Evening star., 1923-02-03
CAPITAL KEYNOTES
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

1nere appear TWO ScnOOLS OF UnOuSnt
in Washington, in regard to the traffic
evil. One newspaper headlines the
statement: "Officials to Club Reckless
Drivers 1t will be an interesting and
elevating spectacle to behold some
speeder halted at prominent corner
by traffic policeman, roughly dragged
from his machine. manhandled and
dubbed until he yells Enough. I'll
slow up!''
The other school of thought suggests
a psychological test. All who grade
above the level OF moron may be
licensed to run a fivver; those who
qualify as OF the mental age OF twelve
may get diploma authorizing a road
ster of the middle grade; mental
showing of fifteen years-Which is about
the average of Ordinary folks"-will be
set up in touring cars, and an intel
lectuality of eighteen years will draw a
limousine. II must be understood that
a grade Of eighteen years is rare. Only
newly graduated high school pupils are
likely TO pass" In fact, those who
can make so brilliant a showing are
well qualified to become locomotive en-
gineers or stunt flyers.
-
Wonder what has come out of the
proposed school 10 train traffic Off
GERS in graceful Delsarte signaling.
Have we seen any marked change in
that regard? Should the officer jerk
his thumb in spasmodic suddenness e $
or gently and majestically wave his
whole arm? Should he give the Mexi-
can salute of Good morning." by
holding up his right hand, palm to-
ward himself, while he rapidly wig
giles his four fingers, as If beckonlng
you to approach him ana lear no EN-
Or must he swing imaginary Indian
clubs with both arms and expect the
driver to recognize that he is to Go
Go" or "Stop-Stop"? This problem OF
how to improve the traffic cop is ach-
ing to be solved. Will no one help?
The capital may yet set the pace for
the world in graceful traffic control
x X 4
DIR. Raymond Dodge, professor of
psychology of Wesleyan University
and chairman of the National Re-
search Council, whose headquarters
are in Washington. comes to the re-
lief Of bewildered drivers by saying
that the human mind is under a suffi-
GENTLY severe strain, under any con-
ditions of driving, without being be-
wildered by a series of intricate signs
and plugs He declares that all sig
nails should be so conspicuous as to
attract attention automatically.
In line with that declaration of au-
thority, let the traffic officers and
their semaphores be made brighter
gaudier-so that they will catch the
eyes of the driver who is even dodg-
ing the truck, street car and jay walk
er all at the same time. This is all
the more important because the traf-
fic officers are not on all corners and
are not always on their regular sta
tions, vet, If a driver chances to over
look their signal, half hid by traffic
or street cars, he is accused of willful
recklessness and is very lucky If not
hailed into court forthwith. The traf-
fic towers of New York upon the busy
corners are samples of conspicuous
ness which saves lives.
+ + 4
There are various ways of compar-
ing civilizations. For example, France
has only $500 movie places (outside
Of the Ruhr). while the United States
has 1900. But the climax comes in
with a population of 100000, one can
see movie for to cents.
X X So
Senator Walsh of Massachusetts, has
introduced a bill to make 1t unlawful
to grind up granite, paint 1t black and
sell it for coal. Even coal" that is
made up largely of ground slack well
oiled may be banned under the Walsh
bill
Some one tells the country that
America is now suffering from an
overSupply of bituminous coal, so
that some mines are working only
two days week. With that over
supply selling at not less than s12 a
ton, where does the old-fashioned law
of supply and demand operate? Time
was when that same kind of coal sold
which sold for sS a ton Gnstead of
SIT or s1S). was considered almost
out of reach. Talk about oversupply
under present conditions only empha-
sizes that some kind of control" is
trying to bluff the public. An over
supply must mean lowered prices, or