Evening star., 1946-09-17
Keneipp Insists
Traffic Budget Is
Al Rock Bottom
Director Explains
City Needs Before
Advisory Board
By Chris Mothisen

$792,000 budget proposed for his
department for the fiscal year be-
ginning next July l has been "cut
down to rock bottom"
Mr.. Keneipp won unanimous in
dorsement of the advisory group ir
a meeting last night during which
he explained the $2O5,848 in in
creases over the current appropria-
ton. In a resolution concurrine
with his statement that 1t could not
be pared further, the TAB in
structed its chairman. Arthur j
Sundlun, to support Mr.. Keneipr
in his coming appearance before
the Commissioners to justify the
budget sought.
This budget is not padded one
per cent Mr.. Keneipp declared.
Right to Expect Services.
Pointing out that motorists make
substantial financial contributions
to the District by the gasoline ia.
and license and inspection fees, he
commented:
They put this money into the
highway fund, and l think they
have right to expect good service.
Characterizing the present service
of his department, in some respect
as very poor" Mr.. Keneipp tolo
the board the personnel increases
asked was essential If it's work were
not to bog down completely. He
cited as particularly urgent neec
for three additional permit eXamin-
ers asked in the proposed budget.
Il don't know any other jurisdic-
ton in which person has to wait
as long for a permit as he does
here" Mr.. Keneipp said.
AS a fair example of the service
offered, he cited the case of q
woman who reported at $50 am
and was told she would be called al
11:20 am. for a road test. Mr.
Keneipp added that a recently
instituted appointment system fol
road tests permitted this applicant
to leave the building for shopping
until the later hour but warned
that such scheduling of road tests
could not be maintained if the addi-
tional examiners were not provided
He emphasized that large por-
ton of the increase over the current
figure would be used for statutory
salary increases which will be due
during the next fiscal year.
Mr.. Keneipp reminded the board
that proposed 1-cent increase ir
the gasoline tax and 50-cent hike
in the motor vehicle inspection fee
had his Endorsement and would pro-
vide substantial additional revenue
Three Meetings.
Making comprehensive report
on present and projected activities
Of his department, Mr.. Keneipp said
he would take part in three meet
ings bearing on traffic matters.
He said he would attend a meet
ing this afternoon with other Off
cials concerned which he hoped
would complete arrangements for
reopening of West Executive avenue
to traffic.
At 4 pm. Monday, he will confer
with all licensed motor vehicle driv-
ing instructors of the District tc
work out plan for orderly schedul-
ing of road tests for their pupils
he said.
Mr.. Keneipp said the third meet
ing will be held at 8 pm. Monday
when heads of taxicab companies
and associations, as we'll as rank
and file drivers. will assemble ir
the District Building to offer theil
views on traffic problems.
approved" Stickers." 4.
The traffic director told the boare
he plans to go ahead with institution
Of a system under which owners o.
vehicles found to have secondary de.
fects on inspection would be issued
approved" stickers and would bt
permitted to report by post care
when repairs or adjustments were
made. He explained that abuse Of
this plan could be minimizec
through his authority to refuse G
license for the following year fol
a vehicle found not to have beer
repaired as ordered.
Mr.. Keneipp revealed that the
Capital was in second place in the
National Traffic Safety Council ano
had a good chance of finishing or
top if traffic safety consciousness
were intensified between now ano
the end Of the year.
Police Inspector Arthur E. Miller
in charge of traffic, reported that
the department had made more
arrests for traffic offenses in the
first eight months of this year than
during all of 1945. He gave the
figures as 97,608 for the eight-month
period, with $3.50 of the cases fo1
moving violations, as against 53,62e
arrests, 20,750 for moving violations
during the same period last year.
Cites Accident Table.
Assistant Traffic Director M. o
Eldridge cited as an encouraging
sign drop-off in accidents during
the first two weeks of September
although the figures for the pre-.
ceding eightmonth period were
above those of 1915.
In the two weeks, he said, there
were 290 accidents with l16 injuries
as contrasted with 343 accidents
and 1856 injuries in the same weeks
of last year.
Mr. Eldridge gave the totals fol-
the first eight months of the veal
as $685. accidents and 3,105 injuries
and recalled there were 4,873 acci.
dents and 2,257 injuries in that por.
ton of 1945.
The board referred to its Engi-
neering and Laws and Regulations
Committees proposal that restora
ton of speed limits in park areas
and coordination of park traffic
regulations with District rules be
urged.
Chairman A. Julian BrylaWski OF
the Information and Education
Committee reported that his group
soon would inaugurate a widespread
traffic safety program including use
of motion pictures, safety slogan
contest with cash prizes and other