Evening star., 1953-01-01
Robinson ! Hits
Plan 10 Finance
Parking Lots
Stand Is Revealed
in Testoment' Left
For His Successor


Engineer Commissioner Bernard
L. Robinson. on his last day OF
office yesterday. announced him.
self opposed to legislation now for
financing an off-street parking
program.
The stand was one, Of many
which the departing official de-
scribed to his successor, Brig. Gen.
Louis w. Prentiss. Gen. Robinson,
Engineer Commissioner for the
last 19 months, is leaving for a
post in the Office of the Chief of
Army Engineers. Gen. Prentiss
takes over tomorrow in swearing
in ceremonies at 10 am. in the
District Building.
Added to- Testament.
Gen. Robinson Incorporated his
parking lot recommendation in a
"last will and testament" he wrote
for Gen. Prentiss.
Main basis for his stand is the
fact that the parking issue is
controversial and needs further
public airing.
Since the parking lot question
figures In the overall public works
improvement program, which is
the top must as Gen. Robinson
sees. it. its very controversial as
pect is reason enough for holding
it in allegiance at this time.
Opinions Sharply Divided.
There are sharply divided
opinions on the subject in the
community" Gen. Robinson wrote
I'm view Of the desirability of ou1
receiving wide citizen support fol-
our overall program, I believe this
should best be omitted
The general underscored several
other points. On the Southwest
Redevelopment program, approved
last Tuesday by the Board of Com
missioners, he urged that the
city's one-third share in the cost
should be in the form of public
improvements, such as streets
sewers and water. The idea, saio
the Engineer Commissioner, is tc
eliminate as much as possible any
cash payment by the District fol
the project.
Would Keep Road Planning.
Gen. Robinson also made cleal
that he favors extending the lif,
|of the Regional Highway Planning
Committee. so that it may analyze
and make Recommendations OF
mass transportation In the area
The committee recently came cul
with large-scale highway improve.
ment proposals for the Metropoli.
tan Area.
The generals po.nt-by-point
Recommendations to his, successor
also called for:
/. Immediate organization o1
a citizens committee, headed by
Banker John A. Reilly, to "seIl'
Congress on the need for a public
works improvement program esti.
mated to cost at very least $31s
million.
2. Scheduling at an early datt
IA public hearing on proposed legis.
lation that would implement each
part Of the works program Gen
Robinson also advised Gen. Prem
|tiss to consult informally with tn,
Federal Budget Bureau On the pro.
posed legislation, and to make pub.
lie for discussion and criticism tn.
recommendations of the Reilly
committee.
3. Opposition to any. further in.
crease in the Districts gasolin,
tax. hiked to S cents, per gallor
last july, to finance construction
or maintenance programs. Thi.
tax should always be lower il
Washington than in either Mary
land or Virginia, the general said
4. Support as the "only logica
answer" to the question of Pc
tomac River crossings a bridge il
the general vicinity of E stree
NV. Due to high cost, tunnel
under the. river, at least, are ou
Of the question.
5. Familiarization with testi
mony given before Senate sub
committee on the city government
reorganization plan now in higl
gear here. This would set Gen
Prentiss straight on the purpose
of reorganization.
6. Following through. on tn,
Commissioners recent action re
questing congressional permission
for the city heads to transfe
funds from one department. II
another IN emergencies.
Total Amount Limited.
The proposed fund-transfer au
Ithority would involve amount
not in excess Of 100000 pc,
transaction, and limit the tota
amount transferred annually tt
I$50e.000. The transfers woult
lhave to be ratified by a two
thirds majority Of the Conmis.
sioners Citizens Advisory Council
Z. Continued efforts to increas'
the water rate, impose a new sew
er service charge and switch ii
the highway fund certain revenues
from motor vehicle sources nov
going into the general fund
Among the latter would be th'
receipts Of the motor vehicle park
ing fund from parking meters.
In connection with Southwes
lredevelopment plans. the genera
struck one last blow for the Dis
ltrict Highway Department chiefs
He opposed q Tenth street ap
Iproach to the proposed bridge owe,
a - ~