Evening star., 1925-03-21
ELDR|DGE ACCEPTS
DIFFICULT POST AS
TRAFFIC DIRECTOR
Will Assume Office Monday.
Pleads for Cooperation in
First Statement.
TAKES UP DUTIES AT COST
OF BIG LOSS IN SALARY
Plans Thorough Study of New Law
Before Attempting to Lay
Down ANY Policies.

Maurice Q. Eldridge, an official OF
the American Automobile Association,
formally accepted appointment as
Washington's first director of traffic
at conference with the Commission
ers today.
Mr.. Eldridge will report for duty
Monday morning on one of the most
important tasks ever fntrusted to an
executive in the District government,
namely, the supervision of all traffic
problems.
The first message OF the director
to the people Of Washington was
plea for cooperation from every citi-
zen. and he coupled the appeal with
an expression OF confidence that such
support would be forthcoming.
In announcing the acceptance Com
missioners Rudolph and Bell said:
Mr.. Eldridge has taken the posi-
tion at a reduction in salary of 331s
per cent because he feels that he can
render public service to the City OF
Washington.
Salary Set at 1920.
Under the classification act, the
salary Of the director OF traffic has
been fixed at $500 a year, the Com
missioners announced
AS he left the meeting of the city
not to discuss his personal views on
existing traffic problems and how
they should be solved until he has
had an opportunity to study thor
oughly the new law under which he
will function.
His statement TO the public follows:
The Commissioners of the District
of Columbia have seen fit to tender
me the offer Of the post Of traffic di-
rector for this city, the position Gre
ated by the traffic act recently en-
acted by Congress.
TN accepting this offer, am keenIy
alive to the confidence that the civic
heads OF the city have placed in me.
At the same time I appreciate the re
sponsibility that this post involves.
VIII Study Policies.
| Tt is too early to outline policies
for these must be worked oct and ap-
| piled only after a complete survey OF
/ the situation as IL exists today and
/ in a manner that will best assure the
| fullest measure OF cooperation, un-
der the direction Of the Commission
ers themselves
''Of course, the duties Of the traffic
director are laid down in the law
creating the post, and 1t goes without
saying that the director must be
guided by the spirit and the letter OF
the law at all times. However, much
depends on the extent of public CO.
operation in putting the new traffic
code into effect. For this reason I
| am counting not only on the full sup
port of the Police Department, but
also on the support Of civic organiza-
tions, utility companies, motorists and
all public-spirited citizens. This sup
port. am confident, will be forthcom-
ing"
The question OF fixing speed limits
for vehicles in the downtown section
and on main traffic arteries is prob
ably Of paramount interest to the
public, and is one of the most i'm
portant problems to be solved by Mr.
Eldridge as soon as he enters upon
his duties.
Corporation Counsel Francis H.
Stephens is at work today on a writ
ten report for the Commissioners, ex-
planning just when the various sec
tions of the new law become effective,
and this report probably will guide
Mr.. EIdridge in mapping out his plan
of action during the next few weeks.
Permit Renewal Questioned.
Another outstanding question to be
settled promptly is whether the new
law contemplated that all of the
should be renewed now or remain
good until March 81, 1926. The law
states that permits shall be renewed
annually on March 81, but there has
been some doubt at the District
Building as to whether renewal
would be necessary this year.
Mr.. Stephens is expected to settle
this matter in his forthcoming opin
| ion, but Commissioner Rudolph ex :
pressed the personal belief today that.
renewals would not be made until
| March, 1926. -
For the past few years the Commis-
sioners have had a trafic board COM
posed of Assistant Engineer Commits
sioner Holcombe, Assistant Corpora
| tion Counsel Madigan and Inspector
Headley of the Traffic Bureau. Com
| missioner Rudolph announced today
that this board would no longer be
necessary.
| 1t is more than likely, however, that
one of the assistant corporation coun-
sells will be designated to keep Mr..
Eldridge advised on legal matters.
VIII Make Regulations.
Maj. Holcombe and Daniel L.
Garges, secretary to the Commission
ers, today were designated to find Of
| fce space for the director of traffic
y
quarters will be assigned to him Mon
day.
Before becoming associated with
the American Automobile Association
Mr.. Eldridge served for 25 years in
the United States Bureau of Public
Roads.
, AS research specialist Of the
A. A. A. which has a membership of
1000, Mr.. Eldridge has had an op-
portunity to acquaint himself with
traffic problems and regulations
| throughout the United States. And
while performing this service of q
national character Mr.. Eidridge has
been a. resident of Washington.
thereby gaining personal knowledge
of local traffic problems.
The traffic law provides that,
beginning so days after its enact
ment, the director is authorized to
make reasonable regulations with
respect to brakes, horns, lights.
mufiers and other equipment, the
speed and parking of vehicles, the
registration of vehicles and the issu-
ance of operators permits.
In connection with the fixing of
speed limits it will be necessary for
the director to decide on the arteriai
| highways.
The second deficiency oct carrIAd an