Evening star., 1939-02-08
More Stringent
.Hit-Run Penalty
Is Proposed
District Group Backs
Flexible Street Light
Control Proposal

Aroused Dy tne recent series OF
hit-and-run cases, the House Dis
trict Committee today proposed in.
creased penalties for hit-and-run
drivers and approved legislation
which would give the Commissioners
authority to fix the time for turn
ing street lights on and off.
Never before had the committee
approved proposed bill before its
introduction. The street lighting
control plan, however, was regarded
Of such Importance for traffic safety
the committee believed it should
be rushed through Congress.
Chairman Randolph plans to in
troduce the proposed bill this after
noon so it can be placed on the
House calendar in time for consid-
GRAFTON Monday, the first District
day of the present session of Con-
gress.
Need for legislation vesting in the
Commissioners the power to deter
mine when street lights shall be
turned on and off was stressed by
Police Supt. Ernest w. Brown.
He pointed out that on the morn
ing the 14-year-old son of Repre-
sentative Caldwell, Democrat, Of
Florida, was killed by a hit-and.
run driver, it was raining and "par.
ticularly dark and despite that
fact the street lights, under con-
gressional mandate, were turned off
As minutes before sunrise.
Report on Penalties Asked.
The proposal for increased pen
alties for hit-and-run drivers was
made by Representative Nichols,
Democrat, of Oklahoma. He called
on Corporation Counsel ElWood H.
Seal to review driving -while-drunk
laws in the States and prepare
for the committe a report con-
tanning recommendations for in
creased penalties.
Maj. Brown admitted that a more
stringent penalty might curtan hit
and-run cases.
You can't make the penalty too
severe he declared. "A hit-and-
run driver is potential murderer"
Representative Seccombe, Repub-
hcan, of Ohio suggested that the
committee post a standing $1,000
reward for information leading to
the Identification and apprehension
OF hit-and-run drivers.
Let's do that and let the chips
fall where they may" he said.
Unless more common sense is shown
in this traffic situation here it
will be useless to attempt to edu-
cate the pedestrian while you have
wild and drunken drivers at the
wheel Of a car
Representative Dirksen, Repub.
ican, of Illinois told Representative
Seccombe that the District Com
mittee had no authority to post a
reward.
Tag Incident Discussed.
A general discussion of the Dis
trlct traffic situation preceded the
committees action. Maj. Brown ex-
planned he had sought an increase
OF so men for the police force in
the coming fiscal year, but the Bud
get Bureau had turned down the
request.
Representative Schultz, Democrat,
OF Indiana, said at least 100 addi-
tional officers were needed on the
traffic force.
The solution of this traffic
problem" declared Representative
Schultz, "is not a matter of legis-
lation, but one of appropriation"
There was a general discussion
over alleged violation in the use
OF a special congressional tag issued
to members of the House and Sen
ate. Representative Shafer, Repub-
hcan, OF Michigan, suggested that
traffic officials make check on the
tags now in use to save, he said,
members of Congress embarrass-
ment in the future, when cars bear
ing congressional tags are involved
In traffic cases.
A car allegedly bearing Arkansas
and congressional tags was involved
in property damage, hit-run case
on Connecticut avenue yesterday.
Police today had made no arrests
in the case.
Representative Seccombe said he
knew of two cases where members
OF Congress gave congressional tags
issued for the Seventy fifth Con-
gress to their secretaries when the
tags for the Seventy-sixth Congress
were issued.
AS the result of the traffic discus
sion, the committee requested Maj.
Brown and Traffic Director Van
Duzer for a complete report on the
traffic situation as they see it to-
gether with recommendations for
Improvements.
Earlier Traffic Story on Page A-3j