Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-18
Better Revise the Plans

DETER keVISe the PI0nS
Washington, famed for it's hospitality to
visiting citizens and organizations, wants to
do everything in its power to make the
forthcoming American Legion convention
pleasantly memorable event. It is the city's
duty and responsibility to see to it that
every possible courtesy is extended to our
guests. It also is the citys duty and respon-
sibility to ease the impact of such a conven-
ton and attendant parade on the normal
life OF the community. Unfortunately, there
are growing indications that the parade, at
least, will not be pleasantly memorable I'M
less some changes are made in present
plans.
AS The Star pointed out in a news story
yesterday, traffic confusion that defieS the
imagination" is in prospect on the aft
ernoon and evening of Tuesday, August 81.
On that day an estimated 10000 Legion
marcherS will pass along Pennsylvania ave-
nue. as another 10000 Federal workers are
released from downtown of1ces-to say
nothing of thousands of District govern
ment and private employees. All public and
private transportation on and near the pa
rade route will be halted from before the
start Of the procession e p.m.) until after
1t is over-poSsibly midnight or later. More
over, no pedestrians will be permitted to
cross the parade route during that long pc
riod, according to ANNOUNCED arrangements.
This means that an impenetrable bar
rier will be erected against home-going office
workers who must cross Pennsylvania ave-
nue. to reach StreetcarS or Buses VirginianS
who work north of the Avenue cannot reach
the temporary loading stations south of the
Avenue unless they detour many blocks
around the starting point or the disbanding
point of the parade. Conversely, District
and Maryland residents who work south of
the Avenue or who come into the District
from Virginia by way of the Fourteenth
street or Memorial bridge will be faced
with the increasing barrier. Granting that
no serious Interruptions in the parade
movement should be permitted, the barrier
ought to be made flexible enough to en-
able groups of pedestrians to cross the
street during the slowdowns and stoppageS
that invariably develop during such long
professions.
The big clash of outpouring Govern
mert workers with the paraders and watch
ers will come at 4:30 o'clock-two and a half
hours after the parade has started. A great
deal of the conflict and confusion could be
averted by releasing Federal workers for
half day. as the Legion has requested. Then
those who do not wish to watch the parade
could get to their cars or buses and clear
out of the city before the traffic paralysis
sets in. But the Civil Service Commission
has opposed the halliday idea on the ground
that it would cost the Government $19 mil
lion. The commission has countered with
the suggestion that the parade be moved
from Pennsylvania avenue to Constitution
avenue-a proposal previously rejected by
the Legion. Naturally, the Legion wants to
march on the historic parade ground of
Presidents" And it is unlikely that shift
of several blocks in the parade route would
improve traffic conditions appreciably.
OF course, most of the difficulties would
solve themselves if the parade were to be
held on Saturday, a holiday for Federal
workers and many other employees. But the
Legion insists that Tuesday is it's traditional
marching day-and Tuesday it will be. An
earlier starting hour for the procession also
was resisted by the Legion. It is not too
late however, to revise some of the plans
that already have been made. If the Gov
eminent will not consent to half holiday
for its employees, at the very least some ar
rangement should be made to permit them
To cross Pennsylvania avenue at convenient
intervals. The city rightly has made many
concessions to the visiting legionnalreS.
Some consideration also is due local resi-
dents faced with the possibility of prec-
edent-shattering traffic tieup.