The Washington herald., 1911-10-22
ONE STEP TOWARD
A TRAFFIC SQUAD
Police Control of Street Car
Crossings Urged.
BETTER REGULATIONS NEEDED
Law Committee of the Commerce
Chamber Opens Campaign for
Strfcter Guard Over TraveI-Au-
thorities Raped for Laxness as
to Autos and Carriage Drivers.

The campaign for a better enforcement
of the traffic regulations in the streets
of Washington, proposed by the Cham
Der of Commerce, was opened at a meet
ing of the committee on law and legis-
lation of the chamber yesterday after
noon.
The committee adopted a resolution
recommending that the power to regu-
late the street cars at crossings be
placed in the hands of the police. AT
present, under the law, the Interstate
Commerce Commission has the super
vision of the street cars in the District
and the police are powerless to act.
Would Amend Regulations.
The resolution adopted was as follows:
The committee on law and legis-
lation of the Chamber of Commerce
recommends to the board of directors
of the Chamber of Commerce that
the Interstate Commerce Commission
be requested to amend the regula-
tions for the operation of the street
cars in the District of Columbia so
as to require all motormen, when
ever any street is congested or over
crowded at any crossing of street car
lines, to observe and conform to all
reasonable orders of members Of the
metropolitan police force engaged in
regulating the travel and movement
OF vehicles at any such points.
A letter from Supt. Sylvester, of the
police department, was read to show that
it was absolutely necessary TO have the
authority to direct the movements Of
the street cars at crossings placed in
the hands of the police, If traffic regu-
lations are TO be enforced.
Shoot EN- in Boston.
The District authorities were roundly
criticised by members of the committee
for the lax manner in which the traffic
regulations are enforced at present L.
v D. Burr declared that if a driver was
as careless in observing the traffic regu-
lations in Boston as many are in Wash
ingtOn, he would be shot"
J. NJ. Stoddard said he had visited many
cities in this country and abroad, but
that in none of them was the traffic
regulations so poorly enforced as in
Washington. Mr.. Stoddard recommended
that the committee urge the District au-
thorities to compel automobilists and car
riage drivers. as we'll as the motormen Of
the street cars, to obey the traffic regu-
lations.
P. ]. Ryan. attorney for the Central
Labor Union, took fall out Of the cross
ing policemen. After calling attention to
the fact that they are paid by the street
railway companies, although they are
under the direction of the police super
iIftendent, Mr.. Ryan said;
Raps Crossing Cops.
In every case which has come to nv
attention in which a citizen has been
rCO down or sone wapOp hos oo,I;5o5
with street car at these crossings. the
crossing policemen have always given
the benefit of the doubt to the railway
in their evidence"
However, the committee went on rec
ord in favor of the Patten bill. intro
duced at the last session of Congress,
to give the crossing policemen the same
ray. leave of absence, and pension which
are given the members of the regular
tcrce. The resolution supporting this
was introduced by ]. W. Hunt.