Evening star., 1938-10-02
C|V|CFEDERAT|ON
OPPOSES MOVES
FOR SAFETY BODY
Legislation for Permanent
Traffic Commission Topic
of Long Battle.
7,OOO-A-YEAR POSITION
ISACENTER OF ATTACK
What We Need Is More Common
Sense and Fewer Experts
One Delegate Says.

Une delegate says.
The recently inaugurated movemen
for legislation to establish perma'
nent traffic safety commission in tht
District struck snag last night wher
the Federation of Citizens Associa.
tions. at its initial fall meeting, re.
fused to give its approval to the pro.
posed body.
After long battle, during which
considerable opposition developed to {
provision of the proposal creating s
7000-per-year position as executive
officer Of the suggested commission
the federation called for vote on &
motion by Chairman Harry S. Wendel
of the Safety Committee to approve
the proposal.
The balloting resulted in tie, 4:
votes being cast, and the resolution
was defeated. In taking this action
the federation acted on a bill drawr
up by the National Safety Commission
which, during the last week, received
the approval of the federation's Safety
Committee and the Traffic Committee
Of the Board of Trade.
The bill calls for an appropriation
of $4,000 from the motor vehicle
highway fund to carry on the COM
missions work, $1,000 of this to be
used as salary for an executive officer
Discussing this feature of the measure
A. D. Calvert declared that some OF
the best officials in the municipal gov
ernment don't receive more than
$4,000"
Besides" he added, "they would
probably go outside the District to get
man for the job"
Need More Common Sense"
Several other delegates expressed
their opposition to expenditures OF
funds to create lust another traffic
committee" and Delegate w. j. Tucker
added:
What We need is more common
sense and fewer experts"
In recommending support Of the
commission and reporting the action
Of the Safety Committee, Chairman
Wender said:
The committee believes the present
councils. committees, commissions and
other official or civic bodies dealing
with traffic safety are inadequate and
incapable Of properly serving the Dis
trict as clearing house for public
opinion and authoritative adviser to
the Commissioners and Congress on
the many complex questions dealing
with traffic safety.
The cost Of maintaining such an
organization, which would be thor
oughly representative of the civic. COM
mercial and official organizations in
Washington, Is deemed to be a small
price to pay for a commission whose
purpose 1t will be to coordinate and
improve the tangled traffic situation
which exists in this city. Commissions
Of this kind have served to excellent
advantage in other communities for
several years. The splendid results OBJ
tanned during the last year by the
Washington Criminal Justice Associa-
tion, with a similar setup. although
operated through public subscription,
is indicative Of the manner in which
the proposed Traffic Safety Commits
sion Is expected to operate
Budget Action Taken.
L. A. Carruthers, president of the
federation, spoke in favor OF the pro-
posal, declaring he felt that the ques-
ton Of who would be named execu-
tive officer Of the commission was OF
secondary importance.
The federation's first action of the
new civic season was to approve unani-
mously the action of its Executive
Committee in calling for a 1910 Dis
trict budget approXimating the an
ticipated income from present aggre-
gate tax yield.
On recommendation of A. H. Greg
ory and A. F. Scheer, chairman and
vice chairman, respectively, of the
Membership and Credentials Commit
tee, the federation voted to accept the
Bladensburg Road Citizens Association
as member body.
The organization also voted to re-
quest the District Flag Commission
and the Fine Arts Commission to give
1t the privilege of cooperating in the
selection of design for the District
nag. The motion called for appoint
ment of committee to seek this op-
portunity.
Under the federation's constitution.
election of officers and members of
the Executive Committee will take
place at the November meeting. The
following were nominated for the Ex-
ecutive Committee:
Committee Nominees.
Miss Elaine Epply, DR.. c. B. Camp
bell, Thomas E. Lodge, Mrs. Harvey
w. Wiley, Mr.. Tucker, Mr.. Wender,
Fred Emery, DR.. George Ellis, Harry
N. Stull, William NICK Clayton. Wilbur
s. Finch, Mrs. Elizabeth T. Sullivan,
Jesse G. Suter, Col. Luther r. Maddox,
Mr.. Gregory, Mrs. Horace j. Phelps,
Vernis Abscher, M M. MCLEAN, David
Babp, Orrin j. Davy, H. c. Phillips,
John. Remon. Frank Hoffman and
Fred Walker. The nominees include
all present members OF the committee.
A special committee appointed to
consider proposed amendments to the
federation's constitution and bylaws
submitted its report and, on its rec
ommendat ation, the federation decided
to consider the changes at special
meeting in January. In the meantime
copies Of the proposed changeA are to
be sent to each delegate for study.
The committee. headed by F. j.
Mcdonald, proposed that the annual
meeting be changed from November
to May, so the terms of all delegates
would begin at the same time. 1t also
suggested an amendment to provide
for inclusion Of all elected officers on
the Executive Committee, in addition
to 10 other delegates, and another
would provide for creation of n rom.