Evening star., 1941-10-04
TrafficCounciI
Split by Dispute;
Wa|kout Likely
Part of Membership
Angered at City Heads
For Non-Co-operotion

The Commissioners Traffic Ad-
visory Council, concerned about
Washington's critical traffic situ-
ation," was cleft today by dis
pute. A portion of its members con-
tended that the Commissioners have
ignored the advise of safety experts
on the council. They threatened a
mass walkout If the Commissioners
do not attend a council session
Thursday and express a cooperative
spirit.
But the council chairman, Whitney
Leary. auto dealer, said he had not
heard of this movement until in
formed by a reporter this morning.
st don't feel that way at all" he
said, expressing satisfaction at pres
ent relations between the Commits
sioners and their advisory council.
A committee spokesman said the
October 9 session will witness an at
tempt to get more "virile' leader
ship for the council.
Members who have been dissatls-
fed with the Commissioners lack OF
attention to their group have felt
that Chairman Leary has MADE no
battle for active participation IN
safety planning, this spokesman de-
clared.
Wender to Force Issue.
The issue will be forced by the
Councils Legislation and Enforce
ment Committee, headed by Harry
S. Wender, vice president OF the
Federation of Citizens Associations.
After two hours of reportedly acrl-
monious discussion, the committee
unanimously brushed aside a pend
ing agenda and adopted one resolu-
tion-with the agreement it shall be
the major subject of debate at the
next meeting. The resolution fol-
lows, in part:
How can the District Commits
sioners best use their Traffic Ad-
visory Council and how can the
council be of maximum assistance
to the Commissioners in improving
the critical traffic situation now ex-
isting in the District"
A spokesman for the committee
asserted that if the Commissioners
do not appear at the session to indi-
cate interest in this question, all
committee members will be ready
to resign and most Of the council
will walk out as body.
Councils Achievements.
", a
decade of history behind it and
claims credit for instituting COM
pulsory auto inspection, compulsory
taxi insurance, the negligent homi-
eide law and pedestrian control
regulations.
Committee members who adopted
the explosive resolution were Wash
ington I. Cleveland, local manager
of the American Automobile Asso-
citation; William T. Cameron, chief
safety adviser to the Secretary of
Labor; H. M. Startling, safety and
insurance executive, and Col. L. C.
Crawford, former chairman of the
Board of Trade Traffic Committee.
Council Chairman Leary, express
ing surprise at the resolution, said
his group is frequently consulted on
routine matters and that he sees
no reason why the Commissioners
should ask its advice in their current
special inquiry into the traffic situa-
ton.
Commissioners John Russell
Young and Guy Mason commented
today that there has been no in
tention to ignore the Council. Com
missioner Young said that he was
willing to see its members at any
time, and he could recall no occa-
sion when the Councils recon-
mendations had gone unacknowl-
edged.
Members Resentful.
The committee spokesman in
sisted that no acknowledgement had
been given to a number of specific
proposals produced after research.
He cited report on juvenile delin-
quency and a detailed plan for a
citizens traffic education commit
tee to reduce accidents, both of
which were granted wide newspaper
publicity, he said, but received no
attention from the Commissioners.
Members are resentful, he de-
clared, because the council is not
asked for advice on long-range plan
ning-but is consulted on minor
parking regulations, Ito take the
heat off the officials"
If the threatened walkout occurs,
the spokesman said, the members
resigning from the official body will
not lose their interest in traffic safe