Evening star., 1926-02-26
ELDR|DGE TRAFFIC
BILL TO Be RUSHED
TO HOUSE FOR VOTE
Measure Meeting His Needs
to Be Brought Up for Ac-
ton March 8.
SUBCOMMITTEE STUDIES
PERMIT AMENDMENT
Asks Director for List of Changes
He Would Suggest in Laws for
Vehicle Regulation,

1n an effort to rush through d. com
prehensive traffic bill which Will meet
all the needs as seen by the traffic
director. hearing will be held Mon
day morning at 10 O'Clock, at which
NJ. o. Eldridge. the trar1c director,
has been requested TO lay before the
subcommittee on streets. highways
and traffic his recommendations for
amendments to the present law.
This subcommittee had before Il TO
day bill introduced yesterday by
Chairman Zihlnan Of the House Dis
trict committee covering proposes
amendments TO the traffic act and re-
ceived from George c. Havenner. rep.
resenting the Citizens Advisory Coun-
Gil, an amendment to cover the right
of appeal on revocation or suspension
of drivers permits.
The subcommittee, of which Repre-
sentative Stalker, Republican, OF New
York is chairman, intends, Immediate
" after the hearing on Monday, 70
prepare a comprehensive traffic bill 10
be reported 70 the full District com
mittee on Tuesday, which would be
the principal order Of business on the
week from Monday.
Seeks Notifications.
Traffic Director Eldridge appeared
before the subcommittee today and
said that there are a number OF pro
visions in the pending Blanton bill!
which ought to be modified. He EN-
phasized that the clause authorizing
the director OF traffic to cancel drlV-
ers' permits is not satisfactory. AS
an illustration, he said he had just re
ceived permits issued to four persons
who are now in the insane hospital
and who received these permits while
they were sane, and asked the COM
mittee what good it would do 70
grant a hearing to these Insane men
before revoking their permits.
Mr.. Eldridge said that there should
! be a provision for compulsory revo-
cation for certain offenSes, revocation
after hearing for others, and then a
blanket provision giving authority to
the traffic director. He said he was
not afraid Of submitting any Of his
decisions to review by the court.
These provisions, he said, are In
line with the law in g. number of
States. He pointed out that in New
York State last year $1,000 permits
We're Cancelled and said there are
many now out in Washington that
ought to be revoked. He told the
committee that there are zoo ca ses
now before the court for serious Of
fenses against the law in which he
has no authority 10 revoke the
permit.
Frequent Jury Trials.
Mr.. Eldridge also pointed out that
some traffic cases are handled by the
corporation counsel and others by the
United States attorney. He argued
that all traffic cases should be handled
in the Traffic Court by the corporation
counsel, except smoke screen cases,
which involve a Federal offense.
Mr.. Eldridge also emphasized that
if the drivers permit is revoked pend
ing jury trial jury trial will not be
asked for as frequently.
The committee asked Mr.. Eldridge
to prepare for them a comprehensive
summary Of all the changes he would
suggest in the traffic law.
The amendment offered by George
C.. Havenner, representing the Cttf-
zenS' Advisory Council. provides that
every licensee whose permit shall be
suspended or revoked by the director
or his assistant for any cause not
made mandatory by the District OF
Columbia traffic act. 1925, may appeal
to a court of competent jurisdiction
and the decision of said court in the
matter shall be final. Provided fur
ther that an appeal to said court shall
not operate as a stay of any order Of
said director or his assistant to
suspend or revoke a permit"