The Washington times., 1916-12-30
Else, II Wight Not Be CIassed
as One by the
Police.
MUST HAVE POLICE PERMIT

What II q parade :


That seems at nrst blush to be q
kindergarten question. But is IT.
You might answer offband that II
was lot of people marching in line
with bands playing. II might be ami
too, remember II has not been so long
since there was q one man parade up
Pennsylvania avenue.
Inspector Gessford, of Police
Headquarters, perhaps the greatest
authority IN the city on parades,
would hesitate TO answer this aues-
tton offhand. In reality he di hest.
tate to answer when II was put to
him. In truth. he did not answer at
all.
He rscited what would constitute .
parade under the police code and the
traffic laws OF the Capital. He said
what would not constitute a parade,
but a. for definition under actuaiities
OF police practice In washington-
that 10 something else again.
Dsss't Marx Line.
The inspector could put any con.
crete example on either side OF what
seems q shadowy line rs TO what IL
and what 10 not q parade. but he did
not mark the line.
IL you happen to be selected by
your fellow-townsmen as organizer.
chairman. or what not for n parade
or procession or something OF the sort.
you should know what 10 q parade.
for 10 you have n parade you must
have n police permit.
There IL one safe rule to follow.
Apply 90 the Major and superintend-
ent OF Police for q permit. or better
still SEQ Inspector Gessford. who
can straighten you out on any parade
question. Having done either OF these
two things. stating the probable num-
Der In lire, and the occasion as well
as tho liH9 OF march and the other
details, you will either get proper
authorization and instructions. or will
be told that authorization In not nee
cssary. Or. perhaps IL may be sug-
Eested to you that Il IL a mistake.
that you do not want n parade. be-
In which case IL would be well to stop
then and there.
images On Musie.
The police regulations provide that
any marchers IN line. or vehicles In
line, with q band. must have a permit
for a parade. Police dennition OF pa.
rade seems TO hinge largely upon
march music. for any marching or
movement on the streets, sidewalks.
alleys. public places etc. TO tho nc.
compartment OF music IL prohibited
with permit for such movement and
music.
On the other hand. q small body of
marchers, not accompanied by a band.
are not parade and need no permit.
such small body. Inspector Guess
ford says, might run up TO several
hundred.
Strange TO say no permit n re.
duired for washinston's biggest pa
rsde. the quadrenniai Inaugural pa.
seant. This Is so because Il f. a
United States function.
Likewise. no permit 10 required for |
any military movement Involving the |
soldiers, sailors. and marines. or
other armed forces OF the United,
States. Military funerals. which arel
without permit, even though they are |
frequently accompanied by bands.
Permit Required for Music Atone.
A permit IL required for the play
ing OF any music In any public place.
however. except by United States
forces. That IL why the famed one
man parade had TO have a permit
The parade" marched behind a
band.
Permits are needed for circus.
church, suffrage, and other similar
pageants In the District. They are
also necessary for fraternal funerals,
for Boy Scout marchers. for May pro-
cessions. II they have bands and
move upon the streets. and for all
similar functions.
When Georgetown Law School hoys
march to the university gridiron be-
hind n band for some big game. they
have 20 have q permit. When the
Ohio Boys Corn Club was here. with
"A boys band, IL had 10 have a per-
init 20 march about the city.
Mustn't stop Traffic.
The police code provides that no pa
rade shall interfere with street rail-
way trafric, or any other traffic, for
that matter. except as Is ordinarily
necessary. Parades have to break for
passage OF street cars.
This 10 not the case, however, with
a big national function like the inau-
gural parade, whe nthe Avenue Is
furned over TO the nation and all traf-
fic is stopped. This was true. too, OF
the preparedness parade.
The Major and Superintendent OF
Police issues permits for all parades
held on the secular days OF the week.
But for parade with music ON sun
day, special authorization from the
Commissioners Is required.