Evening star., 1934-11-13
CITY OFFICIALS HIT
LIMIT BANS
ASKED BY GARNETT.
Hazen, Van Duzer, Brown
Oppose Abolition Talk
by Attorney.
HIS 3 TRAFFIC ARRESTS
CRITICIZED BY BARRISTER
What if I Was?" Asked Garnett
When Told He Travelled
40 Miles an Hour.

A united protest against the pro-
posal of District Attorney Leslie c.
Garnett for abolition of the automo-
bile speed laws went up today from
three high District officials.
Commissioner Hazen, who has su-
pervision of the Police and Traffic De-
partments, expressed himself freely
this morning, and Trafflc Director
William A. Van Duzer and Police
Chief Ernest w. Brown were polite but
listeners last night when
Garnett delivered his address before
the Board of Trades Public Order
Committee.
Hazen, Engineer Commissioner Sui
tan and Commissioner Allen also ex-
pressed strong disapproval Of the
statement by Garnett that when he
was stopped by policeman recently
and informed he was speeding, he re-
piled, what if 1 was?"
Garnett told the trade body mem
bers that he has been picked up for
speeding three times since he was
appointed District attorney about a
have no speed limits and that reck-
less driving regulations be stringently
enforced. So many laws breed dis
respect for all law, he declared.
Hazen Urges Observance.
What we need in Washington"
Hazen said, "is better observance of
all our traffic regulations. What good
would be accomplished by increasing
the speed limits?
Suppose we increase the speed
limits; then what happens? Some of
the drivers simply will proceed to ex-
ceed the new limits and cause more
trouble than we now have.
so long as so many drivers fail
to give right of way, to recognize the
rights of pedestrians: to drive with
due caution and care, the present linn
its are high enough. 1 am not in
favor Of raising the speed limits. Too
many persons are being manned or
killed in trafhc here under present
speed limits"
Garnett's version Of his retort to
the traffic officer caused considerable
wonder on the part of District Of
ficials,
Allen Recalls Rebuke.
Commissioner Allen recalled that
recently, at foot ball game, a police
man had ordered him and others in
his party to move along" when the
officer decided traffic jam should be
broken.
The officer didn't know I was a
Commissioner, but he certainly was
correct, and moved" said Allen.
In the same vein, Engineer Com
missioner Dan I. Sultan revealed that
he had witnessed fire here recently
and f1remen found he was in the line
of action. why, that fireman not
only told me to get out Of the way,
but he would have booted me out of
the way if hadn't moved" said Col.
Sultan. And, he added, IF I hadn't
moved, I should have been booted out
Of the way. The public must obey
our police and flremen."
Hazen said he had given his chauf-
feur strict instructions that he was
not to break any traffic regulations no
matter what the circumstances.
Strong Opposition Expressed.
Both Van Duzer and Maj. Brown
expressed definite opposition to Gar
nett's plan.
Said Van DuZer: "The only COM
ment have is that everywhere they
have tried it out fatalities Immediately
increased. Kansas City tried it for
two weeks and there were so many ac-
cidents that they went back to speed
limits.
LOS Angeles, which has no speed
limit, has the highest fatality rate in
the country. 1t is 3l.4 per 100000 Of
population.
Maybe our speed limit is too low,
but until there is reduction in the
number of accidents, I wouldn't want
to sponsor an increase. Besides, 1t
has been shown that traffic moves
fastest at % or % miles an hour"
He said latest figures place the Dis
trict's traffic fatality rate at 1858 per
100000. Norfolk, which Garnett cited
as a city without a speed limit, has a
traffic death rate of 20.5.
But nobody lives there" Van Duzer
facetiously remarked.
Considered for Years.
"This matter has been under con-
sideration for years." Brown declared,
but I never have been sold on It,
In a metropolitan area such as Wash
ington, I don't think it would be a
safe move to leave it to peoples
Judgment how fast they should 60.
That might be all right in open
country, but not here.
IF we raised the limit to 80 miles
an hour, you know people would go
IS. Our men are reasonable and
don't check the fellow who Is going
l mile over the limit.
"I can't concede that it would be
safe to lift all speed limits, until I
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