The Washington times., 1919-11-28
OPEN CRUSADE
T0MAKED.C.' s
STREETS SAFE
District Government VIII Rec
ommend Traffic Court and
More Rigid Statutes
BY BILL PRICE

ny DILL u Nhth-
All the police power of the District
government was today put into play
to make the streets of Washington
SAFER for human lives by diminishing
traffic accidents.
Commissioner Brownlow, who has
direct control OF the police depart
ment, personally took charge of the
situation and announced that there
will not only be strict enforcement
OF traffic laws, but a campaign OF
education designed to arouse motor
lists and pedestrians to greater care.
To these there may grow new po-
lice regulations against "tay-walk-
ing In the streets, and the creation
by Congress OF a new police Judge
who will preside over what VIII De
known as the traffic court" in which
nothing but traffic cases Will De
tried. and in which the Judge and
other officials will devote themselves
wholly to efforts to reduce traffic ac-
cidents
Commissioner Brownlow held an
important conference with Conrad
Syme, corporation counsel ana MAJOR
Pullman. Superintendent of Police. A
short time later Major Pullman went
into conference with all police cap
tains, lieutenants and inspectors
Each gathering had the same SUP
ject before it-that OF the sharp m
crease in street fatalities. due to traf-
fic accidents, and the resolve WAS
that the most strenuous efforts must
be used to better conditions.
The Ff1tes,-Fsot Rule.
In the regular morning bulletin to
captains of the police department
Major Pullman gave directions that
there must be the strictest possible
enforcement of the rule that mo-
torists must stop fifteen feet behind
all street cars taking on or iettins
Off passengers. He has directed that
all persons arrested for this offense
\ shall be held for the limit OF col
atexal, $40
most dangerous practice and largely
espousibls for many serious acci-
dents. Police officers are asked to get
n many witnesses as possible, be
eause the guilty person with friends
viii try to get of before the courts
by eontradicting the officer and claim
M that he did not start his machine
Until after the street car had started"
where the Blaz.e Lies.
fba almost unanimous opinion of
khose present at today's conference
vas that the main cause of traffic ac-
Sidents are these:
l-Reckless driving on the part Of
notoristA with disregard of traffic
laws.
SGreat careiessness on the part Of
he public in crossing streets in any
yatrection instead of At regular street
crossings
There are contributory causes that
are we'll recognized, but the founda-
ton trouble Is located in the two
mentioned.
Major Pullman said today that the
unanimous opinion of police officials
IL that Washington pedestrians bat
900 as Jay walkers" thereby di-
rcctly contributing to large numoef
Of serious accidents
Consideration Is being given BY the
Commissioners to drawing new po-
lice regulation that will make IL an
ofYense for pedestrians to cross
streets at any other point than regu-
lar crossings. Some years ago such
IA regulation was passed bpt the po-
Slice court knocked it out Most of
the cities OF the country have anti
jay-walking laws and enforce them
20 advantage, II is stated
Mr.. Syme's assistants in the police
court will urge the judges of that
court to increase the severity Of SEN
tences for violation OF traffic laws
and notably so in cases OF drivers Of
machines who have several times
been arrested for speeding or reck-
less driving. II is believed that heav-
ier sentences will do much toward
minimizing dangers that are now
srousing the community.
Most OF the worst accidents occur
outside the congested traffic centers
of the city, Major Pullman said today
In the consested districts of the
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