Evening star., 1928-05-06


n Gus routes leading into and
= out of the city soon will be
erected in the District of Colum-
bia, Following the approval of
the Commissioners, acting upon
the suggestion of Traffic Director
william H. Harland and other
citizens who have deplored the
lack of such signs. designs now
are being prepared by the Traffic
Bureau.
City to Re Marked.
The cost of $1,000 for suitable
markers has been approved, and
this sum is Immediately available.
The signs will be gilt letters on
a black background and will be
placed at various appropriate
places throughout the city. For
years the city has been poorly
marked and the tourists only with
great difficulty have been able to
make their way to various points
Of interests.
Illustrating this fact. a tourist
recently called up The Star TO in
ouire the route To Mount Vernon,
The fact that visitor had to call
up a newspaper to find the way 10
the Shrine of America needs no
comment.
Several automobile clubs offered
at their own expense to eliminate
this lack of courtesy to out-of-
town guests, but were turned
down by the District authorities,
because it was felt that the signs
might contain advertising tor
the club.
The belated action of the citv
officials is to be held with relief,
not praise, for this action should
have taken place years ago. How
ever Washington will not be
known much longer as the "un-
marked city"
War on ViolatorS.
Director Harland has declared
open war on motorists who insist
on dashing across the street on
the amber light. He will confer
with Mai. Edwin B. HeSSe, super
intendent of the Metropolitan po-
lice, and request him TO detail
extra men along Sixteenth street
to arrest every offender of the
regulation. Mr.. Harland states
that he has noticed the constant
violation of the regulation while
driving along the thoroughfare
and is of the opinion that it Is
one of the chief causes of acci-
dents.
There is no excuse for the mo-
toristS to keep up this dangerous
practice" Mr.. Harland states. i
am going to see that the regula-
ton is obeyed, If a policeman has
to be stationed at every intersec-
ton on Sixteenth street. TIE
traffic lights were installed 10
make the streets safe. The streets
are not safe as long as the in
different motorists dasheS across
intersections on the amber signal.
Amusing experiences befan tie
otherwise serious Traffic Bureau,
but the actors are the outsiders.
This is particularly true among
the examiners in the permit di-
vision. According TO Charles
Scl1reyer, chief examiner OF would
be permit holders, the monotony
Of their labors is often dispeiled
by the foolish answers given 10
legitimate questions. Among some
Of the answers recently given
were Baptist to the question what
Is your nationality. female TO the
question what is your age, and
white TO the question what Is your
sex.
Women as a rule are found To
oppose answering the question
what is your age. the regulations
not being satisfied with just "over
81" One woman a short time
ago, when asked to swear TO Ger
tain statements she had written
before a notary public. smiled and
would not say they were true TO
the best OF her knowledge. 1t
was the age question again.
%CoIor Dumb" Not Blind.
IT is stated that more aspirants
are color dumb than color-blinc
This rather unusual phrase is ex-
planned that their eyes are all
right but that they do not know
the name Of colors. Many know
the traffic regulations, but cannot
drive q car. About 20 per cent Of
those examined fail the first time.
but many of them succeed in OBJ
tanning their permits after several
trials.
The examiners or most Of them
are now clothed in civilian clothes.
II was found out that many peo-
pie when confronted by men in
uniform. became hustered and
could not answer the questions.
A man the other day was asked 10
fill out a questionnaire card. he
did, but he did it by drawing lines
all through it. He could neither
read nor write. He did not OBJ
tain his permit.
Many people who obtained per
nnitg back in the days when 1t was
lust necessary 70 ask for them and
produce the required fee, failed 20
receive new ones when required 10
DO so under the new regulations
that prescribe a three-year re-
newal. Although they had driven
car for IS years without aec.~
dent or arrest. they could not
read or write and thereby failed
The Revenue Office adjoing the
Traffic Bureau. Almost daily the
agents in the alley 70 the rear
breakup conhscated liquor. Tie
fumes drift into the Traffic
Bureau and all work stops. The
fumes are at times gufTocating
a member of the Efficiency Bureau
was present short time ago and
decried the breaking Of the bot
ties