Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-17
LENDERS of flowers, peanuts
I and popcorn. who daily en-
danger the steady stream of

/ " Danger the steady stream OF
traffic by displaying their
wares at the inner rim of Dupont
Circle will be compelled to move on
to other parts, according to pres
ent plans of william H. Harland,
director of traffic.
With the installation of the new
traffic light signals, scheduled for
q week from today, Mr.. Harland is
firm in his contention that the
vendors must leave their hereto
fore unmoleSted stands. A letter
requesting their removal will be
written this week by the director
to the major and superintendent
Of police.
Despite many complaints re-
ceived by the police department
regarding these vendors, the de-
partment has been loath to take
any action. The courts have de-
ternined that these vendors are
not huckSters and cannot be con-
victed under the regulations re-
garding hucksters.
After diligent search through
the traffic and motor vehicle reg
ulations, Mr.. Harland has at hand
paragraph m, section IA, of arti-
Gle IL. This paragraph states:
"A vehicle shall not stop in such
a manner as to obStruct traffic or
a cross walk" Furthermore, under
paragraph &C. section l, article l.,
vehicle is defined as follows:
Shall apply to any appliance
moved over highway on wheels
or traction tread. including street
cars, draft animals and beasts of
burden"
AS the pushcarts of the vendors
are wheeled, Mr.. Harland believes
that enforcement of the above
regulation will be all that is need
ed in the case. ut will be neceS-
Sary with the installation of these
new lights at Dupont Circle" Mr.
Harland said, ito break up the
practice of these vendors. While
they may not actually obstruct
traffic in every case themselves,
they cause traffic to be INSTRUCTED.
Congestion of the circle is not the
only problem. Property and per-
sonal injury are liable to result at
any time"
Favorable Comment Continues.
Favorable comment over the
new insurance bill as promulgated
by the American Automobile As
ISOLATION continues. Last week
the traffic committee of the Board
of Trade gave its warm indorse-
ment. Both Mr.. Harland and his
assistant, M. o. Eldridge, are said
to be in support of the measure.
The Washington Aut m tive
Trade Association, which went on
record. last year against the COM
pulsory law as adopted by Mas
SachusettS, is said to be favorably
inclined to the A. A. A. proposal,
although no definite action has
been taken as yet.
It is hard to conceive Of any
Intelligent motorist being against
the enactment of legislation de-
signed to bar the reckless driver
who is financially irresponsible
from the highways. The proposed
measure is hard on the non-law-
abiding citizen. Is there any rea-
son that he should not be penal
lied for the protection of the good
citizen?
BY close vote the traffic COM
mittee voted in favor of making
left-hand turns from the center
of the intersection. Officials of
the traffic department are still
reluctant to yield, but it is under
stood that they are willing to
compromise. Their compromise is
based on allowing the motorist to
make the left-hand turn from the
center of the street. but only
when the green lights are dis
played. Compromises are often
wise.
1t would be interesting to know
Just how many nails were picked
up by tires during the pre- and
post inaugural period. Carpenters
working on the grandstands were
not as careful as they could be,
and many an unoffending tire
was penalized by this lack of care.
Speaking of the Inauguration, the
taxis of the city did themselves
proud. During the three-day pc
Rod more than 10000 runs we're
made, according to Joseph Har-
rington, hack inspector. During