Evening star., 1923-06-13
PRAISE AND SCORE
0NE-WAY STREETS
Merchants Fail to Reach De-
cision on Order by D. c.
Commissioners.

One-way streets. as proposed in an
order promulgated by the Commits
sioners. were approved and con-
demned at a called meeting of the
Merchants and Manufacturers As
sociation held in the ballroom Of the
Raleigh Hotel this morning. There
were some who urged their retention
as benefit to business, while others
asserted that their business was hurt.
However. the protests generally
summed up were in the nature OF
complaints against those who parked
their cars downtown all day, and Il
was urged that the police more
strictly enforce the half-hour park
ing rule.
The only action taken at the meet
ing was on a motion OF Ross p. An
drews that more traffic police be as
signed downtown to direct traffic at
the busy crossings. 1t was approved.
of the association. said that the state
ments of those at the meeting, which
was attended by twenty-eight per-
sons. would be summarized and, with
naire sent out, would be forwarded to
the Commissioners.
Oyster Asks Suggestions.
In opening the session, Gen. Stephan
said he had talked with Commissioner
Oyster. in charge of traffic. last night
and that that official said he would
be glad to receive suggestions from
the merchants.
Much was made of the point that there
was on file with the Commissioners a
petition for the widening Of 18th street
from F to X street. which is said to
have included every owner of property
except one building. Widening Of this
street, which has exceptionally broad
sidewalks, would permit it to be made
a two-way street, with center parking.
A letter was read from former Com
missioner Keller. in which the latter
specific authority of Congress, but Ross
p. Andrews said that the Commissioner
had informed him, over the telephone,
before he left, that he had found a spe-
cial act was not necessary.
Richard L. Lamb presented letter
from Charles Carusi. dean of the Ma
tional Law School. owning property
on 18th street. The letter said that
there was no doubt that property
values would be injured by making II
oneway street, but that the writer
was willing that this should be done
IL it was for the general benefit OF
the public. He suggested abolition
of parking in the congested area, but
If that affected business then rigidly
enforce the half-hour rule.
Favors Wider Street.
Mr.. Lamb said the letter expressed
his sentiments to some extent, and
added that he believed the street
should be widened in accordance with
the petition on file
A letter from E. H. Droop of E
F: Droop & Sons Co. said that the
writer was very much in favor OF
the one-way parking. as it made for
forcement Of the half-hour parking
rule. He said that the widening OF
the street would help business mate
rally, and inclosed a letter from
former Commissioner Keller, in which
that official found that widening OF
the thoroughfare would be desirab
David B. Edmonston said that to
make 18th street one-way street
north would be Injurious to business
He also was authorized to speak for
c. G. Sloan & Co. He said that he
and the other company he spoke for
felt that people coming downtown do
SO Tor shopping purposes and when
they were going north they were
through. and that the merchants on
a northbound street would lose bust
ness. However. ne said that the para
mount issue was the matter OF widen
lHS thc StEccl.
Urges One-Way Plan.
One-way traffic is the only solution
of the many problems Of traffic Jams
downtown, said Iess p. Andrews
Under the two-wsG system on 18th
street, he. said, the congestion was
bad. He said that he had watch ed
it and had seen cars stopped for
twenty minutes at a time on 13th
street under the two-way privilege
unable to move.
Mr.. Hill of the Doubleday Hill Elec.
trio Company strongly opposed the
one-way street, his business being or
18th street, and he offered a petition
signed by electrical contractors say.
ing 1t was dificult to reach his store
under the one-way plan. He sait
that 18th street had been widened al
the expense of the property owners
and they should get the benefits OF
q two-way street.
Harry Carroll said that 1t was his
opinion that IL the police would stor
all-day parking there would be nc
need for a one-way street.
Isaac Cans. president of the Cham.
Der of Commerce. complained particu.
CONTINUED on Page 2. Column 8.