Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-04
EMO SAYS CAPITAL
IS FORTUNATE IN
PARKING SURFACE
Problem Easier Than in
Other Parts of U.S., Senate
Subgroup Told.
GARAGES IN ALLEYS
SUGGESTED BY EXPERT
Study of His Latest Book Will Be
Made-Adjournment Taken
Until Next Friday.

The automobile parking problem is
question to be worked out by each
city according to its special needs. and
is more difficult problem in other
parts of the United States than in
Washington, which has more available
street surface than any other COM
munity, William Phelps Emo, recognized
authority on traffic regulations, told
subcommittee of the Senate District
committee today.
Mr.. Emo, who has written numerous
books on scientific traffic regulations,
and who has lived in Washington for
rs years, was called by the Subcom-
mittee primarily to give his views on
how parking should be handled. but
at the same time he referred briefly
to recommendations for the improve
ment of traffic generally
Senator Kean, Republican Of New
Jersey, sponsor of the movement for
the gradual elimination of longtime
the abolishing of all-night parking
throughout the city, asked Mr.. Emo If
he agreed with the viewpoint that any
parking that is permitted Is only a
convenience allowed by the Govern
ment and not right. The New Jersey
Senator added that he wanted to grad
ually do away with parking.
Suggestions Given Kean.
Mr. Emo expressed the belief that
there were some places in Washington
where parking can be permitted under
proper regulations without unduly
blocking the highway or hampering
moving traffic.
Pointing out that he is looking ahead
to the day when there will be twice as
many automobiles in use. Senator Kean
asked Mr.. Emo how he would approach
the question.
Mr.. Emo said he would first mark of
all available places where parking could
be permitted without interfering I'M
necessarily with moving traffic. After
that, he said, the committee would find
that more space was demanded. He
said he thought that in the alleys of the
city would be found desirable areas for
the erection of parking garages to take
care of the demand.
Mr.. Emo said that all-night parking
is hard to eliminate entirely. He
pointed out that emphasis should be
laid on the poor economy of allowing
a car to stand on the streets all night,
causing 1t to wear out rapidly.
The traffic expert said he was great
believer in a large police force, and
advocated regular annual increases in
personnel at the population of the city
grows.
Answering a question by Senator
Hastings, Republican of Delaware, Mr.
Emo said he agreed with those who be-
lieve the parking problem has become
serious enough to warrant storage ga
RACES under the new Federal building
being erected in Washington. He also
,v,iAl Naf1 ~
Kean that If rules against parking were
enforced, it would lead to the building
of more storage garages.
Subcommittee Adjourns.
After hearing Mr.. Emo. the subcom-
mittee adjourned until Friday of next
week, when others will be heard. In
the meantime the subcommittee men,
berS will make a study of Mr.. Eno'S
latest book on traffic control, which
he left with them. In statement
which was read to the subcommittee,
Mr.. Emo summarized his recommended
ton covering the entire subject Of
traffic control This statement included
the following suggestions:
THAT traffic policemen, now paid by
the street car companies, be taken into
the regular Police Department; that
there should be a civil engineer to lay
out traffic plans, with the actual regu-
lation of traffic on the streets left to
the Police Department; that the pres
ent traffic code in Washington should
be dropped and replaced by the Council
Of National Defense Code of General
Highway Traffic Police Regulations. Mr..
Emo said this code was confined to a
six-page folder, four pages of which are
devoted to general regulations for We
hicles, one page to definitions and one
page to safety rules for pedestrians. He
said they are simple, brief and reason
able and "are in great contrast to the
long, complicated and unintelligible set
used in Washington"
Discusses Left hand Turns.
Mr.. Emo also objected to regulations
which eliminate left-hand turns. He
said the practice of preventing left-hand
turn, should be discontinued almost
everywhere. His prepared statement
summarized the parking problem as
follows:
"This matter is one of paramount in
terest at the present time in every city,
and in most of them very much more
difficult problem than in Washington,
which has more available road service,
which can be devoted to this purpose
than any other city probably in the
world.
The problem of stationing- dead We
hicles, whether they be placed in a
rank or parked position, is in each city
a special one to be worked out by an
experienced traffic engineer, who is
open-minded and willing to change
plans from time to time as he sees how
he can improve conditions. 1t is a
difficult job because of the complicated
vested real estate interest in property
affected and the selfishness of human
nature, but it is problem which must
be solved for the best interest of the
people collectively. The time has ar
rived for all cities and towns to pro-
hibit the stationing of dead vehicles on
congested roadways during crowded
hours. and on other roadways to re-
strict In reason the time they ere al.