Evening star., 1939-04-14
States and Cities
Honored al Banquet
For Traffic Safety
New Jersey Awarded
First Place in
Reducing Toll

A collection of proud State and
city officials gathered in Washing
ton last night to accept trophies and
words of praise for their efforts in
making the Nations streets and
highways safer for humanity.
The occasion was the seventh an
nual National Safety Contest BAN
quet held at the Mayfiower Hotel
under the auspices of the National
Safety Council, which each year
singles out States and cities con-
tributing the most to safety.
Highest honOrS went to New Jer-
sey-Which stood out among the
States because of the remarkable
reduction in traffic deaths in the
face of great difficulties and
Providence. R. (which had but
Is traffic fatalities in 1888.
Both won grand awards, New Jer-
sey's being accepted by Motor We
hicle Commissioner Arthur MCGEE
and Providence's by Police Com
missioner Howard S. Amlie.
Plaques Presented.
Others on hand to receive engraved
plaques presented by D. d. Fen
nell, president of the Safety Council,
were:
Lacy Merrill, director of highways,
who was presented with the award
won by Washington State in the
Western Division.
j. M. Gentry, public safety COM
missioner, who accepted similar
honors for Oklahoma in the South
ern Division.
Thomas Martin, representing Gov
Wilson, who received IoWa's award
IN the MidWestern Division.
Mr.. MCGEE, who took another New
Jersey trophy-this for first place
In the Eastern Division.
In the judging of cities of 100000
or more population. Cleveland and
Milwaukee were tied for first place.
Cleveland's award was received by
Mayor Harold H. Burton and Mil
Waukee's by Acting Mayor Harry
Devlne.
Other Mayors Attend.
Ranging down in population, other
class winners were: Trenton, N. j.,
100000 to 250,000; Saginaw, Mich,
$4,000 to 100000; Waukegan, Ill,
25,O00 to $4,000, and Mason City,
Iowa, 10000 to 25,000. Mayors of
these cities appeared in person to
receive awards.
Washington was conspicuously
absent from the list of cities hon
ored, but many District officials-in-
Guiding Commissioner Melvin c.
Hazen, Police Supt. E. w. Brown and
Iraf1lc Director William A. Van
Ouzer-attended the banquet.
DR.. George Gallup. director of the
American Institute of Public
Opinion, who was principal speaker
said survey had revealed the will
ingness of both the driving and
walking public to follow various
regulations aimed at cutting down
street and highway hazards.
Suggests Tightening of Measures.
Some of the things the public
would be willing to try, he said, are:
Careful physical and mental exami-
nations of all would-be drivers, pc
riodic examinations of driving fit
ness: State-regulated inspection
service, already in operation in
many States; stricter penalties for
traffic violations and more uniform
traffic laws.
Speaking from Hollywood, Eddie
Cantor also participated In the pro-
gram, his speech being broadcast
and picked up in the banquet hall.
Introduced by Erwin Peters, Provi-
dence schoolboy patrolman, Cantor
wound up plea for public co-opera-
ton to save both adult and young
lives by saying: Remember these
kids are our kids-yours and mine.
They're the most precious things
we've got. Let's keep them. Let's
do our part"