Evening star., 1946-12-23
EIdridge Retirement Up Again,
But He's Ready to Serve at 73
Traffic Expert to Stay
Active on Committee
Revising Regulations

Another attempt to retire M. o.
Eldridge will be made December 81
Few expect anything but semire-
tirement to result.
"Eldridge? Is he still around?"
This reaction to current news of
Assistant Traffic Director Maurice
Owen Eldridge merely would give
him a chuckle.
IN. o." as he is known to friends,
has had two long careers and one
short one. Highway planning, auto
mobile club work and motor vehicle
administration have been his fields.
He had stood at the center of con-
troversy more than once. But now,
at 70, he carries the years easily
and has youthful enthusiasm for
the problems of roads and traffic.
Retirement Was Delayed.
He was supposed to retire at 10
but was one of a number Of District
officials retained through the war
because of special qualifications
and public need" Then, he was sup
posed to retire last July /. But
George E. Keneipp, newly appointed
traffic director, asked him to stay on
until the end of the year to assist
in reorganization of the department
Even now, a step has been taken
toward preventing his complete re-
Itirement. The Commissioners TTaf-
fic Advisory Board has asked the
city heads to appoint him to the
board, even if it means creating an
additional membership for him. m.
o." has agreed to serve.
Whether he is given the quasi
official post or not. he will continue
in voluntary capacity as a mem
ber of the special committee now
revising the District traffic regula-
tions to bring them into conformity
with the uniform code.
Born in Tennessee.
'It should have been done a long
time ago." he commented. Il will be
an important step forward"
IN. o." native of Tennessee,
came to Washington in 1894 to work
for $50 month in the new Office OF
Public Road Inquiry. In 1902, while
riding on a train, he was struck by
the condition of roads along the
tracks-narrow, muddy, impossible
in a rain. He decided the Federal
Government should take the lead in
road improvement.
After obtaining permission from
his chief, he approached w. P.
Brownlow. Representative from his
district. Mr.. Brownlow introduced
legislation which created Federal
grants-in- laid for highway construc-
ton.
Later, while assistant chief of the
bureau, Mr.. Eldridge found himself
dismissed because of objections in
Congress to his enthusiastic publicity
efforts in behalf of better roads. He
soon was reinstated through efforts
of friends d his program, but lost
a chance for advancement.
Got Automobile Association Post.
In 1919, he became legislative sec
retary of the American Automobile
Association, beginning his second
career. Two years later, he became
it's executive chairman.
T, When the post of traffic director
for the District was established in
1925, the Commissioners chose IN
O." for the job.
In 1927 the assistant director was
dismissed after investigation of ir-
regularities in handling of traffic
signal contracts. The Commission
ers held Mr.. Eldridge's administra-
tion left something to be desired.
They absolved him of any dishonesty
but gave him the choice of resign
ing or stepping down to the position
of assistant director.
IN. O." stayed, explaining he
wanted to continue working on local
traffic problems.
Doesn't Like to Look Back.
He never has longed for "the
good old days"
Given vote of appreciation at
a recent meeting of the Traffic Ad-
visory Board, he replied with a re-
view of improvements in the han
ding of traffic here but was a bit
reluctant.
IN don't like to look back" he
said. II believe in looking forward"
IN. O." lives with his wife at 1889
Lanier place NV. He has two
daughters and five grown grand
children of whom he is extremely
proud.
When he ends regular service at
his desk, he will have more time
for his hobkes-pho biography and
an occasional hunting or fishing
trip.
He has photographed Fifth ave-
nue's Easter parade in New York
City frequently through the years,
and the results are displayed on the
walls of his Office. The 1910 view
reveals but one automobile among
the carriages. Only motor vehicles
are shown In the 1880 picture. Ten