New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-23
TRAFFIC POLICE
SHOULD COMMAND,
NOT BR0WBEAT
Urgent Need of a Traffic
Deputy TO Introduce
Military Rules.
SYSTEM MAY BE MORE
TO BLAME THAN MEN
Added Authority Might Tend TO
Improve Feeling Between
Police ard Motorists.

Motorists who are compelled 20 use
the streets Of New York are intensely
interested in tho proposition 20 have
fifth deputy Of police appointed 70 spe-
cialze on the traffic problem.
There are numerous opportunities
for reform In tho government .. our
traffic. Troubles are p!ling up daily
upon the traffic policeman. He is break
ing down from an admirable fgure In
the life Of the city to a crouch and
bully.
Instead Of holding the respect and
commanding the obedience OF the aver
age motorist. he IS losing his dignity,
forgetting the importance OF his posi-
ton and generally degenerating.
Il may be ne has too much 20 DO. X
this IS so, then possibly the iorthcom-
ing traffic deputy can remove few OF
his burdens and bring him back 10
himself
The most unmilitary thing he does IS
70 hold court" in the middle Of the
street. Every motor car user realizes
that the traffic policeman could not ar
rest all the offenders. II he did no
would be in court most OF the time and
the traffic on his post would run wild.
But it still remains that this holding
of street court" in the middle OF the
day and during the busiest part OF ne
evening theatre rush Is not doing the
slightest good.
A motorist, for example, happens 20
overrun a crossing line or commit some
other offence. The traffic policeman
Immediately walks over 20 him not IN
the manner OF man In authority but
usually more like thug about 20
knock somebody's head off or admins
ter punch in the eye. Then frequent
" follows a volume Of bulldoZ.ng, with
the idea that il is soaring the offender
out Of his boots, but which only makes
the latter mad and disgusts hundreds
of other motorists who are being de.
layed until the policeman get rid OF
his temper.
The policeman may not be entirely
70 blame He IL placed, urder tho
present system, IN an AWKWARD posi-,
ton. His duties are very trying ana
ha simply has 20 get rid OF so mucn
stored up temper every hour.
So. I, comes back 70 the question:
isn't there something the matter with
the svstem?" The suggestion IS made
that traffic policemen be given a httle
more authority than the mere right 20
be ungentlemanly. -,
In a city like New York. whore all
classes of drivers must be handed rig
idly, the traffic policeman must main
tain an attitude Of supreme command
The commander OF ship must do the
same thing. but you never heard OF a
ships captain so far forgetting his po-
sition as TO browbeat passenger
If. however, he had the authority TO
order an offender 20 stand for. say, an
hour on the corner, where he could
keep his eye on him and where he
would be out of the way OF trs'hc'
motorists might have more respect ior
traffic policemen, and they IN turn
might have more respect for motorists.
Under existing conditions the frame
policeman must always be car, but
there is no reason why ne should not
also be a gentleman and conduct HIM
self in a military fashion. II he had
loss authority 10 "jaw" and more au-
thoritv 20 command" he would lose
much Of his temper and gain decidedly
in public regard.
II he had the authority TO step quiet
~ IN to an offender and say You are
under arrest for one hour. Drive over
there and stand until give you the
signal to go on" the offender would
stand and II would serve TO make him
a more careful driver
The traffic policeman Is too import
an a factor In the regulation Of city
TO be allowed 20 develop into low
brow. He should be a criterion and
conduct himself as becomes a military
officer in command. He needs all tho
necessary authority TO protect the pc
destrian, and he needs all the dignity
That is necessary to hold TIE unruly
-. hall