lop, president, that the building applied for is to be a public garage, and under the description of the proposed improvements the following is filled in :

It is proposed to establish in the Union Station a garage to be used by the Terminal Taxicab Co. No structural changes whatever to be made.

That is the application. Here is the permit.

Mr. LANHAM. Is that garage the part under the archway?

Mr. TREADWAY. It is either there or out in the wide open, under the blue sky, where they park about 50 cars. I don't know just exactly where it was ever constructed.

Mr. LANHAM. Mr. Treadway, is the reason for that

Mr. TREADWAY (interposing). Before you ask that, let me finish the papers. This is permit No. 5. It has filled in the owner's name, "Terminal Taxicab Co.," and after the word "square it has “ "E-676." I don't know where 676 is. I don't think it appears on that map; but this is E-676, where it is to be. The "cost of improvement" is blank. The deposit amount is blank. The nature of the work is to "establish in the Union Station a garage to be used by the Terminal Taxicab Co.; no structural changes to be made." That is signed by Edward Kern, assistant inspector of buildings.

Mr. LANHAM. The question I was going to ask you is this, Mr. Treadway: Under the present regulations that would give this Terminal Taxicab Co. the right under its garage fee-this being arbitrarily termed a garage-to solicit fares there in competition with the ordinary hacker?

Mr. TREADWAY. And I think would also change the rate of payment for a driver's license-something of that kind. I think that is what is actually accomplished under that permit. That is, they solicit as a garage rather than as a public hacker. I understand from the testimony here yesterday that this Terminal Taxicab Co. can not solicit but can simply respond to calls made at a garage. Now this being arbitrarily termed a garage, then by this permit it is given the ordinary hacking privileges here without paying a hacking fee. That undoubtedly is the purpose of it. Where is this E-676? Mr. ZIHLMAN. The gentleman from the District government says that this is the garage out here under the blue sky. [Laughter.]

Mr. TREADWAY. That is where my car was when the officer wanted me to move on. I was in the garage (laughter). It was an officer that was enforcing their garage privileges.

Mr. LANHAM. That being the case, if this is the garage and they moved this garage around into this platform they wouldn't have the right then to solicit fares around by this platform [indicating]. Mr. W. S. SHELBY of the Metropolitan police. They do not solicit fares. This is all Terminal property too [indicating].

Mr. TREADWAY. That is all garage property.

Mr. SHELBY. There is really construction there. This is under the arch you know.

Mr. ZIHLMAN. The whole situation is that no one in a private car of his own can enter Union Station except through the garage of the Terminal Taxicab Co.

Mr. TREADWAY. Well, they are kind enough to allow you to park down in here somewhere [indicating]. You can't turn a car around in that space.

Mr. LANHAM. There is not sufficient room?

Mr. TREADWAY. There is not sufficient room up to this bank, you know. There is a bank that goes right off there. The other parking space is along there [indicating].

Mr. ZIHLMAN. Here is a stone fence, as I remember it, and the Terminal Taxicab Co. permits cars to park here, private cars, and here of course is a sheer drop of probably 20 or 30 feet, so that they can't enter the Union Station from there, but you must enter through one of these driveways that you have a photograph of.

Mr. SHELBY. Will you let me explain, Mr. Treadway? You can enter from the east end. You can enter there and discharge passengers and move out. But as Mr. Treadway says, you are a long ways from the depot.

Mr. TREADWAY. You are not in the business part of the depot. Mr. ZIHLMAN. And it is very difficult, as Mr. Treadway says, to turn a car around.

Mr. TREADWAY. I have tried to turn a car around in there. I have a short-wheeled car, and it is a bad place to turn, especially if the cars are parked in there.

Mr. SHELBY. There is no way that that can be remedied except by filling in here [indicating].

Mr. TREADWAY. Yes; it can be remedied by taking away the rights that they have assumed to be theirs in front.

Mr. SHELBY. But, aside from that, not without filling up the space here [indicating].

Mr. TREADWAY. Yes; that is true. I think if the garage was removed it might help some.

Of course, there is another interesting thing, Mr. Chairman, that probably you will inquire into before this hearing is finished: That is, under what conditions the street cars encroach on that property. They are allowed to come in there, and I am informed that they pay rent to the terminal company for the privilege of coming in there. That may or may not be true. I was so informed. The records, of course, would show.

Mr. ZIHLMAN. Did you have some information about the leasing of this space to the Terminal Taxicab Co. for a very small sum? Some one made a statement, that was printed, that they had leased it for $65 a year.

Mr. TREADWAY. I think there was something like that.

A VOICE. That was for garage license.

