Evening star., 1946-09-27
End Of Cei|inas
On City Parking
RatesDemanded
Hearing Gets PIeo
From Spokesman
Of Several Groups

Private enterprise will not pro-
vide more parking facilities in
Washington unless assured that
better service rendered will not be
forced artificially to fit a price
formula based on conditions in the
gasoline rationing days of 1912"
This was the testimony to the
Commissioners today of P. Y. K.
HoWat, chairman of the District
Motor Vehicle Parking Agency. as
he called for an end to present OPA
control of city parking rates.
Spokesman for the Board of
Trade, the Home Builders Associa-
ton and several operators of park
ing lots and garages joined unani-
mouSly in support of the parking
agency request for decontrol at a
public hearing at the District
Building. There was no opposition.
Four Reasons Advanced.
AS the opening witness. Mr.
Howat said his agency is requesting
decontrol because:
l. Current low rates are inducing
more and more automobile owners
to drive to work, thereby taking up
most of the off-street capacity.
2. Private enterprise will not build
the badly needed facilities unless
assured reasonable operating profits
which can't be done within the exist
ing rate structure. .
3. A price increase would further
the agency's fringe parking lot"
program for all-day parkers.
q. Substantial enlargement of
parking capacity is needed at once
and waiting until price controls
are lifted will be too late for the
best interests of the District.
Solution Suggested.
Declaring that the stability of
property worth millions of dollars is
involved. Mr.. Howat said he be-
heVed the answer to the problem
lies in a combination of sufficient
capacity for the essential needs in
the business district for customer
accessibility plus reasonable
amount for those requiring their
automobiles in business together
with fringe parking and express
bus service from fringe lots to the
downtown area.
John A. Reilly, first vice president
Of the Board of Trade, warned that
failure to provide enough additional
parking spaces will speed decentral-
1Zation of certain types of businesses
from the downtown area to the
suburbs and nearby counties.
Present day costs make it inpos-
sible TO construct new facilities and
earn a reasonable return through
their operation under existing OPA
ceilings, he said.
Because present rates favor the
all-day parker. Ernest F. Henry of
the Home Builders Association
argued that in effect they consti-
tute a monopoly against the ma
jority coming to the downtown area
He urged the Commissioners "to
look after the interests of the Dis
trict even at the displeasure of
OPA."
Operators Cite High Costs.
NlOCV "a IilS poi huiS IOI anu
garage operators testifying cited
high increases in operating costs
and laid their money-making prob
lens at the door of the all-day
parker. One, M E. Edlavitch, who
said he operated four lots, told the
hearing he had once offered so
cents to his all-day parkers not toI
park there.
Did I hear you say you would
pay so cents to prevent a person
from parking all day on your lots?"
asked Engineer Commissioner Cor
don R Young.
When Mr.. Edlavitch replied in
the afflrma tive, Gen. Young with a
grin extended his palm and said, Il
promise not to park there"
The operators also agreed that if
price controls were lifted they would
not attempt to gouge the public
with exorbitant fees, expressing the
opinion that motorists would boy
colt those charging excessive rates.
I'VE don't expect to get the last
cent traffic will stand" declared
Joseph Schaaf, operator of the
Capital Parking Garage.