The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-25
BILL PROVIDES
FOR TRAFFIC
SQUAD IND.C.
Another Police Provision Adds
Fifty PrivateS to Force to
Guard Foreign Embassies.
BY BILL PRICE.

By BILL PRICE.
Within the District appropriation
bill about to be agreed to in con-
ference Of the two house of Con-
Eress, are provisions that will bring
Two interesting developments in the
tolice department of Washington:
/. Creation OF a regular traffic
lquad for handling traffic. with
captain and lieutenant in charge.
.. An addition of fifty privates Of
{ Ilsss l. who will be detailed to guard
me embassies and legations OF for
tign governments.
In explanation Of the Senate Dis
krict bill, Senator Curtis told the Sen
ate that il was desirable to create
} traffic squad for Washington owing
10 the immense increase in traffic and
the daily loss of life and property
through frequent accidents. To prop
Erly arrange this an additional cap
lain. lieutenant and three sergeants
were authorized. The understanding
today is that the House conferses
will agree to this.
No Traffic Officers Now.
Washington is the only large city
in the country which has no traffic
officer above the rank Of private. It
is true that there has existed for
some time what is called a traffic
squad, but it is composed OF detailed
men. with no direct authority Of
Congress.
In the event the police provisions
of the District bill pass as adopted nv
the Senate a regularly organizes
traffic squad will be created. COM
posed Of men who have specialized In
traffic work. with a captain and lieu
tenant doing nothing else but caring
for traffic and seeking to improve
conditions which have grown so dan
gerous to life.
Lieutenant Headley and Sergeant
Shelby, who have done efficient work
as detailed officers, with the men
under them, will be considered for the
promotions.
Major Pullman. superintendent Of
police, has for a number Of years urg-
ed upon the District Commissioners
and they in turn upon Congress the
creation of a traffic branch of the
department He was unable before
this to bring traffic officers together
under one head because he could not
spare a captain from other lines OF
work. He has called attention to the
rapid growth Of traffic problems.
Traffic Court Next.
Creation Of a traffic court should
be the next step in Washington TO
complete an efficient handling OF traf-
nc problems. Such a court, either as
y separate body or as a branch Of the
Police Court has been repeatedly
Urged by organizations which have
studied traffic conditions and know
what IL best
The two police judges are swamped
with so much other work that they
are unable to give the detailed con
Eideratiou to traffic cases that is de
sirable.
Everything should be done TO les
sen loss Of life from traffic accidents,
and a traffic court would cost com
parsively little money. There would
be time for investigation of records
Of reckless drivers and proper dis
elimination between unintentionsl
violation OF laws and deliberate VIC
lstion by irresponsible, recklessly in
clined persons who obtain licenses to
drive cars and ought not be allowed
10 retain them.
Guarding Of Embassies.
An interesting letter from William
Phillips. Undersecretary OF State, TO
Senator Lodge. Of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee. brought about
the addition OF fifty additional pri-
Yates to the force. Mr.. Phillips had
conferred with Major Pullman about
the guarding OF embassies and leRa-
tions Of foreign countries and had
been told that men could not be
spared for that purpose from the
force, already too small 10 properly
protect Washington.
Mr.. Phillips then wrote Senator
Lodge calling attention to the fact
shat there are forty-one representa-
gives OF foreign governments friendly
a. this country in Washington: that
many OF them occupy embassy and
IeEation buildings owned by their re-
Epective countries, wherein are mem
hers OF families ana important
archives
M Phillips urged that A. least
eighty additional pTivatCs Of class ]
be provided 10 protect these foreign
representatives and the properties OF
their countries. Mr.. Phillips stated
that American embassies and Iega-
tons abroad are given the fullest
protection by foreign governments
lie considered u wise that this Gov
eminent give equal protection at this
lime owing 10 unrest and unsettled
conditions. In Mr.. Phillips opinion II
would be . national humiliation" =
The representative Of a friendly ma
1Ion should suffer loss Of life or prop
srty in Washington through failure
70 receive proper protection.
Although the Washington police
force is still far short Of its maxi
mum number OF men. the vacancies
that have existed are being rapidly
6IIed.
TO ADDRESS LEGION.
An illustrated lecture, and address
IS BY Col z. Lester Jones and Con-