Mr.. Wender testified the District
Is 10 years behind in keeping up
with its traffic problems, and
offered several suggestions for i'm
proving existing conditions. These
included fringe parking lots, ex-
tension of the use of parking meters,
and the application Of rush hour
regulations on Saturday afternoon
to F street NV, H street NE. and
other congested streets. and an in
crease in the engineering staff in
the Department of Vehicles and
Traffic.
He complained about congestion
on F street between Seventh and
Fifteenth streets last Saturday
afternoon, and described the jam
along that thoroughfare as the
worst he had ever seen anywhere.
In view of that situation" he
declared, I'VE have got to reframe
our ideas about what constitutes
the rush hours"
Fears Fund Diversion.
Fear WAS voiced by Mr.. Wender
mat additional revenue from a z
cent raise in the gasoline tax might
create q large unused surplus IN
the special highway fund or else
Be diverted for projects not related
70 traffic improvements.
bad blood" has existed between
the people Of Washington and Con-
eress in the past, he declared, be-
cause some money raised through
taxation was spent ''unwisely' or
not at all. In one year, he said,
about 100000 remained idle IN
the highway fund when it should
have been spent to remedy trafnc
defects.
Mr.. Wender told the subcommlt-
tee he had been engaged in CIVIC
work for many years and had seen
the conflicting" traffic problem
grow more complex with appar-
emily less effort to solve it."
BY a majority vote, he testified
the Federation opposed any increase
In the gasoline tax, but approved
the Whitehurst highway improve
ment program.
The greatest difficulty in the
past. declared Mr.. Wender, has
not been due to raising money, but
In having it spent intelligently in
the interest of the public. 1t has
not been due to an unwillingness to
be taxed. but to be taxed without
reason"
Accuses House Members.
The witness charged that fiscal
relations between the Federal and
District governments had been ap-
preached in 'tyrannical" manner,
and that some members of the
House felt they could "browbeat'
the District by reducing the Federal
payment toward municipal expenses
II believe the people of Washing
ton would be willing to pay higher
tax on gasoline" he said, If they
had complete assurance the addi-
tional revenue is spent for the pur-
pose for which it is raised and moi
dipped into for other purposes. They
want solemn pledge that a tax OF
this kind will not be diverted
The hearing today was short be.
cause of special meeting of the
full District Committee scheduled
at 1870 o'clock for consideration o.
the House-approved rent contro
bill
Although the traffic subcommit-
tee aims to wind up hearings to.
morrow on the parking and gas ia,
bills, Chairman Burton said addi'
tional hearings would be arranged
next week If more witnesses thar
those already listed ask an oppor
tlsnity to testify.
Higher Transit Fares.
The subcommittee was warned yes
terday by Charles Selden, jr., that
l-eent boost in the gasoline tax woul
increase operating expenses of tn
Capital Transit Co, and possibly Leaf
10 higher bus and rail fares. Fig
ures were placed in the record b,
Mr.. Selden and officials of inter
urban bus companies showing tn
effect of a higher gasoline tax OF
operating expenses.
An ofIicial of one motor bus com
pany told the subcommittee that h
hoped the proposed increase In tn
local gasoline tax would result i
higher fares since it would increas
operating expenses.
In the late editions Of the Wed
nesday Star this hope was attribu
ted to several interurban compa
niles. One of theseERobert !
Mitchell of the Alexandria, Bar
croft and Washington Transit Co.
today called The Star to correct tn
error. Mr., Mitchell declared he di'
not express hope for increases
fares. He added that he told tn
subcommittee a rate boost woul
not necessarily follow the tax hik'