Evening star., 1938-02-12
TRAFFIC CLINIC 1
"CURES' WEIGHED
.BYSUBCOMM|TTEE
Citizens Give Opinions on
Various Plans to Solve
Problem.
SCHULTZ SAYS SAFETY
CAMPAIGN HAS TEETH
Tells Board of Trade Spokesman
Group Will Insist on Down
town Parking Ban.

A mass OF suggestions, theories,
opinions and recommendations de-
signed to lead to improvement of
Washington's traffic conditions was
studied today by the Traffic Subcom-
mittee of the House District Comm9
tee as it contemplated the next step
in its campaign to make the Capital
traffic safety conscious.
Product of traffic clinic" con-
Quoted last night by Representative
Schultz, Democrat, of Indiana, chair
man Of the subcommittee, the pro-
posals will be scrutinized closely for
constructive criticism that will lead
to great reduction in the traffic acci-
dent and death toll of Washington.
From civic associations, business or
CARNATIONS, automobile clubs. taxicab
associations and taxicab drivers them
selves and from homes came more.
than threescore men and women -
offer their ideas for a cure for traffic
ills. At the insistence Of Mr.. Schultz.
who presided. they talked straight
from the shoulder"
Action Is Promised.
However. Mr.. Schultz himself set the
pace for the traffic clinic before the
three-hour conference was five min
utes old.
I'VE mean business in this CAM
paign," he declared emphatGally.
We've had these campaigns before.
This time there's going to be action.
The Police Department has been in.s
structed to arrest every driver, no mat
ter how small the violation-and with
out fear or favor. The law is going to
be enforced to the letter.
In 1888 there were 1880 traffic
arrests IN Washington. In 1887 there
were 9i119. Last year 1O9 persons
were killed in accidents here, and
there were 12,784 accidents Just
think of those figures awhile. and
you'll see why we mean business"
Later in the meeting Inspector Will
liam Holmes Chief of the Traffic Divi- .
sion of the Police Department, said 2
that attempts to educate the motorist
and pedestrian apparently have failed
and that the strictest enforcement
of all traffic rules and regulations
would be invoked to crack down"
on the negligent and careless drivers
and pedestrians.
Answers Questions.
Practically every traffic suggestion
that has been voiced within the last
year was discussed by the citizens. As
each person arrived he was handeS
an outline of 10 questions which WERE
to be considered and on which he was
asked to express his opinion by Check
ing yes or no.
Included among these were the ques-
tions of pedestrian regulation, increas-
ing the speed limit from % miles per
hour to 25 and from 80 to 35; running
traffic lights all night; restriction of
all-night parking on all streets; re-
striction- of all-night parking on naiN
streets; prohibition of downtown park
ing; limiting the number of taxicabs
by law, limiting the number by in
surance and the question of taximeters
in cabs.
The taXicab driver, who came in for
considerable criticism. was defended by
Harry Davis. head of the Diamond Cab
Co., who said that since 1926 his firm
has received more than 5000 letters
commencing Diamond drivers for acts
of courtesy and safety.
Sees Subways Inevitable. 4
He suggested that speed probably
was the greatest cause of accidents,
urged prohibition of downtown parking
and predicted that subways and eX-
press highways are inevitable in WASH
ington.
E. I. Dollar, president of the Indus
trial Brotherhood of Taxi Drivers, sub
mitted four-point program of traffic
control embodying a recommendation
that control of pedestrian traffic be
enforced at all intersections along F.
and G streets NV. between Thirteenth
and Seventh streets, and a proposal
that traffic lights be operated on 2 !,
24-hour schedule within the first, oN
20-cent. taxi zone.
Schultz Insists on Ban.
When John F. Victory of the Board
of Trade emphasized that the boards
Traffic Committee is strongly opposed
to elimination Of parking in the busi-
ness area, Mr.. Schultz announced
fatty:
We're going to insist on a ban on
all parking in the downtown section
during business hours"
Mr.. Schultz said he would also seek
regulations calling for a speed limits
of IS miles an hour at intersections
and prohibition Of parking within so
feet of an intersection. The present
regulation is IS feet.
Harry S. Wender. president Of the
Federation Of Citizens Associations,
outlined the views OF that body on the
questions under consideration.