Evening star., 1941-10-26
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
Neighborhoods Active for Defense;
Opposition to Gas Tax Boost
BY JESSE C. SUTER.

Z.
activity Columbia civic problems
marked the past week the Capitol and also District Build
ing The District did really Representatives
Tuesday and several bills passed
Hearings before Senate and House
this week important legislation expected advanced
early passage
Building the Commissioners backed by group
Of determined citizens going after the traffic problem dead
earnest Thursday decision was reached tn prohibit ali
parking stretches 80 applies
all vehicles including trucks loading unloading addition
these restrictions the penalties for parking violations will be about
doubled.
bills passed bv the House on Tuesday were as follows
l. To consolidate the Municipal Police
from Authorizing the Commissioners
modern fire regulations. The
Unemployment Compensation
Act delay until August 193 the date putting into
operation the employer merit rating plan Provide ground
in aviation Tor senior high schools To improve the
administration of the District income law. To amend the
designate assistant clerks of the District Court
clerks permitting required certifcaton of documents.
promises period
pending legislation Both
for Tuesday The House hearing by Judiciary
nittee of the District Committee Representative McGehee chair
the proposal to substantially reduce the roll tax under
the unemployment compensation law.
hearing subcommittee of the District
Committee headed by Senator Burton of Ohio The proposed fringe
parking lots and increase the matters Immediately
study planned ell
phases OF the traffic problem This hearing will start at $3.50 am
expected continue daily long be necessary
Neishborhood Groups Support Civilian Defense
presidents feoerauOn
Associations and
the Civilian Defense meetings held by the
eighborhood groups all sections last night At these meetings
AFRAID wadens elected and the required steps taken for
creation of committees civilian defense
Considerable organizing and training will be required OF the
volunteers who fill these various important posts
different citizens assoca
ons into designed Systematically
of the usual wards and
this work from the ground up 1t may that through this
experience organizations will learn lesson in neighbohood
will them good stead when the emr-
gency is over
Citizens Have Long Opposed Increased Gasoline Tax
The passed Tuesday to increase the tax
the 2cent rate to cents about
popular the eo4o fiscal relations plan
be sold the financing of the highway
plan through gasoline but the rank and file have
repeatedly recorded their opposition to any increase
approved by the House District Committee on
Monday and by the House the following day. The speed
with which this wished unuspectng,
mrepresened people great surprise The
advanced for the increase as when the matter
before These each State which had by
legislature levied higher tax than that in the District
of the District and consequently the lesser
eaoe of had no part in governing the action
House. there
collected than Congress has
expended for the objects for which the money
Is earmarked
The general understanding many the items
o the highway the abnormal
location of OF the Government buildings All OF these ana
incidental conditions have created intricate problems for
which people of the District are
entirely blameless.
Civic leaders familiar with the
opinion that the burden
solution rests on the primary OBJ
legation party they believe and he should tell
how much pay asking the District motor vehicle
his folly in planning
lack planning known then some cl
zens reasonable and equitable pay
nnent by taxpayers generally.
Court Mercer Bill Amendments Opposed
by HouSe
of the Municipal and
Police Courts are not satisfactory the civic and officials