Evening star., 1925-02-08
AUTO TRADE GROUP
: HITS TRAFFIC CODE
Too Much Detail Cared For
by Legislation, Lum Writes,
Citing Objections.

Objectionable features embodied in
the proposed traffic code for the Dis
trict as viewed by members of the
Washington Automotive Trade AS
sociation, We're cited in a letter sent
last night by Paul B. Lum, president
TO Senator Ball and Representative
Dathbone. who are sponsoring the
bills now before Congress
Following a special meeting of the
automobile dealers. at which the bills
were analyzed thoroughly general
dissatisfaction with the proposed law
was expressed, in that it attempted
TO legislate specifically on certain
phases Of the traffic problem.
In his letter to the members of
Congress, Mr. Lum called attention
to the fact that the Hoover street
and highway safety conference held
here December Is. unanimously
adopted the following as the senti-
ment of traffic experts from all over
the country:
There is, in the opinion of the
conference, a tendency to include
far too much detail in legislation.
This not only divides responsibility.
but also hinderS progress toward
uniformity. Laws should be so
drafted as to include only those
features which must be authorized
by legisla tion, leaving the great
mass of detailed legislation to be
prescribed by the responsible officials
whose orders should. within the
limits fixed by the statute, have the
effect of law"
Against Curb Director.
The association heartily approved
the idea of traffic director, stating,
according to the letter, that the crea-
tion of the office of a director of
traffic lis a step in the right direc-
ton, but that the proper functioning
of that officer will be impossible If
he rs hampered by detailed instruc
tions taking from him his initiative
and authority to meet changing con-
ditions with revised regulations"
"If. however, it is found necessary
to include detailed Instructions the
letter states further. I'VE wish to
voice our objection to the following
items:
The setting of a maximum rate of
speed. The bill contemplates the
establishment of arterial highways
and experience in other cities shows
that greater speed is not only desir-
able, but necessary on such thorough
fares.
Requiring garagekeepers to make
reports of all cars brought in show
ing evidence of having been involved
in an accident. Accident is not
sufficiently defined in the bill, and we
know from experience that an i'm
menSe amount of labor would be in
volved if this section of the law were
enforced literally.
Unusually severe penalties for GER
tain offenses.
Hit Tax on Operators.
We also wish as individuals to
object to the levying of a 50 annual
tax on operators This tax would
al nT
stbly 100000 year, which is not
needed for the administration of the.
new office created by this bill, and
which is taken from the class of citi-
zens who are now more than paying
their own way. 1t would also be another
of the nuisance taxes hampering the
free use of property. We indorse
the stand of the motor vehicle con-
ference Committee that operators
permits should be good until revoked,
and that the fee should be nominal"
Mr.. Lum said that only 13 States
require annual operators permits at
fees ranging from 80 cents to So. but
that the tendency in all traffic legis-
lation throughout the country was
toward uniformity. He indicated that
to establish an annual permit at a
cost of 81 in the District would be
going counter to the trend in a
majority of the States.
He expressed the view that traffic
legislation. so far as Congress is con-
cerned, should stop with provisions
designating the establishment of a
director of traffic, additional judges,
more policemen and the enumeration
of the powers and authority of such
director of traffic Constantly chang
ing conditions would necessitate
amendments to the traffic code, he
pointed out, which, if the bill under
consideration were enacted, would re-
quire an act of Congress in each
change.