Evening star., 1918-06-10
REVOKE LICENSES
OF MEN WHO DRINK
District Officials Wedding Out
Auto Operators Who Are
Not Dependable.

Not Dependable.
With more than 100 automobile
operators licenses revoked because
of intoxication Of drivers, the police
department is re-examining its books
to determine whether any offenders
have been overlooked.
This is one of many evidences fur
nished during the week that the Dis
trict authorities are on the job, no.
only to punish drivers whose conduct
requires that their permits be re-
voked, but to withhold licenses from
applicants who cannot furnish suffi-
cient proof of their dependability. as
drivers.
General Order Issued.
Maj Pullman has issued the fol-
lowing general order to precinct
captains:
Besides making special reports on
all cases against persons guilty of
driving an automobile while drunk,
officers making cases against persons
guilty of recklessness. resulting in
collisions with other vehicles, or
guilty of knocking down pedestrians
in the street by reason of careless
driving, should send In special re-
port to the major and superintendent
on these cases. and after reviewing
same the captain of the precinct shall
recommend revocation of drivers Ii
cense IL the facts justify.
"In a number of cases in recent
months accidents have been caused
by recklessness, and recommendation
for revocation of license has not
come into police headquarters.
"In order to make sure that there
are no cases occurring since January
1. 1918, in any precinct out of which
revocation of license should result,
captains will examine books and send
in report on any person found guilty
of reckless driving, resulting In coll
lision or of injury 10 pedestrians, and
recommend revocation. Unavoidable
accidents and unimportant collisions.
of course. are not an excuse for rev.
ocation of license.
"One of the highest and most i'm
portant duties of the police at the
present time is TO make the streets
safe, and for this reason officers Of
the police department, without fear
or favor, will recommend revocation
Of license of all persons causing ac-
cidents and guilty of recklessness."
Commissioner Gardeners View.
Commissioner Gardiner, who has
supervision over the license depart
ment. has been giving attention to
the problem of reducing automobile
accidents. With his colleagues on the
board. he has insisted upon revoca-
tion of licenses in all cases where
persons arrested for drunkenness
have been convicted or forfeited COL
lateral.
Recently, Mr.. Gardiner has issued
rigid instructions to Wade H. Coombs,
license superintendent. to issue no op-
orators permit until he Is satisfied
from an examination of the applica-
tion that he not only is familiar with
the traffic regulations but possesses
that degree of intelligence and de-
pendabilfty which will make him safe
driver. When in doubt as to any ap-
plicant's capabilities, Mr.. Coombs has
been instructed to bring the appli-
cant personally before the Commis-
sioner for examination.
Some Applications Denied.
This has been done in several in
stances recently and, In number of
the cases. the applications were de-
MED.
Commissioner Brownlow believes
that the only guarantee of issuing
licenses to those worthy Of the trust
imposed is to send out an inspector
with each applicant for a demonstra-
tion of his ability as a driver. Such
would require the employment of not
less than fifteen inspectors, and there
are no funds that could be used for
this purpose.