Evening star., 1938-12-21
Traffic Advisory
Executive Urged by
Southeast Council
Issue Provokes Division
0fVotes; Modified Law
For Pedestrians Backed

appointment of q paid executive
secretary to the Traf1c Advisory
Council and enforcement of . mod
Grated pedestrian control plan were
advocated last night by the South
east Council of Citizens Associa-
tions in a four -hour session in
No. III police precinct. Both ac-
tions defeated committee recon-
mendations in sharply divided
votes.
Harry S. Wender, chairman of the
Safety Committee of the Federation
OF Citizens Associations, who out
lined the stand of the parent or
ganization, urged the council to fol-
low suit in asking that RESPONSE
hility in traffic matters, which has
Neen proposed for the traffic direc-
tor1 office, be placed in the hands
of the Advisory Council and that
a capable individual be retained un-
der any title" Mr.. Wender said he
believed that such person should
and could be found in the District
of Columbia"
Handling of traffic conditions in
Washington is work that must be
carefully planned and planned
ahead" declared Mr.. Wender. The
trafic director and the Police De-
partment have separate duties of
their own, without the. addition of
such a heavy burden as trafic
control to the list"
Favors Protection.
Mr.. Wender emphasized that
pedestrian protection" is the key
note rather than pedestrian com
troll" The speaker declared him.
self in favor Of pedestrian regu-
lation.
The recommendation opposing an
; additional paid traffic executive and
preferring additional funds and
personnel to the traffic directors
office to handle the traffic problem
was offered by c. c. Gilligan, chair
man of the Traffic Committee for
the council. 1t was abandoned
after being seconded. Adelbert
w. Lee, delegate from Randle High
lands, presented substitute meas
ure in direct conflict with the COM
mittee recommendation, calling for
the appointment Of the Advisory
Council executive secretary with
provision for a sufficient staff and a
$1,000 appropriation for publicity
purposes for the office, to be used in
trafnc- correction measures. Before
the final motion was completed q
motion for deferring the matter was
defeated and amendments by Bern
ard Goldman and Vernis Absher
were accepted.
1t was specified that funds for
operation and salary of the ONCE
be drawn from the gasoline tax.
Control Plan Modified.
Turning down the recommends
ton of Mr.. Gilligan's committee,
which asked for a fine for first
offense violators of pedestrian-con-
troll regulations and installation of
more detailed intersection super.
vision, the council voted instead in
favor of a general pedestrian con-
troll in so-called congested areas
only. The latter specification Of the
substitute motion drew criticism
from Mr.. Gilligan's committee,
which cited the fact that most Of
the serious traffic accidents occur
in the outlying districts.
Col. L. c. Crawford, chairman Of
the Safety Committee of the Board
of Trade, also spoke on the trafnc
question.
A set of constitution and bylaw
revisions submitted by w. j. Smith,
head of a special committee, was
accepted by the council. Chief
among the changes was the desig-
nation of the first two executive
posts from chairman and vice chair
man to president and vice presi-
dent.
William A. Maio presided over
che full representation Of the II
member bodies Of the Southeast
Council.