Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-29
ROBINSON BLOCKS
TRAFFIC BILL VOTE
Dill Attacks Pedestrian Con.
troll and Expense of
Automatic Lights.

Action by the Senate on the agree.
ment of the conferees on the new Dis.
trict traffic bill was blocked today by
Minority Leader Robinson of Arkan.
sas, after Senator Dill, Democrat. of
Washington. had made a severe at.
tack on local authorities in connec-
ton with traffic control.
Because of the importance of the
measure, which is necessary for the
renewal of the more than 100000 op-
orator permits that have expired,
Chairman Capper of the District com.
nittee asked for unanimous consent
to have the conference report agreed
to. After the debate had proceeded for
10 or Is minuts, Senator Robinson
had the conference report laid aside
by raising objection to its considera
ton at this time.
Senator Capper explained that the
conferees had agreed to all of the
Senate amendments except one which
sought to deprive the traffic director
of proper control over pedestrians and
horse drawn vehicles. Senator Capper
said the conference report gives the
director of traffic some control over
pedestrians. He explained the purpose
is to give pedestrians the right of
way at intersections, except where
policemen or traffic devices are in
operation.
Dill Sees Big Expense.
Taking the floor in opposition. Sena-
tor Dill declared the bill is the final
step toward authorizing the eXpendi-
ture of $350,000 for automatic traf-
fic lights land to make it possible to
arrest persons if they cross the street
against these lights, and it is proposed
to erect them in outlying sections as
we'll as downtown"
Turning his< attack to the Commits
sioners, Senator Dill asserted the
pending bill authorizes them to make
traffic rules and to have people put
in Jail for violating them.
"These Commissioners hold Pc
culiar position" Senator Dill con-
tinued. Zone of them, Mr.. Fenning.
has been doing things that if a mem-
Der of Congress did he would be re-
moved from office, and yet they do
not seem to be able to decide whether
he is the kind of an officer who could
be impeached.
Copeland for Regulation.
Senator Copeland. Democrat, of
New York and a member of the Dis
trict committee, came to the defense
of the traffic bill, declaring that there
is not we'll regulated city In the
country that does not have some per
son charged with the duty of fixing
speed limits, making one-way streets
and similar regulations. l disagree
with the Senator from Washington,
because I think this bill will make
for safety and for the saving of hu-
man life"
Chairman Capper added to what
Senator Copeland had said by point
ing out that the traffic bill has the
approval of the people of Washington
and that it is in line with efforts to
regulate traffic in most of the large
cities of the country.
AS debate went on Senator McNary
of Oregon, in charge of the farm leg
| islation, served notice that If the
traffic bill was not disposed of In
few moments he would demand the
regular order.
Senator Capper then moved that
the Senate agree to the report of the
conferees, but Senator Robinson of
Arkansas objected, which automati-
cally set the traffic bill aside.