The Washington times., 1924-12-03
With The
Abb Artists
A Cross Section Of the
Daily Grind in Judge
Mattingly's Court.
Read EN- and Weep.
BY DONALD McDOUGAL..

by DUNA1AD NAcDOOUAL.4
HE went over three intersec.
tions at twenty-five miles an
hour, your honor. / paced him
from Senevth to Fourth on Vir-
ginia avenue southeast yesterday
afternoon about half past one.
There wasn't any interesting
traffic except at Sixth street. He
had to do q little fancy driving
to avoid a Ford touring car
crossing there, that seemed to
have considerable faith Z in the
right-of-way rule"
Counsel: 1.-THE defendant han
died. his car with the requisite
skill. didn't he, officer?"
Yes. sir. He seemed to know
everything about driving a car
except regulating the speed. I
asked him why he didn't slow up,
instead of doing all that trick
driving when he saw the Ford
coming down Sixth street. and he
said he never thought of that. I"
Counsel: 1--WE have pleaded
guilty, your honor. Only my
client doesn't think he was going
as fast as the officer says"
The cop (aside): "They never do. J"
The court: Motorists who speed
over intersections don't think
much about anything"
The cop: He forfeited col
lateral last July for going twenty
eight miles an hour and again
in August for running at thirty
five, your honor"
Counsel: 1--WE submit that for
fixture of collateral cannot be ad-
mitted as evidence. If the court
please"
Boob: II was. going up there
looking for work."
.'You keep on looking for work
at that rate. young man. and
you'll find it. but on the other
side of the river. $25 or ten
days"
The traffic law, as it is written,
makes a iail sentence OF at least
thirty days mandatory for third
offense of speeding. The traffic
law as 1t is practiced says to the
violator, PAY $25, go thy way
and sin some more" How can
this law be so openly scorned,
Knocked, ignored? That law was
approved by. the Commissioners,
1t has the same standing as all
other traffic laws. its enforcement
would discourage speeding-the
father and mother of more kill
ings and maimings than all other
causes put together and its en-
forcement would 90 a long way
toward making our streets safe,
because for thirty days, anyhow,
the perpetrator would be out of
mischief.
Why isn't the law enforced?
The why is as plain as the way
to parish church. The District
has not court facilities for trying
traffic cases--only one case in ten
comes before the judge-zthe 9TH
ers buy off-or, more politely ex-
pressed, they forfeit collateral. So
utterly Inadequate are the means
for trying even this small proper
ton Of cases that frequently
months PASS before final dispose.
ton is reached.
We recall a case tried last
month on the anniversary Of the
day when the offense was COM
mitted--the first anniversary.
Naturally, the defendant was ac-
quilted.
Congress steadfastly refuses to
appropriate, the money necessary
for hearing traffic cases in the
District, and as result condi-
tons grow worse from month to
month. Since January /, 1928,
ITO citizens have been killed in
traffic accidents-how many have
been seriously Injured, we do not
know. But we do remember that
the number was paralyzing.
Last year the Police Court OF
the District turned into the United
States Treasury $470,000 from
fines and collateral, and Congress
returned to the District for defray-
ing the expenses of the court $40,
900.
Seventy thousand dollars for all
expenses salaries of Judges, jury.
men, clerks, janitors--the whole
personnel; electric lights; repairs
of building; feeding prisoners;
supplies; stationery IT every con-
ceivable expense directly or re-
n1oteIy connected with the police
court. And that sum is not
enough to try 10 per cent of
even the major violations. And
ITO men, women and children have
met death in the permanent traf-
fic jam that results
This $4,000 that the court has
turned Into the Treasury ~ this
surplus-what do you cali 1t?
We're not a bookkeeper, and
we're ignorant Of the technical
designation for it. Blood money.
perhaps, fills the bill. If Con-
gress would return only half of
what the court collects, so that
proper policing and trial of traf-
fic matters could be established,
Washington would be the safest
city in the nation, from traffic
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES we have the
best street layout b ,N