New-York tribune., 1905-04-13
TRAFFIC REGULATION.

In Section S15 of the charter it is made the
duty of the Police Commissioner, among Oher
things. to regulate the movement OF teams ana
vehicles in streets. bridges. squares, parks ana
public places" Some surprise was felt when'
several months ago, Commissioner McAdoo an
nOunced that he interpreted this section TO mean
that he had authority to restrict heavy traffic in
5th-ave and intended to act accordingly. Inc
question of reserving that great thOroughfare
for more appropriate uses, in order to promote
the general convenience of the public, had been
so long discussed. and so many attempts to Gre
ate a convincing popular demand for legislation
to that end had been made, that the Police Com
missioner's rather abrupt decision that it was
unnecessary TO appeal to the legislature natural
ly enough failed to command universal ap-
prevail A few weeks ago Justice GaynOr held
that in a particular case. the Commissioner had
exceeded his authority. and thus the legal uncer-
tainty which existed from the first has been in
creased to some extent Under the circum-
stances therefore it is desirable that sufficient
grant of authority for the judicious regulation
Of street traffic should be explicitly made, and
the bill introduced by Assemblyman TOmpkins
is designed to accomplish that object.
The bill is earnestly supported by Commits
sioner NIcAdoo. who writes to the committee
that he believes it would "be welcomed by the
Overwhelming majority of the people of this
city" He continues:
If the members CT the committee to which this
will be presented could read the mail which
comes to this office and hear on all sides the
concentrations of the present efforts to give the
people a chance to move about with safety on
the streets. which belong TO the public, am
quite sure they would not hesitate about report
ing this amendment favorably and see that 1t
passes before the present legislative session
closes
The letters and oral concentrations OF which
the Commissioner speaks presumably relate for
the most part to the regulations which have now
been in force long enough at centres of cOnges-
ton IN this borough to prove their usefulness
completely The police administration for the
last fifteen months has provoked innumerable
complaints but in one respect ii is deserving OF
high praise The ineXtricable confusion which
used to prevail at busy crossings has been large
" relieved and the mounted squad, wherever
It's members are stationed, is doing admirable
work 1t is strange and not creditable that the
learning Of a lesson from London should have
taken so long but nobody is now disposed either
TO complain or make fun Of the tardiness of the
imitation in view of the blessings which have
finally been vouchsafed We are not in the least
astonished to hear that the Commissioners mail
is full of grateful testimonials. 1t would be
amazing if an intelligent public which has suf-
fered needlessly for many years, had failed to
make an enthusiastic acknowledgment OF what
has been done for its benefit.
The merit Of Assemblyman Tompkins's bill is
that it confirms the Police Commissioners
power TO do. as he now does, various things
which somebody might conceivably try to pre-
vent him from doing, and authorizes him to take
additional measures in the general interest as
to the legality Of which a doubt has been set up.
The Commissioner is perfectly safe in saying
that public opinion is practically all on one side
of this case. The demonstration of the immense
utility of the system OF traffic regulation which
has been established is so conclusive that n re-
lapse into old conditions would be lntoIerable
But much still remains TO be DONE and there
ought to be no shadow Of doubt as to the Com
missioner's power to do II. The session is nearly
over, but there is time enough left to meet the
general demand for n simple amendment Of the
charter