Evening star., 1952-10-28
Traffic Adviser
Hits Reversa|s
0fCab Board
Asserts Commission
Upsets rs Per Cent
Of Reflections

The District Commissioners last
night were sharply criticized by
some of their own traffic advisers
because their Office has reversed a
number of decisions by the hack
ers' board.
Ernest Brett presented a report
on the matter to the Commits
sioners' Traffic Advisory Board
during a meeting in Municipal
Center. He is manager of the
Keystone Automobile Club and
chairman Of the boards Parking
Committee.
Mr. Brett pointed out that the
traffic advisers are among those
who voluntarily sit on the Board
Of Revocation and Review of
Hackers Identification Licenses.
He said the office of the Commits
sioners has been reversing about
Is per cent of all reflections by the
hackers board. He cited at least
half a dozen cases in which, he
said, the reverSals have involved
drivers with serious criminal or
traffic records.
Urges Rigid Investigation.
Mr.. Brett said the issuance of
a hackers license is a matter that
should be subjected to rigid in
vestigation. He said a permit
should not be issued unless the
driver is man of high character.
"A man with a criminal record
or bad traffic record is certainly
not the kind Of person you or Il
would want to drive with" he
added.
He told Of the high qualifica-
tions Of the persons who sit on the
Hackers Board and the care with
which they make their investiga-
tions. With all the facts, plus the
criminal and traffic record of the
applicant, the board then makes
its decision and sends it to the
Commissioners Office for approval.
"The matter that disturbs me is
the number of reversals made by
the District Commissioners office"
Mr.. Brett declared. II am reason
ably sure the Commissioners
themselves do not make these
decisions. It is just possible that
they see some or maybe all of
these cases, but I don't think so.
Each reversal have seen has
been initiated by the administra-
tive assistants to the Commits
sioners and signed by the acting
secretary of the board.
1T is inconceivable to me that
these administrative assistants,
who have no hackers board ex-
perience, can make these deci-
sions in the manner in which
they are made. They do not have
a transcript Of the hearings, and
they do not have the total file
showing what has gone on in the
past as far as that particular ap-
plicant is concerned. The only
thing they have is the traffic and
criminal record and the letter
from the hackers board recon-
mending rejection"
Cites Several Cases.
Mr.. Brett called attention to
several recent cases involving per-
sons who had records of larceny
and sex offenses.
MY opinion is that these
licenses should never have been
issued, and I think the members
of this board are entitled to know
why they were" Mr.. Brett said.
Il think we are entitled to know
what has influenced the minds
of this reviewing board to war
rant the decisions made.
If it were only one or two
cases in the course of q year II
could understand it, but when it
comes to about 25 per cent of the
cases then I want to know"
Mr.. Brett praised Mrs. Mary
Silver, of the hackers board, for
her many years of experience inI
dealing with applicants. The board
also consists of a member of the
Metropolitan Police Department. al
member Of the corporation coun-
sells office and a member of the
traffic advisory group.
Howard M. Startling, another
traffic board member, expressed
astoniShment over the high per-
centage of reversals.
The matter was referred to the
boards executive committee for a
report at the next meeting.
Private Solution to Parking.
In other business, Charles T.
McGavin of the Motor Vehicle
Parking Agency said private enter
prise is moving toward a solution
of the parking problem here with
out the aid of the District Gov
ernment.
He said $4,000 spaces have been
added here in the past six years.
This is the equivalent of a 350-
car parking garage being brought
into use every six weeks, he point
ed out.
Metropolitan Police Inspector
John j. Agnew, in charge of traf-
flc, said the number of pedestrian
deaths is increasing, with %
through September of this year,
as against % during the compar-
able period of 1851.