Mr. TREADWAY. Then there is also a difference-under this garage there is a difference as to the price they have to pay for their driver's license.

Mr. ZIHLMAN. They don't have to have a driver's license?

Mr. TREADWAY. That is a saving, as I understand it, of $9 which the ordinary man has to pay.

There is a very good picture of the garage [indicating photograph]. I think it would perhaps be illuminating to find out where this E-676 is, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. ZIHLMAN. Yes; that would be very interesting.

Mr. TREADWAY. I have no interest in this matter so far as any other people are concerned, except I ran across this infringement, as it seemed to me, on the rights of the public, and where Congress is directly responsible. I mean by that that we have direct control

of the District affairs, and ought not to countenance such a condition as exists there; and if section 18 of the bill which you are considering will relieve that situation, I am heartily in favor of it.

Mr. EDMUND BRADY. I represent the Washington Terminal Co., Mr. Chairman. Mr. Treadway, as I understand it, your particular observation of traffic conditions under the west portico was made entirely after those platforms were installed there?

Mr. TREADWAY. No, sir; the complaint I made about not being able to get a taxi there, and being told by the driver-by the man in charge that the taxi that I was soliciting to take my wife to our home that was before those platforms were erected.

Mr. BRADY. Did that taxicab driver tell you that he did not have a public hacker's license and therefore could not pick you up from there?

Mr. TREADWAY. The only conversation I had was with the representative, whom I supposed was the representative of the Terminal Taxicab Co. He said the man there to whom I was speaking "is not in our employ and we are not responsible for his charges. "Well," I said, "I will be responsible for the charges myself." I said, "You won't charge me any more than these other people will to take me to my home, will you?" He said, "No." And we got in and he did not charge any more.

Mr. ZIHLMAN. We are very much obliged to you, Mr. Treadway. You have disclosed a very interesting situation down there at the station, to say the least.

Mr. BRADY. There is just one other thing that I think ought to appear before Mr. Treadway leaves. That is that during the period of your observations, Mr. Treadway, the station was under Federal control-that is, the roping off of the front of the station and erection of these platforms was done under Federal control. That would be since December 31, 1917?

Mr. TREADWAY. Well, now-yes, I think it was all under Federal control. However, I should not think that would affect it.

Mr. LANHAM. Was there any difference in the operation of it during Federal control and regulation?

Mr. TREADWAY. Why, evidently, as I would see it, it was more monopolistic under Federal control than it was previous, but that was evidently the good luck of the Terminal Co. in being able, perhaps, to persuade other officials.

Mr. LANHAM. Has there been any material difference since Federal control ceased?

Mr. TREADWAY. I think those platforms are still there, and the gentleman admits they are still there, and likely to stay there until Congress makes a change.

(Mr. Treadway submitted the following papers :)

REPAIR OR RECONSTRUCT.

Permit 5. Date, July 1, 1913.

Owner: Terminal Taxicab Co.

Premises: Union Station Plaza.

Square: East of 676.

Nature of work: Establish in the Union Station a garage to be used by the Terminal Taxicab Co.

No structural changes to be made.

Assistant Inspector of Buildings.

EDWARD KERN,

No. 5.

PERMIT TO REPAIR OR RECONSTRUCT RUILDINGS.

WASHINGTON, July 1, 1913. This is to certify that Terminal Taxicab Co. has permission to establish in the Union Station a garage to be used by the Terminal Taxicab Co. No structural changes whatever to be made. Square east of 676, Union Station Plaza. In accordance with application No. 5 on file in this office, and subject to the provisions of the building regulations of the District of Columbia.

The right is reserved to examine the building as often as may be necessary while in course of reconstruction, and order any change in the work that may be deemed requisite to insure sufficient strength, solidity, and safety from fire. By order of the Commissioners, District of Columbia.

Fee paid, $1.

EXTRACTS FROM REGULATIONS.

MORRIS HACKER, Inspector of Buildings.

No building or other structure, awning, sign, engine, steam or hot-water boiler, furnace, machinery, bay window, show window, tower, or other projection shall be erected, nor any area, vault, cellar, basement, or excavation appertaining to a building or other structure to be made, nor alterations allowed in any such improvement, unless a permit for such alteration or improvement shall have been issued; and such permit shall be valid and in force for such period in each case not exceeding 6 months, as the inspector of buildings shall determine. See section 18.

SEC. 145. Persons engaged in the erection, reconstruction, or repair of any buildings may occupy the public space with building materials for such reasonable period as the inspector of buildings shall decide, to be specified on permits issued by him, subject to the conditions stated in these regulations. Building materials must be stored on private property until needed at the building under erection or repair.

