Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-13
RSL|CENS|NG
GUIDES IN D. c. TO
PROTECT VISITORS
Supt: Gessford Also Asks
Curb on Firearms and Traf-
fic Court in Report.

A new regulation to stop the reck-
less sale of deadly weapons in the Dis
trict was recommended to the Com
missioners today by Maj. Harry l..
Gessford. superintendent of police, as
part of his annual report.
Maj. Gessford proposes that a sec
tion be added to the District code MAX
ing it necessary to obtain the written
approval of the superintendent of po-
lice in order to purchase a firearm.
[ThesRIeDaela}ossSenidacarrya a penal
/ y both Tor thA citizen and dealer vio-
lating the regulation.
The recommendation for establish
ment of traffic court is renewed. The
long wait now required for hearings
in Police Court of traffic cases is a
hardship both to the citizen and the
policeman making the charge, the
major tells the Commissioners.
Would License d. c. Guides.
Another important recommendation
is that all persons who act as guides
for visitors to the National Capital be
required to obtain a license from the
District Commissioners.
Maj. Gessford points out that at
present there are no regulations gov
erning the activities of city guides.
According to the superintendent any
person desiring to follow this calling
words. authorized guide" pin the
same upon his coat and engage in the
business
'It is not infrequent," the report
continues. that visitors are annoyed
and imposed upon by persons repre-
senting themselves as guides and who
produce a badge of some kind as an
insignia of authority"
Despite the rapid increase in the
number of motor vehicles the major
reports a substantial decrease in in
jurieS and deaths from traffic acci-
dents during the last fiscal year.
Fewer Automobile Accidents.
During the fiscal year 1919 there
were seventy-six deaths from traffic
accidents. compared with seventy-one
for the past fiscal year. During the
year 1919 the total number of acci-
dents reported on by the police was
4S43, as compared with 4,726 for the
past year.
Maj. Gessford attributes the reduc-
tio.. in deaths and accidents to the
educational campaign being conduct
ed by the traffic branch of the police
department.
Although accidents and deaths fell
off. the number of arrests for viola
tions of traffic laws increased from
S,407 in 1919 to 1856 for the past fiscal
year.
Maj. Gessford tells the Commits
sioners his men have co-operated
Zealously with the federal authorities
in the enforcement of the national
prohibition law.
From July 1 to January Is. when
the Volstead act became law. the To-
cal police made 1851 arrests involv-
ing whisky. OF this number 1855
were "drunks."
Reports :73 "Dry" Law Arrests.
From the beginning of the Volstead
law to the end of the fiscal year on
June 30. the police made 273 arrests
for violations of that law
There was a falling off in the total
number of arrests made during the
year for all offenSeS. For the fiscal
year 1919 the total of arrests was
53,556. compared with 1880 for the
past year.
OF all the arrests 2s.4s5 were white
persons and 10, ,495 colored. The num-
Der of arrests during the year in
volving criminal offenses was 2.493,
as compared with 2,606 for the pre-
ceding year.
During the fiscal year property VAL
and $102.898 lost or mislaid. The DO
lice recovered $799,7s9.47 of the prop
erty stolen and $11.93S.77 of the
property lost. In addition, the force
recovered $132.417.42 of property
which had not been reported stolen.
The department also recovered $40.
S16 worth of goods stolen in other
cities.
Fifty Police Force Vacancies.
Maj. Geseford refers briefly to the
difficulty OF recruiting the force up to
the authorized quota. there being
now more than fifty vacancies. This
question Is dealt with more fully in
the superintendent's estimates. which
cannot be made public until they are
sent to Congress in December
Maj. Gessford recommends that the
existing law against carrying con-
cealed weapons be amended so as to
make it unlawful to keep a gun in a
motor vehicle. The superintendent
says the Police Court has held that
a weapon kept in an automobile is
not violation of the concealed weap-
on law.
The majors suggestion is that the
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