Evening star., 1941-10-02
Action Pledged
On Bills 10 Curb
D. {. Traffic Ills
Schultz, Randolph,
Dirksen and Others
Seek Results

Subcommittee of the House District
Committee today pledged the Dis
trict Commissioners his groups CO.
operation in the effort to solve the
local traffic problem.
Representative Schultz and Com
missioner John Russell Young held
conference this morning, following
which the Representative announced
that his subcommittee will begin
hearings on the bill carrying out the
Commissioners proposal for off,
street parking facilities.
Chairman Randolph Of the House
District Committee also promised
that action will be speeded on the
s35 100000 highway improvement
plan submitted by Director of High
ways H. C. Whitehurst. He said he
proposes to call this measure up on
the next District day. october 13
From other members of Congress
came pledges of action on pending
traffic measures. Representative
Dirksen of Illinois, ranking minority
member of the District Committee,
said he would call for committee
action on the of street parking pro-
posal on Monday.
Smith to Push His Bill.
Representative Smith. Democrat,
of Virginia, announced that he
would seek to have the Public
Buildings and Grounds Committee
act on his bill for bridge or tun-
mel to Virginia
Meanwhile. Inspector Arthur E.
Miller of the police traffic division
said his unit would redouble ef-
forts at traffic law enforcement here
in an attempt to check the rising
toll of death and injury.
In announcing the new drive
against traffic violations. Inspector
Miller pointed out that the deaths
were continuing despite a substan-
tial increase in arrests in August.
He revealed that the Police De-
partment had been confronted by
defense priorities in trying to obtain
l9 new motorcycles. Funds are
available but delivery has been de-
layed, he explained. Inspector Miller
said there is an urgent need for the
motorcycles.
More Speeders Caught.
Although 13 deaths made Septem-
Der a particularly black month. the
traffic division brought 3l6 more
speeding charges than in August.
Inspector Miller said. Increases
were registered in all types of traffic
cases except that involving failure
to give right-of way to another
vehicle
Members of the division said they
could not remember previous
month in which enforcement in
creased substantially while fatalities
failed to decline.
In a statement on the Off street
parking bill. Mr.. Dirksen said:
Relief of traffic congestion and
automobile parking have become
one of the most important prob
lens before the House District Com
mittee-really a national defense
problem-due to the influx of war
workers and the staggering in
crease in the number of auto
mobiles using the streets of the
Capital City. An early solution
of this problem is most de-
sirable. both as regards parking
facilities and the moving of traffic.
I will bring this matter up at the
committee meeting on Monday and
ask the members to give it i'm
mediate consideration"
Seen as Imperative.
At the same time. Representative
Smith pointed out:
With the new Navy Department
Building soon to be occupied and
the new building for the War De-
partment under construction in Ar
lington County, Va, which will
house many thousand war workers,
providing quick transportation IA
cilities between the District and
nearby Virginia becomes impera-
tive as an important aid in national
defense" Mr.. Smith proposes to
press his bill for early action as an
emergency measure next week before
the House Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds.
Chairman Lanham of the House
committee, which held hearings on
the Smith bill more than eight
months ago. said the committee
had expected to take some action
on the measure long before this, but
that its attention had been switched
to more pressing needs for defense
housing.
The new Smith bill would create
commission to investigate and
report to Congress on constructing
a vehicular crossing of the Potomac
between the District and Virginia.