Cambridge police towed away two student cars Sunday night for illegal parking. On Monday, a city official said, "Don't rush this parking deal too much."

This statement seems typical of the city administration's disinterest in the University's over-night parking problem. Through the existing dilemma has been under "discussion" at City Hall for the past five weeks, students' cars continue to be ticketed and even towed away for illegal parking, when no legal spaces exist. Some officials, nevertheless, are "altting on" the only constructive measure which has been proposed in the last year to alleviate the overcrowded conditions.

On October 12, representatives of the University and the City Council met to formulate a plan to improve the overnight parking situation around Harvard Square. Both sides agreed that some action would have to be taken by the city to provide for more legal parking.

Two plans, both put forward by councillors, came from this meeting. John J. Foley proposed that traffic be made one-way on all city streets under 30 feet wide (later changed to 40 feet) and that over-night parking be permitted on one side of these streets. This plan subsequently was referred by the council to the city Planning Board.

Special Lots

Councillor Edward J. Sullivan proposed the other plan which called for the opening of areas around city-owned playgrounds and commons to over-night parking. Such areas would specifically include the Cambridge Commons and possibly one side of Memorial Drive.

In a resolution passed in the Council on October 15, Sullivan asked the city Traffic Board to make a survey of the available parking spaces around these parks and playgrounds. This survey was to be reported back to the Council as soon as possible.

The Board in turn directed one of its members, City Engineer Edgar Davis, to make this survey. Davis made a progress report to the bl-weekly Traffic Board meeting on November 14, but indicated that he would not be able to complete the survey for some time afterwards.

Davis' secretary maintained, however, that most of the figures in the survey had been completed by November 5. The chairman of the Traffic Board, Police Captain Daniel Meyer, stated yesterday that he thought the survey had already been completed.

May Be Ready Monday

The sponsor of the survey, Sullivan, has predicted for two weeks that the survey would be handed to the Council for action at its "next meeting." Lastly, Mayor Edward A. Crane '35 and John J. Kelliher, the secretary of the Traffic Board, both said yesterday that the council would have the survey before it by next Monday.

The officials also disagree on how the survey can be placed before the council. Meyer insists that it has to be voted on by the Traffic Board, which will not meet again till November 28.

According to Kelliher, however, all the finished survey needs to send it before the council is Meyer's signature. This would mean that the council could enact a new ordinance as early as next Monday. But the survey would probably be referred to a council committee for further study.

Behind the Delay

Behind this apparent administrative confusion, there may be a good reason for the delay. The engineer was not expected to complete the comprehensive survey he is making in just a few days. Much of the committee work is also necessary for accuracy in the final law.