Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-16

The Commissioners have at last taken
action to end the nuisance of the auto
mobile watcher" In the amendment
to the police regulations just announced
1t is declared to be unlawful for
any person to solicit employment
to guard or watch . car on any
public street or highway within the
District. Becoming affective in thirty
days the regulation was drawn up fol-
lowing numerous complaints over .
period Of years that this form of exter-
ton was being largely prsctieed in the
National Capital. Especially at ball
games and other sport gatherings the
watcher" would demand a. fee for
guarding the automobiles Of patrons
and If the fee was not Forthcoming
would in some cases cripple the ma
chine by puncturing or letting air out
Of the tires or Weula defsce the paint.
1t has been . source of wonder to
Washingtonians that this graft has been
allowed to continue for such length
Of time. No real service has ever been
performed to car owner by one of
these persons. In NEST eases, they dis
appear from the scene as soon as the
motorist leaves, emily to show up again
and make . great pretense Of efficiency
when he returns. Hundreds of persons
in the past, within . radius of six or
seven blocks Of the slaaiun1, have made
life miserable for patrons of the game
by jumping on running boards and by
blocking the streets In an endeaVor to
solicit this business. while the Com
missioners' action Is hslated, 1t is GER
tainly better late than never.
Now that the District is rid of one
easily disposed-of nuisance, the time
would appear ripe to end ansthsE. In
Massachusetts, end in several ether
States the person who sides ento the
street with thumb appraised to BEG Q
lift from the passing meterist is guilty
Of q misdemeanor and the flaes for this
offense have been running ss high ss
twenty dollars. While this type Of beg
ging is not nearly as prevalent in tina
District, due to It's GanpaTatively small
area, which is largely built up and not
nearly as dangerous fer this same rsa-
SON. IL would epnsar that the dignity Of
the National CAPITAL weuld benefit by
following the precedent Of the States
OF course in the District, ss in the
States. there have baen instances where
the benevolent naQterist was set upon
by his unlimited passenger and as
saulted and rpbhed. And even II the
begging passenger is not Of the criminal
type, seldom, II ever, are thanks offered
to the Cblisips car owner. There is
likewisA the angle Of the hitch-hiker
himself to consider. What is this
country coming to when the youth of
the Nation is taught or permitted to
think that begging in any form is 9
laudahle attribute? While there is
great gulf between holding up the
thumb and begging for q ride in an
automobile and holding up the thumb
to beg for aims, the similarity is not
pleasant to contemplate in the growing
American generation.
Nothing can be said in favor Of the
practice from either the motorists or
the hitch-hiker's point of view. Trans
portstion in all cities is cheap, and II
the price Of transportation is not to be
had, walking il On excellent exercise.
The Commissioners would be confer
ring . benefit upon Washington in put
ting q stop to this evil.