Evening star., 1945-10-28
|Hebert Calls
Open Hearing
On D. {. Traffic
Municipal Center
Purking Lot Will
Reopen Thursday
BY DON s. WARREN.

subcommittee OF the House District
Committee yesterday scheduled an
open meeting Of his group for 10
am. Thursday to discuss the Dis
trict's traffic and parking problems.
He said he wanted to find out
just what had been done to date,
what plans and projects had been
proposed and what remains to be
done, with the hope that the whole
program can be expedited.
Meanwhile, some immediate re-
lief for District parking congestion
may be inaugurated starting Thurs
day when the huge vacant square on
the Municipal Center site at Fourth
street and Pennsylvania avenue
NV, will be reopened for public
parkings. The square will accom-
modate about 800 cars.
1t was used by the Capital Transit
Co. during the war and has now
been leased to David L. Sirkis, oper-
ator of the large parking space in
the rear of the District Building, the
Commissioners have announced. Mr..
Sirkis said parking rates will be Is
cents day, or 50 month. Car
owners will be permitted to lock
their automobiles and take the keys
away.
At the same time, Representative
Chapman, Democrat, of Kentucky
announced hearings would be re-
stmed at 10 am. tomorrow on an
other traffic relief project, the re-
placement of old Highway Bridge
over the Potomac River.
Twin Bridge Plan Opposed.
At this session, opponents of the
proposals of the District Commits
sioners to build twin spans of four
lanes each, instead of a single span,
six-lane structure, are to be heard.
Principal witnesses tomorrow will
include Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, 3rd,
chairman, and John Nolen, jr., di-
rector of planning, of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission.
Other opponents of the twin-span
plan, who are to be heard later, II
not tomorrow, will include spokes-
men for the American Institute Of
Architects, the American Institute
of Planners and the American
Planning and Civic Association.
The battle of the bridges" be-
gan months ago. Some advocates
of the twin-span proposal already
have been heard by the Bridges
Subcommittee of the House Inter.
state and Foreign Commerce Com
mittee, which is headed by Mr.,
Chapman. The proposal of the
Commissioners is supported by the
Public Roads Administration and
members of the Fine Arts Com.
mission.
Ickes WIN Testify.
Secretary of the Interior Ickes,
one of the leading advocates of a
single bridge, is expected to testify
later, since he cannot attend to-.
morrow's session.
Mr.. Hebert announced that all
interested parties would be well
coined at his round table" on the
traffic and parking problems. He
has asked especially for statements
from Capt. H. C. Whitehurst, di-
rector of highways, and Traffic Di-
rector William A. Van Duzer, or
their representatives, and spokes-
men for the Park and Planning
Commission, the automobile clubs
and other groups.
In response to demands made re-
Gently by Mr.. Hebert and Repre-
sentatiyes Coffee, Democrat, of
Washington and Stefan, Republic
can, of Nebraska, a deficiency ap-
preparation of $1,000 is being con-
sidered to permit the immediate re-
establishment of the Motor Vehicle
Parking Agency, created several
years ago by Congress to provide
off-street parking, on lots or in
garages.
Subway Plan Offered.
The many traffic relief highway
and bridge projects which have
been developed by Highway Direc-
tor Whitehurst, and are ready for
action, are expected to be discussed
at the Thursday session. Other sub
jects may include a review of off,
street parking proposals and plans
for construction of one or more
systems of subways as means of
lessening bottlenecks and street
congestion.
Demands also may be raised that
the Government bring to an end its
use Of the Capitol Garage, which is
used, in part, for storage of Gov
ernment records instead of for park
ing and storage of Government We
hicles.
Mr.. Coffee, who is chairman of
the District subcommittee of the
House Appropriations Committee
yesterday urged condemnation OF
portions of the older sections of the
city to provide space for off-street
parking. He offered this as an all
i tentative to the suggestion of Mr.
Hebert that underground garages be
built at Lafayette, Franklin and
Mcpherson Squares, or under othe,
parks.
Underground Garages Opposed.
4 He said he agreed fully with Mr.
Hebert that something must be
done quickly" but that he feared
the cost of underground garage.
would be prohibitive.
i The Judiciary Subcommittee Of
the District Committee, headed by
Representative McGhee, Democrat
of Mississippi, will hold a hearins
Tuesday morning on a bill, which
has been repeatedly shelved, ts
J grant tax refunds to group oi
property owners, in connection with
old curb and gutter assessments.
/ The Fiscal Affairs subcommittee
headed by Representative Murphy
/ Democrat, of Pennsylvania, vii
meet in executive session Wednes.
day morning to decide If any legis.
lation is needed in connection with
plans for establishment of televisior
towers in the District.
is. B. Adams to Retire
From Navy Department
Samuel B. Adams, a railroad con.
] sultant in the Bureau of Aero.