Evening star., 1936-03-30
|ND|ANAN APPEARS
AT HOUSE TRAFFIC
GROUPS HEARING
Regulation of Pedestrians Is
Called for Before Sub.
committee.
DEATH FROM MACHINES
is INVITED, HE CHARGES
Adjustment of Auto Slips Does
Not Contribute to Accidents,
Representative Asserts.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

A TRADE Of criticism was loosed at
jaywalkers aud critics of traffic ticket
fixing" by Representative Schultz,
Democrat. Of Indiana, after the final
hearing today of the special Traffic
Subcommittee of the House District
Committee.
Urging that steps be taken to regu-
late pedestrians, Schultz suggested
that the Police Department adopt a
slogan for an educational campaign
against jaywalking which would read
something like this: "Jaywalk and
Die Young"
Schultz described some Of his ex-
periences while driving around Wash
ington yesterday and said he witnessed
some cases of pedestrians walking
leiSurely across the street actually de-
flying drivers to strike them.
Saw Pedestrians Invite Death.
"I saw wild driving at times" he
declared. "but saw pedestrians, too,
inviting death. The time has come
when something will have to be done
to regulate the jaywalker. They
should be fined. If you fine mo-
torist for reckless driving. why
wouldn't it be just as fair to fine the
jaywalker who invites disaster2"
Schultz was even more critical of
witnesses who have appeared before
the subcommittee and condemned the
practice Of adjusting traffic tickets.
He argues that tickets are never fixed
for drivers involved in accidents or
for serious violations of the traffic
regulations, and declared:
What the hell; this talk about
ticket fixing is lot Of pedagogy and
demagogy. It's done everywhere in
the United States. Ticket fixing
doesn't contribute to accidents"
Police Supt. Ernest W. Brown has
submitted reports on traffic arrests
and ticket adjustment cases which
showed that of 81 ,913 traffic cases in
the calendar year of 1888, tickets were
Cancelled or disposed of with warning
in 1853; in 1884, of 70,536 cases, tickets
were adjusted in $500, and in 1885, in
77,62O cases, tickets were adjusted in
2,446.
Link to Accidents Denied.
Maj. Brown insisted the adjustment
of tickets does not constitute an "evil"
or contribute in any way to the acci-
dent or fatality rate.
Schultz also renewed his criticism
against left turns in the congested
section and declared a prohibition
against such turns would expedite the
movement of traffic.
In connection with pedestrian con-
troll, Traffic Director William A. Van
Duzer pointed out he proposed regu-
lation last September to regulate the
jayWalker, but it is still languishing in
the Office of the corporation counsel,
where it was referred by the Commits
sioners.
Van Duzer said two walk lights for
protection of pedestrians would be
erected in the next few weeks at
the intersections of Twelfth and
Thirteenth at F street. All traffic will
be held up at intervals by these lights
to give the pedestrian absolute freedom
of the intersection. Moving at the
rate of 5 feet a second, Van Duzer
explained, a pedestrian will be able to
cross without any interference from
traffic.
Parents Are Blamed.
Aside from condemning the reckless
pedestrian, Schultz condemned par
ents who permit children to play in
the street. Parents contribute to the
death of children when they allow
them to skate, ride bicycles and scoot-
ers in the middle of the street." he
said. Automobiles can't 60 any place
else. 1t is certain that accidents to
children playing in the street are not
the fault of the police or traffic de-
partments."
Representative Carpenter, Democrat,
of Kansas. chairman Of the subcom-
mittee, voiced his criticism at unnec-
essary blowing of automobile horns.
There Is too much honking," he
declared. These smart alec honkers
here ought to be quieted."
Maj. Brown explained the Commits
Sioners had appointed special COM
mittee to map out an anti-nose cam
paign, which would include a prohi-
bition against unnecessary horn blow
ing Some automobile drivers. he de-
clared, even honk at a red light.