Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-06

OF chauffeurs and drivers who are fur
nlshed from time to time with printed
abstracts of the traffic regulations
1T Is respectfully submitted that the
commissioners should have authority
from Congress to temporarily control an
street traffic on important PUBLIC occa.
sions when emergencies require it, Per-
manent roping devices are now installed
on either side Of Pennsylvania avenue
for example. and Congress is urged to
grant authority needed to utilize this i'm
portant adjunct to a proper police con-
troll Of public order.
Motor Apparatus.
The police department has introduced
the motor cycle as an adjunct to the BIZ
cycle. to meet the demand for increased
police surveillance required by the in
crease In the number of motor vehicles.
The motor patrol wagon has proved an
economical and expeditions Improvement.
not only for hauling prisoners to the sta
ton and reserves to fires, but is success
ruby operated to overtake persons fleeing
from arrest Other and smaller cities OF
the country are more fully equipped in
this respect. The public interest would
De better served If each police precinct
were provided with similar motor wagons,
including detective headquarters.
Improvement of Station Houses.
1t Is again earnestly recommended. as
1t has been for many years past. that
Congress provide for the reconstruction
of the cell corridors and the installation
or cells with modern cages in several of
the station houses TO remedy prevail,np
conditions which have been condemned
not only by the Health and building de-
partments, but by public opinion gener-
ally.
Motion Pictures.
1t is important that the Commissioners
De given fuller authority than the present
ponce censorship comprehends for con-
trolling the display of motion pictures
ana the appurtenant facilities. The law
does not sufficiently provide for the elm.
ihatlon of scenes of crime and others hay-
ing a pernicious influence, which some
managers might refuse to suppress
tnoueh those operating such houses in
tnS jurisdiction have generally complied
with all reasonable requests made bv the
police The work Of censorship has been
conducted by the captains, 1ieuleny.nts
ana sergeants in the several precincts.
ana the exhibitions have, with a few ex-
ceptons, been unobjectionable,
Billboards.
Full power should be accorded the Com
mfssioners to regulate the character Of
Illuminated pictures on billboards, having
for Its aim the suppression of scenes hav.
ing pernicious influence.
1nebriate Hospital.
Inc commissioners recommend, being
III the public interest, that Congress
PROVIDE Tor the establishment of a hos
pital Tor the treatment of inebrtates
naoitually so afflicted, as provided for
In Senate bill No. 1862. Sixty-first Con-
sress. second session, Making drunken
ness In the District of Columbia a mis-.
oemeanor. and to provide a hospital for
inebriates. and for other PURPOSES I"
Such hospital might we'll provide for
emergency cases coming under the oh
servation Of the police authorities The
Commissioners are Of the oninion tbat
this subject might we'll he treated
from standpoint Of disease in habitua1
cases rather than that Of a misde-
meanOf.
Numerical Strength Of Force.
A summary showing the disposition
OF the force is included in a presenta-
ton made to the committee Of the
House Of Representatives on the Dis
trict OF Columbia having consideration
OF House bill 22322, and affords ample
reason for numerical increase of the
force. The only additions to the force
were fifteen. in 1906. under the reor-
ganization act, which authorized fifteen
promitions in upper grades, and neces-
STATED the appointment Of fifteen Of
class /, and In 1909 by theI provision
for one new captain, which resulted in
the addition Of one private. An i'm
paired retirement fund has prevented
the removal by retirement Of MANY who
because Of advanced age or diaabilitv
incurred in line Of duty. are unable to
perform a full measure Of active notice
service, so that va 3ancfes amon9 the
superior grades are not IN PROPORTION
to the requirements for that reasonahle
promition from class one, two and
three necessary to avoid top-hea w
service and expense.
Retirement Fund.
In order that the force may be re-
cuperated az time advances, it is i'm.
portant that retirement allowances be
available, and the Commissioners urge
the passage of H. R. 1882, For the
creation Of the police. and firemen's re-