Evening star., 1928-09-09
FEARS ago the streets of
" Washington were laid out
| by a Frenchman, Maj.

Ny AJC1ls 1<C 1OuIS
Returning motorists from vaca
nstion tours are entering their ma
tive city with. the feeling Of relic
sthat detourS once more are neceS
a6ary evils of the past. What ;
fools paradise they are living IL
at that expectancy!
Washington, this Summer, /
probably. one of the most detouret
cities in the country. Unquestion'
ably the highways of the Nationa
Capital were in sad need of re.
pair. but it seems strange that 81
much of this needed work was un-
rdcrtaken at, approximately thu
same time.
r. A New DetOur.
And alas, alack, word comes of
new detour to be promulgated
and right in the most heavily con-
geSted' section of the city. This
new worry to the weary traveller
from Office will be caused by the
closing of Fifteenth street along
the east side of the Treasury. Re-
pair work on this street, if not al
ready started, will be commenced
the early part of this week. Only
one side of the street will be closed
at a time. it is announced.
- It is to be hoped that all mo-
toriStS accustomed to use FIJI :
teenth street will not all flock to
East Executive avenue, for if they
do it won't be unlikely that, they
will be nearer their Office than
their homes long after dinner
time. When it is necessary to de-
tour, which has been a fact most
of this Summer, motorists will
save time and. eliminate much
congestion by driving on streets a
few blocks away or even farther.
!. Mr.. Harland, the director OF
traffic, will be away another week
on his vacation. During his alb
Sence at North Beach he has left
word that any important matters
that may come up are to be. for
Marded him to his cottage. Per-
haps his Sojourn will not be so
much ot.a vacation. after all. Be-
fore going, Mr.. Harland left with
the Commissioners his annual re-
port, in which he suggested. sew
eral chances in the traffic regula-
tionS having to do with m"1da-
tory iail sentences bv the Police
Court iudges. believing it tn he
wiser to have the punishment in
bases nf,drivirq while drunk rock
rys.sflrivi,ae' for the second time
and third nffense soeeeding left 20
their judicinl discretion.
Change Needed.
It is understood that the Com
missionerS will not take the mat
ter up until Mr.. Harland files q
formal. recommendation for these
changes. This temporary tablirg
of an important matter seems ur-
necessary. but as the District
heads so wish it, definite report
should be filed by the director OF
traffic Immediately upon his re-
turn to the city. His proposed
changes long have been thought
wise by the majority OF those in
terested in the city's traffic condi-
tions. JurieS often will not con-
vict when the Jail sentence is
mandatory. even if the evidence
should be strong against the de-
fendant. And, on the other hand,
the judges often are loath to send
a defendant to jail when in their
opinion a fine would meet all re-
uuirements. A Judge is selected
for his knowledge of law and hu-
It should be left to mis-
carefully trained mind along these
matters, rather than to an arbi--
trary ruling of Congress, unaWal =.
of the case at hand. ~ =
Directional markers are atstast
making their appearances on the.
streets of the city, thanks largely
to the American Automobile ASSo-
citation, which sprgarizattcrls it
must be remembered, bid 81 Gent
a sign to the District government
in an effort to get the workSf1nal7
" accomplished. The signs are
of neat appearance and will be
welcomed by the thousands of Wis
iting motorists. The three AS
delved into philanthropy again
recently when last week it offered
to furnish free zof cost a uni
form for the policeman at Mount
Rainier becauSe<the local town.
ship was out of funds, and the
touring association deemed that
the best interests of all would be
served by having the officer at
tired so that all might know that
he was minion Of the law In
stead of a hold-up man.
Speed Laws Missing.
Returning from a long extended
trip by motor through the various
cities and hamletS from Wash
ington to Maine, the writer
noticed, more than anything else
in the way of traffic conditions,
the absence of speed laws, with
the exception of the congested
areas themselves Police were on
hand to prevent reckless driving
but were never in evidence chaS-
ing a driver. simply because his
speedometer wouldn't behave. As
a result, even on Sundays and
other holidays, despite the vast
numbers on the road, traffic
moved along quickly and witf
few mishaps. Pokey drivers were
seldom to be found, and wher
they were they were compelled e
drive along far to the right of The
roo dwav. :, :. - ~.
All of which goes to indicate
that speed itself is not the cause
OF as many accidents as some
neople would have others believe
Not that.a car should be allowet
to make Daytona Beaches of th'
rirhwavs. but a. car CAREFUL,
driven by an experienced driver
a+ oil tir'es ruder control. is no
O. menace. = It is the driver wh'
fails IN give signals of his inten