Evening star., 1924-01-22
SENATORS PROPOSE
D. c. TRAFFIC COURT,
NO LIMIT ON SPEED
Ball Committee Would In
crease Police Force and
Raise Salaries.
BOULEVARD SYSTEM
OF STREETS is URGED
Jail Sentences and Severe Fines for
Reckless Drivers Rec
commended.

Far-Teaching communication 10.
the Improvement of traffic conditions
are contained in the report of the
Senate District committee, which re
Gently completed its investigation ol
traffic in Washington. The repor1
was submitted TO the Senate today b,
Senator Ball. chairman.
The organization Of q traffic court
the amendment of the speed limit 70,
the rigid enforcement Of regulations
against reckless driving, an in
crease in the number of policemen
with increased salaries for the force
are among the outstanding recon-
mendations of the committee.
Senator Ball read to the Senate tho.
recommendations at tho request -
senator Robinson of Arkansas. who's.
resolution adopted by the last Con
gre5s brought about the inyestiea-
LfOu.
The committee in its report surn,ra
rized the recommendations as follows
Text of Recommendations.
Il. That traffic court be organi4-
ed.
2. That the number of policemen be
increased two hundred; that the sal
aries of privates be increased to s., 800.
s2,150 and $1,000, respectively, and
that the salaries Of sergeants, lieut.
enants and captains and inspectors be
increased proportionateIy; that the
street railways companies be nc
longer permitted or required to pay
any of the traffic policemen oe the
District and be deprived of all au-
thority over or connection with such
traffic police.
}. That the Engineer Commission
er shall, within the present fsca
year, have made q complete sury-e;
of the District with a view to report
ing upon the advisability and prac
ticabiltty Of widening such street.
as now have "a width of sidewalh
in excess of width of roadway. Or
designating certain narrow street
as one-way thoroughfares. and o.
designating as boulevards certain
main arteries leading into the heart
OF the city. and requiring all vei,i-
cular traffic TO com to a full stor
before entering upon or crossing suci
houleyards: the designating Of those
streets and thoroughfares upon vhicI
shall be painted white lines to guide
and control the direction and move
lnent OF lTdiIlt, uOtn NehlCuIar an"
pedestrian; the designating of park
ing spaces and the time limits there
Of; and such other details of suryey
as are mentioned in this report TO-
gether with those that may seem al-
visable and necessary TO furnish the
most complete possible survey a
contemplated.
Make Alleys One Way.
a. That all alleys in the business
section of the city between Massa
chuesettS and PENNSYLVANIA avenue
and 5th and 18th streets be made
one-way; all vehicles entering or
leaving an alley come to full stop
before reaching the sidewalk line,
and that within the same zone no
parking in excess of one hour be per
mitted at any place.
"5 That the placing Of regulation
police traffice signs be considered suf-
effect OF a traffic regulation, and
that all parking signs except the
official police signs be prohibited.
"6. That the owner of a vehicle.
automobile or otherwise, be held ie-
sally responsible for offenses against
parking and other minor traffic regu-
-. That a system OF citizens cards
be put into effect by the traffic bU-
reau.
Would Ban Forfeiture.
IS. That all offenders be required
to appear in person before the traf-
fic court or traffic officer. and that no
forfeiture of collateral be accepted.
but that warrant issue for any one
not appearing as required.
"S. That an ouerator's license card
plan in colors be put into force and
effect, together with the proposed re
vocation of operators licenses or
permits. and that the Congress enact
a law embracing the fines and i'm
pr';Sonment penalties set forth in this
30. That aIl-night parking in the
streets and alleys of the built-up.
residential and business sections he
strictly prohibited.
I'll. That the time for the purchase
of license tags shall begin not later
than November l, and shall not be
extended beyond January I of each
obtain game before that time.
.I2. That there be adopted a sys-
tenn of registration of automobile
titles in the District, under the di-
that all owners of automobile.
operated in the District be required
to register the title thereto and OBJ
tain q certificate of title.
Would Regulate Lights.
"I3. That the use Of other than ap-
proved headlight lenses be prohibited.
and that persons selling automobiles
be required to equip same with such
approved lenses as may be designated
hy the bureau of standards, and that
the use OF DINNERS or dim lights be
prohibited.
"I4. That all visitors to the District
be required to obtain a visitors tag.
without cost, within seventy-wo
hours after notification from the
police, as outlined in this report.
"l5. That bicycle riders be required
to obey and observe all traffic regu
lations."
With regard to general conditions
and reckless driving in Washing gton,
the committee said in its report:
THE automobile Is here TO stay,
and has become such vital part
of our daily life. both business and
social, that to restrict or hamper It's
use in radical way would be to take
serious step backward. The num-
Der of automobiles is increasing rap
idly each year. and while efforts are
being made to predict when the satu-
ration point will be reached, no one