Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-04-17
GROCCY FROM NEW AUTO PLANS,
MOTORIST SEES MIND COLLAPSE
Pictures Theater Trip
Ending in Padded He's
pitaL Cell.
Sure He WM Break Scores
of Rules in Spite of
Utmost Care.
BY REX COLLIER.

sort OF Fellow for the most part is
becoming slightly groggy trying to
keep up with all the new traffic sug-
gestions being made to Director Of
Traffic Eldridge by conscientious news.
paper reporters. In fact, he lapsed
INTO momentary coma today after
reading about the plan to have pedes-
TRANS hold up their hands when
crossing the street, and envisioned
himself setting out for the theater
several months hence.
left my home in Petworth at
1880 pm, climbed into my car beside
my wife, and set out confidently for
the theater." he recounted afterward
to friend. Swinging into the
arterial highway, l made sure that my
headlights were not dimmed, sounded
my horn to satisfy myself it did not
sound like fire siren, and stepped on
the gas until the speedometer rested
at the 35-mile mark
Il had about three-quarters of an
hour in which to get downtown, but
was not unmindful of the parking
space shortage, and so wanted to get
place early. Carefully maintaining
the required 15-foot distance from
the machine in front, l suddenly no.
tlced that the left arm of the driver
ahead was extended horizontally, de-
noting officially that he intended to do
something and that / must watch
him in order to find out whether he
intended to turn, stop, back up or
slow down.
Cop Aids Decision
Il restrained a shameful impulse to
disengage my clutch at this juncture,
but firmly applied the brake instead,
at the same time extending my left
arm also, although 1 myself had no
idea what l was going to do next.
My indecision was short-lived, for a
motor cycle cop solved the problem
for me by ordering me to pull over
TO the curb. 1t appeared had violat-
ed the one-arm driving regulation.
Luckily my explanation convinced the
officer l intended no harm, and he let
me go with a caution.
Il desired to turn left into the next
cross street, on which there was a car
line. so 1 asked my wife to put a
hand on the wheel so I could do some
signaling in the proper way. / man.
aged to pull up in the traffic control
zone, marked out for turning vehicles,
and bided my time. In a few minutes
the traffic officer flashed the yellow
light that meant for me to come on,
so l started around him. halted when
he motfoned for me to cut the corner
in front of him, and finally got by
after scraping his umbrella.
II was now in the congested dis
trict, as extended. Why the conges-
ton was extended I don't know, but
probably that was another suggestion
of those newspaper reporters A
street car stopping just ahead brought
me to stop also, but a policeman at
the curb waved vigorously for me to
go ahead. 1 went. I turned right
down another car line and passed a
street car at the corner just in time
to be arrested for reckless driving
1 happened to know this cop, ex-
planned how l had just few moments
before been told to go ahead, and he
finally let me go.
Hits Pedestrian Parade.
AT the intersection ahead there
doomed a parade of pedestrians with
uplifted arms. Several were picking
up bundles dropped absentmindedly.
7 waited. 1t seemed the procession
would never end. Finally there came
an opportunity which 1 lost no time
in selling. I shot forward into the
next block, only to be stopped. by a
group of glazing policemen with what
looked like a set of handouts.
what have you done now, Henry?'
my wife chided. Heaven only knows,
I explained. We're gonna test your
brakes one of the officers said gruffly.
But I'm on my way to the theater,' I
ventured to protest. You're gonna
get your brakes tested first, Buddy,
the policeman replied firmly. While
my wife watched her wrist watch
nervously, I showed the testers that
1 could stop my car within so feet, in
accordance with the regulations, and
they gave me a slip of approval.
Light Beam Misplaced.
1.-THE theater was only a few blocks
away. I started on. At the next cor
ner I waited again while that parade
of appraised arms filed leisurely by. l
found a lucky opening and dived
through and landed plump in the CEN
ter of another group of policemen.
Two of them held a horizontal plane
and they proceeded to pass it through
the center of my headlights. You've
got a stray beam running wild above
the horizontal plane they informed
me. Get it back into bounds before
you go out again. l promised, tear
fully.
1T was now $3.50. The show had
been on for Is minutes. l struck out
determinedly The hand of the law
again doomed accusingly as I kept my
clutch engaged and applied my ap-
proved brakes.
Say, can those bright lights on
this street, b. the owner of the hand
said. Don't you know you're in the
dim light zone?' I started to explain
that was the reason I had put on the
bright ones, but as he waved for me
to go ahead. I didn't stop to argue.
Another Regulation Falls.
1.-THE theater soon hove into sight.
I feared to begin looking for parking
space. What was my surprise to find
a splendid one we'll within the build
ing line right close to the theater.