Evening star., 1941-01-30
BY JAMES z. CHINN.

BY JAMES z. CHINN.
Mandatory Jail sentence of from
two to 10 days for speeders was sug-
gested today by John P. Mcmahon,
presiding judge of Police Court, as
a drastic remedy" for curtailing
Washington's mounting traffic and
accident fatality list.
Judge McMahon's suggestion was
the highlight of various proposals
made to the Streets and Traffic
Subcommittee of the House District
Committee as 1t started work on a
program for making the streets safer.
Chairman Schultz declared he be-
lieved one of the principal needs for
highway safety is an increase of az
least so traffic policemen and ad-
vocated a l-cent increase in the
gasoline tax as means of raising
funds to employ the additional Of
flcers.
Speeding Called Worst Evil.
Judge Mcmahon told the subcom-
mittee the chief causes of traffic
troubles are speeding and of the
present right-of-way regulation. He
said that since the speed limit was
raised from % to 25 miles an hour,
the driving public had stepped UP
the speed from S to 10 miles an
hour. knowing that the Police De-
partment is short of traffic police
men.
Asked by Chairman Schultz for a
remedy to stop speeding, Judge Nc
Mahon replied:
I'll give you drastic remedy il
you want to take the responsibilitv
That's what we are here for" re-
piled Mr. Schultz. I'VE will take
the responsibility
Would Deny Probation.
We'll" said Judge Mcmahon,
amend the speed law. If a man
drives faster than a certain speed.
make the penalty a Jail sentence OF
not less than two or more than 10
days and do not give the court the
power to put the offender on proba-
ton or suspend the sentence
Representative Bates, Republican.
OF Massachusetts, challenged Judge
McMahon's proposal.
That's not going to solve the
problem, he declared. The COM
plants we get Is that when man
gets into court for traffic offense.
there is some pulling or hauling and
he gets out of it,
They don't pull or haul me
around" said Judge Mcmahon.
Afterward, Judge Mcmahon as
sured the subcommittee Police Court
judges would back up 100 per cent
any program that developed in the
Interest Of traffic safety.
Brown Urges More Men.
Police Supt. Ernest W. Brown told
the subcommittee his motorcycle
patrol force should be increased from
SO to 100. He cited figures showing
that while the population in the
District jumped SO per cent in the
last 10 years the Police Departments
personnel had increased only 1873 per
cent, whereas in the 1o-year period
between 1920 and 1880 the popula-
tion gain was 113 per cent and the
personnel of the force increased 4o4
per cent.
Engineer Commissioner David Nc.
Coach, jr., explained the 1912 budget
had been equitably distributed
among all municipal departments
and that Is additional men was the
maximum number that could be
allowed the Police Department. He
said the Commissioners are not op-
posed to adding so or 100 more
policemen to the force, if the cost Is
borne by the highway fund.
Sees Highway Fund Burden.
The Engineer Commissioner also
pointed out that the highway fund
is now paying 1924 per cent Of the
total police charges, and that II per
cent of the force is devoting full
time to traffic duties. In view of this
situation. he said, the highway fund
now should bear at least IL per cent
OF the cost of the Police Department.
Col. McCoach, however, declared
that to dip further into the highway
fund at this time for support Of the
Police Department would place a
burden on this fund. and that the
only alternative would be an increase
in the gasoline tax.
A 1-cent increase in the gas tax
would yield more than $1,000 900 il
additional revenue, it was esti-
mated.
Representative Stefan questioned
the necessity of raising the gasoline
tax, pointing out that thousands of
dollars of District revenue Is now
being used to educate free the chill.
dren Of residents of nearby Mary
land and Virginia.
washington has become the
dumping ground of the poor" he de-
clared. And, 1t seems to me, the
people of Maryland and Virginia get
(See SAFETY, Page AID