Evening star., 1921-11-12
TRAFFIC JAM PROBE
STARTEDBy OYSTER
T0D|SCOVERB BLAME
Maj. GesSford Issues State
ment Exonerating Police.
Says Situation Hopeless.
PRESIDENT REPORTED
ANNOYED OVER DELAY
Local Authorities Say Army Was
IN Charge of Roadway Leading
to Arlington Cemetery.

" dTIlnSCOn cemetery.
Commissioner Oyster began an in
Vestigation today to determine
whether the police could have pre-
vented the traffic jam on and near
the Highway bridge yesterday (which
all but prevented President Harding
from reaching Arlington in time to
participate in the tribute of silence
to the nations unknown dead; caused
Secretary Hughes to go part of the
way on foot; made prisoners in their
automobiles of representatives of for
eign governments until it was too
late to attend the services and pre-
vented thousands of citizens from
reaching the cemetery
1t was the worst traffic tie-up in
the history OF Washington. Police
officials are blaming the Army, which
had nominal charge of the Armistice
day program, and the Army, in turn,
is blaming the police for the trouble.
Gessford Exonerates Police.
Maj. Gessford, superintendent OF po-
lice, submitted to Commissioner Oys-
ter today a statement generating the
poiiSc nc Sdlu tHtS HdHulSu d DOL
tled-up jam of thousands of auto
mobiles as we'll as it could have been
handled.
One fact loomed large today out Of
an avalanche of public criticism that
sought to fasten it self upon the per-
son or persons in authority, if any
there are. who were 20 blaf1e for the
tie-Lp This is the necd, manifested
beyond all doubt By yesterdays oc-
curences. of memorial bridge TO
Arlington.
Oddly enough, Congress has just
received from Federal Budget Di-
rector Dawes an estimate of s25,OGo
Tor the preparation of plans for such
a structure. The estimate was trans
mltted at the direction of tie oresi-
dent who believes the building Of
great bridge from the Lincoln Me-
mortal. to Arlington, which shall
INK north and south and memorialize
the solidarity OF the Union, should
be undert kne at the earliest time
possible.
May CrystaIiize Sentiment.
1t is believed the unpleasant expert
ences encountered yesterday by the
President and representatives of for
eign nations in their efforts to reach
Arlington will crystalline sentiment in
Congress in favor of passing the pre-
liminary appTopria lion requested for
the preparation of plans for the pro-
posed bridge.
Regardless of whether sufficient
plans had been made tor the handling
of traffic yesterday or efficient meth
DDS were used by police officers for
clearing the jam. it was apparent TO
all that the Highway bridge was the
neck of the bottle" and that traffic
which poured in from many streets to
this narrow lane was more than the
bridge could accommodate.
Thousands who waited this side of
the bridge took a philosophical view
of matters. attributing the confusion
to conditions which could not be
helped. but there was sharp criticism
of police officers toward the end of
the wait, when city-bound traffic from
Virginia was given right of way over
the automobiles waiting to speed to
Arlington for the last rites of the
ceremony for the unknown dead.
City-Bound Traffic Favored.
Three lines Of cars were permitted
to come over from the Virginia side,
while only one line moved from Wash
ineton over the bridge. Police officers
responsible for this order declared there
was a congestion south of the bridge
whiSh was necessary to clear before any
considerable number of Washington cars
should be permitted to reach that sec
ton with the liklihood of adding still
further to the confusion.
AutomobilistS pleaded with the po-
lice to turn the city-bound traffic south
on Virginia roads and hold it there
until the persons bound for Arlington
could pass over the bridge. The plea,
however, did not meet the police view
of the best way to handle the situation.
Scenes of confusion this side of the
bridge were re-enacted at Arlington
after the ceremonies. The Fort Myer
drill ground, west of the cemetery.
was a sea of automobiles. 1t is
doubtful if as many cars were ever
assembled in one place in the vicin-
ity of Washington. Drivers who had
parked on the outside Of the motor
colony got away without difficulty
But as the volume of the homeward
movement swelled congestion devel-
oped at both the Highway and AQue-
duct bridges. This radiated south
ward until cars were stopped blocks
away from the meek of the bottle
Many persons did not reach the Dis
trict until after o'clock, although
the services at Arlington ended at
1880 O'Clock.
BRAND Loses Automobile.
NJ. BRAND. the French prime min
lister, and several of his associates,
after the ceremonies at Arlington,
could not find their automobiles and
were jostled about in the pressure.
The premier, NJ. and Nine. Viviani, M.
Sarraup and Ambassador Berthelot
stood at the gates of Arlington for
half an hour in a vain search for their
cars and the American and French
secret service men assigned to them.
Their plight was ended when NJ. AL
bert Gebart of Paris, met the secre-
tary of a cabinet officer, who proffered
the use of his automobile. M. and
Nine. Viviani and NJ. Sarraup quickly
accepted this invitation. Another
American, who was passing, gave a
1890 Il.I-c. 0 TSoi..x,a.r-i 4