Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-06
HOOVER PRAISES
TRAFFIC COUNCIL
Pays Tribute to Work of
Safety Conference-Sec-
rotary Given Ovation.

Secretary Hoover paid high tribute
today to the work of the National Con-
ference on Street and Highway Safety
in a brief address delivered before the
conferences model municipal traffic
ordinance committee. meeting at the
Department of Commerce to whip into
final shape draft of a model municipal
traffic ordinance to obtain uniformity
over the Nation
Mr.. Hoover told the gathering that
he appreciated the task the committee
has been doing and recognized that it
had a very difficult problem to work
out, The fact that some 10 States have
adopted. in the main, the recommended
tons of the conference and that Is
or 20 more are considering them and
are likely to adopt them. shows. in the
opinion of the Secretary, that the work
has proved its usefulness and that 1t IS
not mere manufacturing of docu-
mentS.
Mr.. Hoover told the traffic experts
that he was greatly impressed with the
amount of work done in preparation
for the model municipal traffic ordi-
nance and added that the work is not
futility and is making Roadway be-
cause of the intelligence of its prepara-
ton and the effectiveness OF its work
and 1t will be accepted"
Hoover Given Ovation.
Secretary Hoover was given an ova-
ton by the hundred traffic experts con-
Slderlng the model municipal traffic
ordinance and his plea that he has been
unable to devote as much close per-
sonal attention to the work as he de-
L. 81, oir,, nf
the conference who pointed out that
Mr. Hoover has been in intimate touch
with the work of the conference for the
past four years The Secretary is chair
man of the conference. which has been
working to obtain uniformity III traffic
regulations over the country,
Whether the director of traffic anC
the District CommionerS will follow the
efforts toward Standardization anc
compose the differences between the
model municipal traffic ordinance anC
the Washington traffic code of today is
matter for future determination. AS
1t is. however. M. O. Eldridge, assistant
director of traffic of the District of CO.
lumbia, said today that the proposed
Nationwide code is in the main APP
proximately the same "as that which
We have III Washington today" The
Washington traffic code, Mr.. Eldridge
asserted, is progressive and up to date
The model municipal traffic ordinance
committee. which heard the report oil
its drafting committee. presented by
j. Allen Davis of Los Angeles. asSo-
ciate counsel of the Automobile Clut
OF Southern California, voted to give
the pedestrian the right of way in street
traffic and decided To eliminate any
reference to the custom of a pedestrian
holding up his hand to signify his in
tention OF crossing thoroughfare anc
to halt oncoming traffic. as is done in
some sections of the country.
Color System Stumbling Block.
One of the stumbling blocks that the
committee has encountered. the queS-
ton whether the three color signal sys-
tenn red green and amber, or the two
color system of red and green lights for
traffic control shall be Endorsed. was lief,
to be surmounted at the afternoon seS-
sion The committee found difficulty
in putting the final touches to the def
milton Of right of way" which the
drafting committee suggested should be
the privilege OF the immediate use oil
the street when there is danger of coll
lision" Qualification of this question
was likewise left over until after lunch
Another question which renamed 10 DC
decided was that of overtaking traffic by
passing on the right
Formal presentation Of the report OF
the drafting committee, which was In
session all day yesterday, and delegated
some of its work to a sub-drafting COM
mittee. which met late into the night
was made by Arthur A. Thomas OF
Providence. r. l.. who presided over
yesterdays session. A meeting of the
committee on uniformity of laws and
regulations. Of which Gen. Nathan Will
liam McChesney of Chicago is chair
man. is scheduled for this afternoon to
harmonic the provisions of the model
ordinance and the model State code