Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1916-01-18
COM. REID IS
BIG MAN IN
POLICE BOARD
Will Handle Newark's Traffic
Problem as Chairman of Po-
lice Traffic Committee.
SUPPLANTS COM. BIGELoW;
ON OTHER BIG COMMITTEES
President Breidenbach An
nounces Appointments-May
Yet Widen Market Street.

Police Commissioner John L. Reid s
activities in traffic matters have
brought him forth as the successor of
Commissioner Frederic Bigefow as
chairman Of the traffic committee IN
the list Of Police Board coplmittee ap-
pointments announced by President
Frederick c. Breidenbacll today. Tho
committee had a sort Of dual chair
manship during the past year, Com
missioner Reid having interested him
self greatly In traffic matters, which
brought him to the fore more fre-
quently than Commissioner Bigelow
when traffic was under discussion.
Iore or less dissension in the board
resulted thereby, but Commissioner
Reid's aggressiveness hes been
rewarded, and by the same token
Commissioner Bigelow sees an i'm
portant assignment taken from his
grasp.
Commissioner Reid has been par
ticularly active on the jitney bus
regulation. Although each of the
commissioners is a member OF all of
the committees. most of the authority
Is understood that the change Is
much in line with the wishes OF Nj.
Reid.
Mr.. Breidenbacll has been working
on his committee appointments since
he was reelected to the presidency
of the board on New Years Day. At
that time, ii will be remembered. Mr..
Reid was nominated as president on
the first ballot, but refused to serve.
Commissioner Reid is also given the
Craftsmanship of two other important
committees. those on supplies and
repairs and on headquarters, includ-
ing the administrative offices. John
III. Donnelly remains In charge of the
police training school and is also
made chairman of the committee on
the uniformed force. Mr.. BiRelow is
made chairman of the committee on
Legislation and the committee on
finance.
President Breidenbach is a mem
Der. by virtue of the presidency, of
each of the committees. All OF the
commissioners were constituted a
committee TO arrange for tho police
iiarN IN the 250th anniversary cele-
Dration this, year, and no chairman
was DESIGNATED, ,.-t,
Jitney Traffic a Problem.
last year the committee on traffic be-
came the most important on the
board. The number Of policemen
doing traffic duty was greatly in
creased, and several innovations for
tho regulation of traffic were put into
effect.
The marble stop lines in the pave
nent at Broad and Market streets,
which have now seen service for about
two weeks, were put down at the
suggestion of Mr.. Reid. Two other
suggestions for traffic relief In the
center of the city are still under con-
sideration by the board.
One OF these is the suggestion Of
Captain James A. McRell, in charge
of the traffic squad. that four feet be
taken from the sidewalk on Market
street Immediately below Mulberry
street. Congestion at this point has
given the police considenab BILE trouble.
There is but small space between
the trolley tracks and the sidewalks
here, and persons waiting for trolley
cars are In danger f-""T1 vehicles pass
ing by. Captain McRell has pointed
out that the pedestrian traffic on this
side Of Market street Is comparatively
slight, and that some of the space
used for sidewalk might he better
used TO widen the street. No build
ings would be touched in this scheme
and the big expense threatened would
be averted.
In case this is done, safety aisle
for trolley passengers will be estab-
lished alongside the track. The mat
ter was discussed with the Board of
Works recently at conference which
Captain McRell and Commissioner
Bigelow attended. The Board of
Works has not as yet acted on the
suggestion.
No action has yet been taken on
Chief of Police Longs recommenda-
ton that jitney busses which now
turn from Broad street west into
Market street be directed to Branford
place. The chief pointed out that the
vehicles turning at the -Four Cor
ners' add greatly. to the confusion
there. There is considerable objec-
ton. however. from the jitnev drivers
and from passengers who wait for the
jitneys at points along Market street.