Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-08
STALKER TO RUSH
HEARINGS ON BILL
FOR TRAFFIC RULE
Consideration by Whole Com
mite of House Next Wed
nesday Promised.
D. C. OFFICIALS EXPLAIN
NEED OF AUTHORITY
Subcommission Told Requirements
Under Changing Con-
ditions.

Complying with the wishes of the
corporation counsel and the District
Commissioners to rush through new
traffic act, Chairman Stalker of the
Subcommittee on Streets and Traffic
promised at the close of hearing to-
day to complete hearings on the bill
next Tuesday in order that this legis-
lation NAV be considered by the fun
District Committee next wednesday.
Testimony by the District ottielals
TODAY was that they desire authority
through this new legislation to promul-
gate traffic regulations and to control
traffic through a unified agency under
their authority, where the authority Is
now divided among three agencies, the
Commissioners, the director OF trafnc
and the Public Utilities Commission. IL
was made plain that the Commissioners
are seeking authority to change the
method of traffic control with changing
trafic conditions.
Would Abolish Director.
II was emphasized in response to
questions asked by Representative Glib
son of Vermont, who put through the
present traffic act four years ago, that
the effort now is to abolish the traffic
director and Traffic Bureau as such.
The District officials in reply to cues
lions said that they intend to set up
an administrative organization which
will include a department of motor
vehicles and traffic which would be
divided into two sections, one to handle
state functions, and the other munich
nal functions, with engineering prob
lens given specialized study and with
the enforcement of the regulations as
promulgated by the Commissioners en-
forced through the Police Department
The hearing started today with only
two members of the subcommittee
sentative Palmisano Of Maryland. Capt.
II. C. Whitehurst, chief engineer for the
District, explained the extensive detail
study of the traffic problem that has
been made during the past six months,
growing out of the appointment of a
Trafic Advisory Committee, headed by
him, and a Traffic Advisory Council,
which broke up into nine subcommittee
to study various phases of the traffic
problem Their findings were reviewed
by the National Highway and Safety
Congress and are embodied in COM
prehensiye plan drafted by DR.. Miller
McClintOck, the traf1c expert of Harvard
University, who is expected to testify
Ct the hearing next Tuesday.
Problem Of Engineering.
Capt. whitehnrst explained that the
traf6c problem is more engineering
than administrative and that the bill
which the District officials are now en-
deavoring to rush through Congress
gives the Commissioners working sys-
TEN and authority so that they will not
have to come to Congress from time to
time for enactment Of traffic laws.
Representative Gibson, who is not
member of the subcommittee, as well as
several members of the subcommittee,
questioned the witness closely regarding
the parking problem, which Capt.
Whitehurst said made specialized and
intensive study. He explained that the
Commissioners hope under this legis-
lation to set up a graduated scale OF
penalties for parking violations which
will be increased at the second, third
or repeated offenses.
Capt Whitehurst impressed upon the
committee that the situation in the
District Of Columbia Is different from
elsewhere, because Of its character as
o State as well as municipal entity.
The McClintock plan proposes In
lieu of the director of trafac TO set up
A department of motor vehicles and
traffic It was explained that DR.. Nc
Clintock had previously made an ex-
eenSive study of downtown parking for
Elne National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission and that parking in
contested areas cannot be prohibited
until such time. as sufficient of street
storage facilities have been provided.
Education Of Drivers.
Capt. Whitehurst expressed a strong
conviction of traffic authorities that en-
forcement Of traf1c regulations. cannot
be effective except through education
Of the drivers which he described as
more important than imposition OF PEN
nlties.
Gen Crosby, District Commissioner,
baid that the present conditions where
three agencies have authority without
definite central control Is very unsatis-
factory and results in buck-passing.
W. A. Roberts, an assistant corpora
tlon counsel in traffic matters, explain
ed the proposed bill in detail, pointing
out that It Is not in itself the complete
traffic act, but in order 70 expedite its
passage seeks merely to amend the ex-
aSting act.
It provides a new force comprised Of
the District Commissioners and the
Public Utilities Commission, with the
Engineer Commissioner, who is mem
Der Of both commissions, as chairman,
rs a Joint body TO determine the best
of1cial Judgment, and with authority to
the District Commissioners to issue reg
Hlations to carry out these determine
tons.
Authority TO Commissioners.
REPRESENTATIVE Gibson insistently
questioned whether the bill as presented
carries out the recommendations OF DR..
McClintock and of the Advisory Com
fnittee. Corporation Counsel Bride re-
piled that 1t gives the Commissioners
authority to set up regulations to carry
eut these recommendations.
Representative Gibson also drew
From Gen. Crosby positive statement
that II is not intended to use the police
force for administrative duties.
Mr.. Gibson also questioned whether
there was complete cooperation with
the District officials from the District
attorneys ONCE in prosecution Of those
responsible for traffic fatalities, and in
khis connection it was brought out that
there were rs fatalities last year and
only 2 convictions. Mr.. Gibson referred
gpecihcally to several such cases.
Representative Gibson also questioned
kegarding the amendments that are To
Be offered to the bill now under con-
Alteration IN the subcommittee and was
told by Gen. Crosby that there are sew
eral minor amendments and that 1t Is
also proposed to set up q procedure toI
handing appeal cases.
Commissioned in Reserves.