Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-01

CONVICTIONS, with Z1O Still untrled.
Director Eldridge pointed out that
there are five grade crossings In the
District at which seven persons have
been killed in the last four years.
During those same years there have
been total of PIT traffic fatalities
on the streets of Washington as
against the at grade crossings.
He urged the committee that while
1t was very desirable to abolish grade
crossings, the expenditure of the same
amount of money for electric traffic
signal lights and other safeguards
would bring about a much greater
saving of life.
Would Control Street Cars.
The traffic director proposed an
amendment to include control Of street
cars under the authority Of the traffic
director, as has already been approved
by the House District committee. In
discussing this suggestion it was
shown that the District Commission
ers had originally approved this pro-
vision. but later when street railway
companies had threatened the Public
Utilities Commission that they would
take the matter to court. the Commits
sioners had disapproved the proposal.
The House District committee has al
ready favorably reported a bill carry
ing provision to put the street rail-
ways under the control of the traffic
director.
Director Eldridge also recommended
the employment Of three additional as.
sistants to the corporation counsel to
handle all traffic cases in the Traffic
Court except the use of smoke screens,
which is Federal offense He recon-
mended that this change be made, as
fJr-n Il Id, ~.
corporation counsel and the United
States attorneys, appear in different
cases. The salaries Of these new as
sistant corporation counsel would be
fixed in accordance with the classified
ton act.
Would Control Pedestrians.
Mr.. Eldridge also recommended
giving the traffic director a reasona-
BILE measure of control over pedestri-
ans.
He proposed that operators per.
mits be issued for a three-year period
from the date of issue at a fee of
50 for each three-year period upon
renewal.
He asked authority to revoke or
suspend permits in mandatory cases
the same as under the present law
and in cases that are not mandatory,
SO that he could suspend when, in
his judgment, continued use of the
permit would be a menace to public
safety. He provided, however, that
the holder of the permit should have
the right of appeal to the court.
Mr.. Eldridge also suggested that
when a permit is revoked under
mandatory revision, instead of the
roundabout process and delay, as at
present, the Judge of the Police
Court should revoke the permit upon
conviction and return it to the tratt1c
director.
Asks Lower Penalties.
He advised a change in the reckless
driving clause so as to clarity and
simplify the language.
He proposed changing the wording
Of the speed regulation because the
corporation counsel has ruled that he
cannot now change the speed limit on
boulevard highways and caA only
change 1t on arterial highways and in
outlying districts. Mr.. Eldridge ask
ed that this be changed so as to in
clude boulevards in the territory he Is
allowed to regulate.
He advised changing penalties in a
great many cases, such as driving
while drunk, so as to cut down the
punishment to a maximum penalty
of $500 or 80 days Imprisonment, be-
low which jury trial may not be de-
manded.
Mr.. Eldridge submitted a list of
streets on which he recommended
that electric traffic signals be placed.
This Is the same list he introduced at
hearings before the appropriations
committee, but with New Jersey
avenue added. This is a more com
prehensive list than appeared in the
original Blanton bill. Those were for
boulevard highways. There have
now been added a block Of streets in
the congested downtown area, running
from Sixth to Thirteenth street, In
elusive, from Pennsylvania avenue to
Massachusetts, avenue. 1t includes
also a block Of streets from Pennsyl.
vania avenue to Florida avenue and
between Fourteenth street and Eight
eenth street.
Cost Estimated at 1881 900.
Careful study of costs shows that
this entire system can be installed
for $381.00 except for the conduit
and lights on New Jersey avenue,
which would cost between $4,000 and
$4,000.
In reply to questions from Repre-.
sentative Hammer, Mr.. Eldridge said
that IL Congress would give him au-
thority to suspend permits pending
trial, the law could stand as it Is re-
garding the right to appeal for jury
trial, because he thought that would
have the salutary effect Of preventing
many from appealing for a jury trial.
Both Chairman Stalker and Mr..
Hammer made it plain to Mr.. Eldridge
that the House District committee and
Congress would never countenance
the prohibition Of all-night parking,
pointing out that when the majority
Of houses were built no provision was
made for garage accommodations and
that it would be impossible to get
garages convenient and would be a