SEC. 146. The occupation of sidewalks or roadways by articles not intended for immediate use in connection with the operations for which the permit has been issued will not be allowed.

The maximum area permitted to be occupied shall not extend beyond onethird of the width of the roadway on streets where there are no railway tracks. On streets containing railway tracks the space to be occupied outside of the curb shall depend on width of roadway in front of building under construction or repair.

SEC. 147. When considered necessary by the inspector of buildings, the space allotted for materials may extend laterally in the roadway 20 feet on each side of the lot on which the building is being erected.

SEC. 148. Materials deposited outside of the parking line must be securely and compactly arranged within the allotted space.

SEC. 149. A width of not less than 6 feet must be kept clear on the sidewalk. No material or rubbish to be placed within two feet of any tree.

SEC. 150. Materials outside of the building line must be placed and arranged as the inspector of buildings may direct, and all materials and rubbish shall be removed promptly by the contractor or owner of the property when so directed by the inspector of buildings. No gutter shall be obstructed except by temporary damming for collecting water for building purposes, when there are no other available means therefor, under such conditions as the inspector of buildings may prescribe. Any shed or temporary structure erected wholly or partly on any public highway under permit issued by the inspector of buildings shall be removed within such time as said inspector shall direct, under a penalty for failure as prescribed in section 182 of these regulations.

SEC. 151. Each builder or owner occupying the roadway or sidewalk with materials shall exhibit a red light at night, placed in such a manner as to warn the public of the obstruction of the roadway and sidewalk and so as to show distinctly the clear passageway left in the road and sidewalk. When the space occupied by the materials extends for 20 or more feet along the curb, at least one light shall be exhibited at each end of the obstruction, hung clear of the obstruction on the side adjoining the carriageway.

SEC. 152. Lime, cement, or other mortar and concrete may be prepared upon the parking or roadway within the space above designated to be occupied by building material. If prepared upon roadways improved by concrete, asphalt, or

173006-20-3

bituminous pavements, it must be upon a tight bed on tongued and grooved boards, placed upon 2-inch bearers or sleepers, leaving an air space below, and properly protected so as to prevent any splashing or dripping on the sidewalk, parking or roadway. The distance that mortar beds and building materials may extend from the curb into the street shall be noted on permit.

SEC. 153. The dressing of material on the streets or sidewalks is prohibited, but, by special permit stones, brick, or other material may be dressed within the parking line if suitably inclosed by tight fencing. Old building material may be cleaned under special permits from the inspector of buildings.

SEC. 154. Earth taken from excavations and rubbish taken from buildings must not be stored either upon the sidewalks, roadways, or alleys, but must be removed from day to day. Where dry rubbish apt to produce dust is handled, it must be kept wet, or otherwise covered to prevent its being blown about by the wind.

All sidewalks in front of buildings in course of erection must be protected securely against materials falling from the structure or scaffolding, as prescribed in section 156.

No change shall be made in the limits or outline of any parking or terrace; nor shall any parking fence or terrace be moved, constructed, altered, or modified, except in accordance with plans presented to and approved by the engineer commissioner.

By order of the Commissioners, District of Columbia.

MORRIS HACKER, Inspector of Buildings.

Permit No. 5.

APPLICATION FOR PERMIT TO REPAIR OR RECONSTRUCT BUILDINGS.

To the INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS.

WASHINGTON, D. C., July 1, 1913.

The undersigned owner hereby applies for a permit to make repairs in conformity with the building regulations.

Owner's name, Terminal Taxicab Co.
Union Station, Plaza.

Square, 676 E.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING.

How many buildings to be repaired? None.

How is the building to be occupied? Public garage.

After alteration, will the building conform in every respect with the requirements of the building law? Yes.

What is the estimated cost of the improvement? Nothing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS.

[Give definite particulars of just what repairs or improvements are contemplated.]

It is proposed to establish in the Union Station a garage to be used by the Terminal Taxicab Co. No structural changes whatever to be made. Application must be signed by owner of property and approved by inspector of plumbing.

(Signature of owner)
(Applicant)

[Indorsement.]

TERMINAL TAXICAB Co.,

By THOMAS DUNLOP, President.

Permit No. 5. Application for permit for repairs, alterations etc. Owner. Terminal Taxicab Co. Location, Union Station Plaza, square east of 678. Permit granted July 1, 1913.

Mr. ZIHLMAN. We thank you very much for your testimony, Mr. Treadway.

Now, we would like to hear from the representatives of the District Commissioners on this bill, Commissioner Brownlow being un