The Washington times., 1934-12-19

TO the Editor of The Times:
Washington people are ardent
dog-lovers If one is to judge, at
least, by the number OF persons
who take out their dogs for an
airing before and after working
hours every day.
Why isn't something done
then to warn these people OF
the alarming increase of fox
madness" in the vicinity OF
Washington? Fox madness is a
brain disease which spreads
very rapidly among foxes and
dogs. Similar to spinal menin-
gifts. it gives few symptoms un.
til well advanced and then,
reaching the brain, causes death
within a few hours.
Little was known Of the dis
ease until recently but now that
1t is spreading rapidly here and
farther North I think something
should be done to warn pet own
ers. Could you not carry some
stories about it Or could not the
Board of Health issue pamphlets
describing the disease and warn
ing dog owners how to protect
their pets against it?
Your very interesting pet
series might carry story about
It, too, with advice from reputa-
bic veterinarians.
" DOG OWNER.
POLICE COURT CONDITIONS
To The Editor of The Times:
I have been reading your Let
ters to the Editor column with
considerable interest.
I realize much has been writ
ten on the congestion in the
Police Courts. but. nevertheless,
I would like to add my COM
plant.
without going into too vivid
description of the gloomy, dirty
building, the unsanitary con-
ditions, the badly ventilated
smelly courtrooms and the lack
OF elevators, I would like to add
my suggestion the newspapers
take up the campaign OF a
much.needed new building.
On Mondays, in particular,
the courtrooms and corridors
are so crowded defendants and
witnesses can hardly get inside.
Once in-the battle has just be-
gun. Since lock-ups are taken
first, the unsuspecting witness
or defendant has to spend the
better part of the dav sitting
around. listening to the trials
and tribulations of individuals
who apparently spend their wax
ing hours beating each other up
or getting drunk.
I can think of no better way
to waste ones time.
1 have no complaint to make
about the way the court is run.
clerks, judges, anC attendants
do their best to expedite mat
terS.
Other cities have decent
courthouses. Why can't the Dis
trict of Columbia. capital of the
nation, have one? K. R. A.
RIGHTS FOR PEDESTRIANS
To the Editor of The Times:
AS a visitor to Washington
have been greatly interested in
your traffic problems. Observa-
ton convinces me the situation
is handled not nearly so well
here as in New York. Chicago
and Philadelphia. The death
and accident rate also bears
out the observation.
am not going to attempt
to fix the blame. neither am I
presuming to offer a solution.
I'm no traffic expert. 1 am
merely one of the innocent
bystanders" who jeopardizes his
life every time he tries to
cross a street here and who is
rapidly developing the agility
Of a mountain goat trying to
keep out from under the
bumpers Of taYicabs and other
vehicles.
I do wish to say. however,
that am firmly convinced too
little attention is given the
rights of pedestrians in this
traffic matter. For some rea-
son drivers here seem to have
evolved the idea that be-
cause they sit at the wheel OF
an automobile they have the
right of way to the exclusion
OF all others.
Why should person. who
happens to be afoot, be forced
to flee for his life from some
other person who happens to
be driving a car?
At some intersections it is
almost a physical impossibility
for a pedestrian to cross even
on a green light because Of
the stream of cars rounding
the curb at breakneck speed.
Yet when one of them is run
down and killed the victim al
ways gets the blame. A cam
paign to instill a decent regard
for the rights of others might
help the situation.
VISITOR