Evening star., 1926-04-18
]. W. Murphy Urges Citizens
Federation to Attend House
Hearing Tuesday.
TRAFFIC ARRESTS H0TLY
PROTESTED AT MEETING
Delegates Also Indorse Project for
D. c. War Memorial, Pledging
to Solicit Active Support.


tions last night as "a cause that
lies closer to the hearts of the people
of the District than any other mat
ter"
Schools, taxes. traffic regulations
and other matters We consider i'm
portant, sink into insignificanCe in
the light of the great principle OF
human right" J. w. Murphy of the
kalorama Citizens Association, told
the federation at its semi-monthly
meeting in the board room of the
District Building. Mr.. Murphy spoke
AS member of the national repre-
sentation committee in the absence
of Proctor l.. Daugherty, chairman
of the committee. He urged dele
gates to the federation to attend the
hearing on national representation
scheduled to begin before the House
judiciary committee at 10 O'Clock
Tuesday morning.
Assails Lack of Rights.
II believe If the people of the Dis
trict of Columbia are not entitled TO
a voice in their own Government
they have no right to live in the
United States" Mr.. Murphy said
entitled to a voice, the phrases of the
Declaration of Independence are
merely as the sounding of brass and
the tinkling of cymbals. If the rights
given the people of the United States
do not apply to all, it is time the
Declaration of Independence should
be torn up"
Mr.. Murphy added that he could
speak at greater length and with
greater emphasis on national repre-
sentation. but he felt that the com
mittee chairman should speak for
the committee.
Attacks on the multiplicity of traf-
fic regulations by some delegates
mingled with vigorous defense of the
traffic code by others, while fedora
ton spokesmen joined in assailing
the police department for the many
petty" arrests which swelled the
total last month to 1900.
A motion by Mr.. Murphy that the
delegates from the federation TO tbs
District traffic council be instructed
to consider reduction in the number
of traffic regulations, with the view
to reducing arrests, was not acted OF
by the federation. Mr.. Murphy. in
presenting his motion, said, 1T is
sad commentary that / 900 arrests
were made in March. many of them
for absurd and trivial offenseS. 1t
is small business for policemen To
take their valuable time to make
petty arrests"
Charges "Side-Stepping.
E. S. Hege of the Chevy Chase As
sociation declared the council side
stepped" the question of modification
of traffic rules and regulations at its
meeting Friday night.
There is a feeling in the council
that the regulations should not be dis
turbed," he declared. "It is averse To
amendments and would let the present
code stand without amendment. ! am
reminded of the man in police court
on a petty traffic charge. who was
asked by the judge, Are you familiar
with the regulations?'
No the man replied. I have no;
read today's papers.
THAT is exactly the situation in
which some of our citizens find them
selves" Mr.. Hege added. There is
bewilderment in the minds of the peo-
ploe on the traffic situation.
THE police, seemingly, are not
using discretion in the matter of mi
nor offenses. Policemen go around
the streets cf the city putting chalk
marks on automobile tires when they
might be doing something better foH
the good of the community. | believe
that a policeman who has nothing
better to do than that ought TO be
kicked off the force" Mr.. Hege at
this point was interrupted by j. q.
Yaden. who said the policemen do not
enforce such regulations of their own
will, but at the behest of some ono
higher up.
There seems to be an utter lack of
coordination between the duties of
the chief of police and the director of
traffic" Mr.. Hege said.
Il. J. Newcomb of the Congress
Heights Citizens Association declared
the police do not use Judgment in en-
forcing minor regulations. He
charged individual policemen with
favoritism I'm permitting motorists to
overstay the parking time limits and
added that policemen should be sent
to a school of courtesy"
Proposes "Slow" Signs.
c. w. Edwards told the federation
that the stop signs at boulevard
streets should be removed and re-
placed with slow" signs. stop
signs" he said, impede traffic and
cause accidents. Slow signs would be
sufficient warning and not obstruct
traffic.
n. f. Janney. one of the federation
delegates to the traffic council, said
the police should stop the periodical
drives they undertake against Of
tenders and should enforce the laws
as they stand. THE whole trouble
he declared, ''is the lack of uniform
traffic squad" lie explained that he
did not mean that the police traffic
officers should he under the direct
control Of the traffic director.
The federation adopted report by
the committee on public celebrations,
submitted by George r. Wales. Civ
ing Endorsement to the project to erect
In Potomac Park a memorial to Dis
frict men who served i'm the World
War. Adoption of the report carried
with it the Endorsement of the fedora
ticn. the request that each delegate
contribute as much as possible to the
memorial, that he ask members of his
association a and his friends to con-
tribute. and that he take the matter
nm with his constituent organization
for contributions.
The federation approved Il report
by r. b. Henderson. chairman of the
zoning regulations committee. propos-
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