Evening star., 1923-02-03
ENDORSES z|HLMAN
TRAFFIC MEASURE
Albert E. Berry Says D. c.
Bill Under Consideration
Promises Cure of Evils.
WILL ELIMINATE DANGER
Urges Congress to Enact the Leg
islation, as Proposed, With
out Amendment.
WILL ELIMINATE DANGER

out Amendment.
Endorsement Of the Zihlman traffic
bill. which police officials and motor
lists have declared capable of ending
the dangerous traffic situation in
Washington, was voiced today by AL
bert Z. Berry. one of the leading
officials of the Washington Safety
Council and president Of the Bell
Telephone Company here. Mr.. Berry
declared he would like to see the
measure become a law Immediately.
Sees Grent Good in BILL.
II have read the Zihlman bill and
certainly believe 1t can do great good"
he said. 'One of its best points is
that il provides for the creation OF a
traffic court. presided over by a judge
who would not only be able to devote
his whole judicial time to traffic cases,
but would be given a wider range OF
authority, which is necessary If traf-
forced.
Whatever minor objections indi-
viduals might have to comparatively
unimportant paragraphs are more
than balanced by the bills best fea-
lures. Nothing can be 100 per cent
good and if 1t is found that some few
features might be Objectionable they
may be amended by the next Con-
gress. I say, urge Congress to pass
the Zihlman bill without amendments
now"
Reflects General Sentiments.
Mr.. Berry's statement is a reflection
of the sentiment to be found among
scores of prominent business men to-
day. 1t is believed by many that his
stand Will be heartily indorsed by the
Washington Safety Council as a
whole when II meets again. There is
the immediate passage Of the Zihlman
bill SO that the District will not have
to continue with Its present menacing
traffic situation until the next Con-
gress is convened.
A dispatch received from Cleveland.
Ohio, today shows that the imposi-
tion of Jail sentences on speed
maniacs and reckless drivers is re-
ducing the number of persons ar
rested for such offenses to almost
said, both classes were familiar to
the terrorized Cleveland pedestrians.
Now they are declared to be "the
rarest species in Cleveland" the
reason is this:
500 Motorists Sentenced.
From January I. to December 81.
1921, more than 500 motorists who
Of the traffic regulations were SEN
fenced to either the county Jail or
the workhouse Among that number
were several women. Rich and poor
were treated alike and the judges of
the traffic court drew no class or
a laundry or out with road gang
was sufficient to convince the convict
ed motorists that Its better to be
safe than sorry"
is shown in the reduced number Of
automobile fatalities thus far this
year. Although Cleveland has a pop
ulation perhaps twice as large as
Washington's. only eight persons
have been killed in trafic in the Ohio
city. while sixteen have succumbed
to the same cause in this city.
Not only have more motor cycle
policemen been added to Cleveland's
police force. but fremen have been
assigned to direct traffic in front Of
schools during recess hours or while
the kiddies Ire going TO or from their
classes. The flremen are taken from
engine houses closest to the schools
they guard.
Ask for Reports.
A sincere invitation for every Pc
destrian to help curb the speeding
of commercial vehicles was issued
yesterday by several score repre-
sentatives Of as many large business
houses here. who met with the trus-
tees of the Washington safety council
in the Chamber of Commerce These
business men declared they would
be glad to have any person notify
them II they saw one of their trucks
being driven carelessly or at an ex-
cessive rate of speed.
This is virtually an appeal from
every business house in the city for
pedestrians to report careless drivers,
as the same proposition will be put
to the other big firms here, and is
sure of Endorsement, safety council
officers said. Trucks are limited by
law to speed of twelve miles an
hour between intersections. and eight
miles an hour over crossings or
going faster, or being driven care
| lessly. follow these instructions:
What to Do. .,
1. Write down the name Of the own
er, which is always painted some
| where on the body.
2, Take the District numbers on it's
| license tags note the place and time
Of your observations and especially
| the nature of the drivers violations.
facts TO the owner Of the truck. and
| the chances are strong that the driver
Will receive a warning that he will
rot soon forget. If 1t Is his second
| offenSe he probably Will be deprived
of the right to endanger human life
| with that company's vehicles again.
| Announcement was made that the
first night school for drivers Of mo.
| tor vehicles will be opened In the
| auditorium Of the Mckinley Manual
! Training School. eth street and Rhode
| island avenue northwest, under the
auspices of the Washington Safety
Council. the coming Tuesday after
noon. 1t is open to the public, and
any person, whether belonging to the
council or not, will be more than well
t come.
II. A. Brooks. chairman of the com.
mittee In charge OF the school, said he
was sure about 1000 persons would