Evening star., 1938-12-28
25Spokesmen
On Pedestrian
Control Listed
Plans for Heurina
Tomorrow Are
Completed

Plans for the public hearing to-
morrow morning in the board room
of the District Building on the pro-
posed adoption of a full-fedged
system of pedestrian control were
completed today by the Commits
sioners as Is spokesmen for various
groups reserved time for arguments.
The hearing will begin at 10 am.
before Commissioners Melvin c.
Hazen and David McCoach, jr., and
will be attended by traffic and police
officials as well as witnesses and
spokesmen. While only Is speakers
were listed this morning, the Com
missioners expected a much larger
number to participate in the de-
bate.
The first half hour of the session
is to be broadcast over The Stars
Station WMAL, with a microphone
set up at the speakers table.
The Commissioners today re-
1terated their belief in the principle
OF pedestrian control as means
OF safeguarding pedestrians, but
they reserved judgment as to the
details of the proposed amendments
to the traffic regulations.
misunderstanding Seen
Commissioner Hazen added, how
ever, that he felt the proposed pro-
gram had been misunderstood by
some because of the use of the
words pedestrian control" whereas
ne held the plan was not directed
at the pedestrian but was suggested
as means of giving him additional
protection.
commissioner Hazen revealed he
still was in doubt as to what effective
action might be taken to assure the
pedestrian his rights when crossing
at intersections on proper signal
and encounters motor vehicles max
ing right or left turns, also in keep
ing with proper signals.
When the pedestrian has the
right OF way he ought to get it
that is very clear" said Mr.. Hazen,
and the motorist also should be
given the right of way when he has
| it,"
He said that probably the only
solution was one of police enforce
ment and education.
When question was raised as to
whether, under existing traffic regu-
lations, police officer had the
power to arrest and prosecute the
pedestrian for refusing to obey
traffic signals or the direction OF a
traffic officer, Mr. Hazen telephoned
Edward w. Thomas, assistant
corporation counsel, and asked his
opinion. Mr.. Thomas replied he
thought the officer could make the
arrest, but that the language was
ambiguous and needed clarification.
Crosswalk Enforcement.
Commissioner Hazen said he did
not yet know how the District could
enforce the second part of the pro-
posed new program, which would
forbid pedestrians to cross any road
way at any other place than cross
walk, in any part of the city.
The amendments, to be discussed
tomorrow, read:
mo pedestrian shall disobey the
signal of any police officer directing
traffic at intersections or crosswalks.
No pedestrian shall enter or cross
a roadway at intersections where
traffic is controlled by traffic control
devices against the signal given, un-
less directed to do so by a police
officer. Police officers shall have full
power to regulate traffic.
mo pedestrian shall cross or at
tempt to cross any roadway between
street intersections at any place ex-
cept within a crosswalk."
The Is witnesses who have re-
served time for appearance tomor-
row. in the order in which their
names were received, follow:
George E. Keneipp of the Keystone
Automobile Club, Miss Mildred Dean,
president of the Progressive Citizens
Association of Georgetown; Harry S.
Wender of the Southwest Citizens
Association, Frank B. Steele, presi-
dent of the Arts Club of Washing
| ton; Mrs. Elizabeth K. Peoples, di-
rector of the Community Center De-
partment of the Public Schools: A.
]. Brylawski, president of the Dis
trict Council of Municipal Admin
istration; Horace M. Fulton, delegate
of the Logan-Thomas Circle Citi-
| AcCnNIoffNvn f@
Grafton of Citizens Associations;
A. G. Taylor, president of the
District Pharmaceutical Association;
Luther R. Maddox, president, Co.
lumbia Heights Citizens Associa-
ton; Washington I. Cleveland of the
American Automobile Association,
Josephine Y. Barber, secretary of
the Burroughs Citizens Association:
Samuel j. Flickinger, president,
Friendship Citizens Association:
Mrs. Pearl B. Clark of the District
OF Columbia Congress of Parents
and Teachers, Mabel NJ Hubbel, Sec
retary, Kenilworth Citizens Asso-
citation; DR.. Frank w. Ballou, super
lntendent OF schools; Whitney Leary,
chairman, Commissioners Traffic
Advisory Council; Theodore Ed
wards, secretary, Congress Heights
Progressive Citizens Association: l..
A. Carruthers, president, Federation
OF Citizens Associations; Joseph I.
Cavanaugh, secretary, Georgetown
Citizens Association; Mrs. w. E.
Richardson, secretary, Society of
Natives; Francis j. Mcdonald, presi-
dent, Dahlgren Terrace Citizens As
| SOciatiOn. E T., Rennett eecro+o W.,