Evening star., 1950-01-29

OF JEFFERSON place NV?
This question was raised last
week when the widow of Judge
Irvine L. Lenroot of the United
States Court of Customs and
Patent Appeals charged in traffic
court that the short block re-
ceives an undue amount of police
protection because "the home of
a very important person is To-
Gated there"
Commissioner John Russell
Young lives at 1884 Jefferson
place.
Lining most of the narrow
street are an isolated cluster of
residences in a commercially
zoned area. The one-way street
runs a short block between Nine
teenth street NV. a we'll travelled
thoroughfare, and Connecticut
avenue.
Parking is limited to one hour
and therein lies the cause OF
the complaints.
Mrs. Lenroot intimated that
the very important person" was
responsible for the constant pres
ence there Of a policeman. Some
residents of the street agree with
her. Others declare it utter nom
sense.
Block Checked Daily.
Capt. Anthony Richitt of the
Third Precinct says the block is
checked daily by a foot patrolman
whose sole duty it. is to tag over
time parkers. However, Capt.
Richitt says, the same policeman
has at least five other blocks to
check in a like manner. He said
the policeman usually covered the
entire area twice a day. III.
There are four policemen from
the precinct who check overtime
parking in sections where parking
and traffic are particular prob
lens.
One is currently stationed in
the Dupont Circle area. He will
be removed when the circle is
completed. One policeman covers
the area south of K street, one
patrols east Of Connecticut ave-
nue., and another is stationed west
Of the avenue. 1t is this policeman
who has the 1900 block of Jeffer-
son place in his territory.
But is it true this policeman
stays in or near this one, short
block all day long?
Arthur Fried, who runs a clean
ing shop at 1885 jefferson place
NV, said the charges of over
Jealous police vigilance are true.
There's no question about it.
There's a policeman around all
the time" he said. "If he knows
you, hell tell you when he's
marked your car"
Mr.. Fried charged that cars
overparked on Nineteenth street,
where there is a two-hour limit,
do not run the same risk of being
tagged as cars parked on jefferson
place.
Constant Vigil Disputed.
This constant vigil was disputed
by Mrs. Hal Smith, 1924 jefferson
place NV. who said she didn't
think a policeman checked the
block more than three times a
day.
Some time ago. they started
putting parking meters here"
said Mrs. Smith.
Il went to Commissioner Young
and asked his help in stopping
the move" she said. HE told me
he preferred to stay out of any
controversy concerning the street."
Mrs. Smiths reference to the
parking meter issue was backed
by Harold Kertz, a lawyer living
at 1929 Jefferson place.
When the parking meter posts
were erected, Mr.. Kertz said he
filed a complaint with George E.
keneipp, traffic director. He
backed that up with petitions
against them signed by all but a
handful of the property owners
on the block. Mr.. Keneipp or
dered the posts removed. Capt.
Richitt said this was what hap
pened.
Mr.. Kertz pointed out that no
where along the street-which is
dotted with seven one-hour park
ing signs-is there a sign pro-
hibiting parking.
This one-hour ban does Com
missioner Young no more good
than it does me-" he said. "I'ye
seen the Commissioner alight
from his car many times in the
middle of the street because it
couldn't pull up to the curb. Only
a no-parking sign would reserve
parking places" ="
Mr.. Kertz added that, as al
property owner, ne sis delighted
with all the police. projection he
can get.
Sees Nothing Wrong.
A merchant with q shop just
OH the avenue declared fatty
there was nothing wrong with the
parking situation.
The laws says one-ho,ir park
ing and it is enforced. This all
q lot Of nonsense" said Herbert
Thielke, owner of The Mexican
Shop.
In fact, some years ago, Off
cials covered the block and asked
whether they wanted q one-hour