Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-23
Give Mr.. Eldridge a Chance!

Representative Thomas Blanton of
Texas served notice on the floor OF
The House yesterday that he intended
10 support vigorously Traffic Director
TIldridse and his administration. Elk
ercised by printed reports from =
mythical subcommittee on traffic OF
the House District committee. Mr..
Glanton cited two unnamed ificials OF
The Police Department as being active
in opposing Director Eldridge, and
announced that if matters came TO a
showdown they would be the ones
to lose their jobs, and not Mr.. Ed
ridge
Mr. Blanton is probably the best
Informed member of Congress on local
traffic conditions. He spent all of last
Summer in Washington studying Dis
trict problems and devoted much time
to a comprehensive investigation of
Director Eldridse's administration.
During this period it was brought
home TO him that the traffic director,
appointed to administer the traffic
code. was nothing more than a figure
head He discovered that the traffic
director had no real authority; that
all of his recommendations must go
through the Police Department; that
cooperation on the part of the Com
missioners and police was sometimes
given and sometimes withheld; that
the director was unable to carry out
needed improvements because of lack
of money: that in some cases the dl-
rector knew nothing OF traffic changes
made by the Police Department until
they went into effect, and that, while
mistakes had been made by the d.
rector. his administration, considering
the handicaps under which he labored,
had been an extremely credita6le one
MIR. Blanton found that these con-
ditions existed despite the fact that
the director was an admitted expert
in his line and had been appointed
10 control Washington trafflc. The
Texas Representative also found that
there were cliques both in and out OF
the Police Department which would
like 10 have the director dismissed
and that certain interests in WASH
ington, whose toes had been stepped
on. would heartily concur in such ac-
ton.
Convinced that remedial measures
should be taken, Mr.. Blanton intro
duced a bill in the House to assign
rrattic police to the director and to
give him control of the entire bureau.
Senator Capper, chairman OF the
Senate District committee. intro
duced Il similar bill in the Senate.
1t is apparent to every thinking
WashinGtonian that nine tenthS OF
the difficulties in which Mr.. Eldridge
has found himself are due to the
peculiar position he holds i'll the Dis
trict official family and the lack of
funds for the operation OF his Office.
Complaint has been made that the
white stop" signals have been al
lowed to fade out. The traffic office
has no money to repaint them. Pro-
tests have been heard against made
ouate marking of boulevard streets.
There is no money on hand to buy
signs. Many have deplored the lack
90 electric traffic soma phores. 1t is
The same answer over again-there
is no money to purchase and install
them.
If the Blanton bill is passed by
Congress. it viii give the traffic direc-
tor = chance to stand or fal on ac-
measure OF similar nature is not
~ ssed he will fall without being
-iven 4 chance, because under pres
ent conditions there is no hope for
ever such a capable man as the traf.
nc director.