Evening star., 1924-12-07
DRAFT FOR TRAFFIC
LAW IS BEING MADE
Rathbone Preparing Report
for Drastic Regulations.
Prosecution Delays Cited.

With the unanimous and emphatic
agreement Of the five members OF
Iuc law and order" subcommittee of
ilc House District committee on dras-
tic provisions which they want writ
len into Legislation to correct 'Cr.i1-
iHal traffic conditions" in the Ma
ti"nal Capital, Representative Henry
Il RathbUne of Illinois now is pre-
pairing report embodying these
recommendations to be laid before the
Joint committee of the House and
Senate this week.
Representative Gasque. Democrat
OF South Carolina. urged t~attic
court and an Increase in the mum
brr of Judges and an increase in
the number of traffic officers or other
policemen.
BlantOn Opposes ForfeitS.
Representative Blanton wanted it
made a felony or at least severe
penalty imposed for interference
with an officer in the performance OF
his duty. He declare vigorously
against the practice of allowing a
traffic violator to forfeit collateral
lie demanded bench warrants.
Representative Beers, Republican OF
PENNSYLVANIA. indOrSed all suggestions
Toy traffic court and for heavy
penalties, particularly for persons
driving while intoxicated, but was
opposed to a night parking restric-
tioa until the high rent OF garages
was reduced.
Representative Gibson. Republican.
Of Vermont argued for severe pun
ishment for intoxicated drivers. he
urged that there be an administrative
f"aftc head who would have power TO
Grant and revoke licenses
Chairman RaTbboua smoke mart
Iatly in favor of prohibiting the use
IT Il smoke screen" He has asked
rhat the other members submit their
recommendations in writing.
Complains of Law Delays.
This law and order committee is
studying a report laid before them
by Milton l.. Smith president Of the
PuliCemeu'S Association who COM
Ulains against the impossibilty of
bringing those guilty Of traffic crimes
rD justice. The report continues: IF
- man is arrested for reckless driving
- good chance he Will never be
tried or If tried never convicted. If
there are civilian witnesses they are
very apt either to forget the main
features Of the case. lose interest or
move away and cannot be located, or
10 some instances. bought off" 1t
pften happens that bootieggrr's car
has an accident and the occupants
are arrested: before the date set for
trial they pay all the damages and
then the party whose car was dam
aged does not show up - prosecute.
With "a traffic court, quick trials
would eliminate Il great deal of this.
Another new wrinkle as to the smoke
screen has heen discovered just re
"entIy As it is serious offerse in
Virginia and Maryland 10 use a smoke
screen, il has come TO pass that the
hOotieggeT has a small copper pipe
running from under the dash board
Of the car to the multler. which to
the casual observer. is merely warm
air pipe fer CaTbureatOr. but which
jias a nipple 8" arranged that a rub
rrr tubt can be attached at the end
under tn" dash. and Ia this rubber
tube is connected can in the hands
at Il party seated in tho ear, and
Tho liquid used 10 make the dense
smoke is 50 distributed to the muffler.
II an arrest seems imminent they
throw the can out OF the car and en-
0-aYor To run over and demolish it.
Then If caught. they have no smoke
Green on the car, so in any bill de-
signed To remedy this evil, the words
must he such as TO reach the type Of
d,yice mentioned.
Wants Curb on Assaults.
MI. GaSque Is in possession Of some
data on this subject, which were pre-
pared before the subcommittee was
called to look into these particular
things, and all that is needed to say
at this time is that it is imperative
that We have an act passed at the
earliest moment making it a felony
40 assault any policeman while he is
in the discharge of his duty In
nearly every case of an assault on
a policeman in the last two years
You will find hy looking up the per
son who committed the assault that
in Il great percentage they are either
rum runners or liquor peddlcrs. Very
FEW assaults have occurred in recent
-ears that the boOtlegger did not
figure in them