The Washington times., 1921-11-21
UNIFORM
RULES To
BE MADE
Action 10 Hailed as First Step in
Reorganization Of District
Police Department.

Cspt. Albert J. Headley, chief Of
the traffic bureau of the police de-
partment, hereafter will be supreme
IN traffic matters in the District and
Will be subject to the orders Of no
other police official except the major
and superintendent Of police. He
does not receive any increase in rank,
but It is believed that he will be
given the first vacancy in the ranks
Of the inspectors.
Commissioner James F. Oyster, in
announcing the new status of Captain
Headley, said that the move was
made to improve traffic conditions
In Warrington and that hereafter all
traffic jams will be put strictly up
to the head Of the traffic bureau.
Has Supreme Command.
Captain Headley will cooperate
With the precinct captains, Comrnis-
sioner Oyster said. and any traffic
situation that he creates in any pre-
cinct. will be with the cooperation
of the precinct captains.
There must be centralized auth.
orfty," Commissioner Oyster said to-
day. II 49, received complaints
from motorists that they encounter
different traffic signals in different
precincts, and II Is with a view
OF cooperation and uniformity that
Captain Headley has been placed in
supreme command Of all traffic mat
ters In WaS~ton."
While Captain Headley has been
In charge of the traffic bureau since
last September. he did not have suf-
ficient authority to put into operation
his ideas Of traffic regulation, II was
said today at the District building
Precinct captains. with no thought
OF antagonizing Captain Headley. dis.
agreed with him on some of his
traffic solutions, and as a conse-
quence traffic conditions in each pre-
cinct were handled separately.
This condition reached a climax
Arnaistice day, when Captain Headley
and Inspector Harrison became in.
volved In an argument near the High.
way Bridge concerning the untanS.
ling Of the traffic jam.
Gets Test Wednesday.
Captain Headley will have his first
test Wednesday night when the pub
lie reception for visiting delegates to
the arms conference will be held at
the New National Museum. Captain
Headley and Inspector Daniel Sulli-
van, acting superintendent OF police.
today held a long conference and
went over the details of the plan for
preventing a jam at the reception
and also the plans for parking.
Appointment Of Captain Headley to
handle all traffic problems in Wash
tngton Is believed to be the first
move in the plan to obtain co-opera-
ton and good will between different
branches Of the police department.
Charges OF discord among officials Of
the department have been common
gossip for several months and 1t is
the desire Of Commissioner Oyster to
have every man work In harmony
with the others. d
The Commissioners said today that
the selection of a major and super
intendent of police had not yet been
made and that none is expected at
the meeting of the board tomorrow.
They said that the retirement of
Major Gessford would not be accom-
plished until the last of this month |
and that II would not be fitting to
announce The new head Of the de-
partment until that time.
Daniel Sullivan, assistant superin- |
tendent Of police, will remain acting |
head Of the department until "a sue
cessor had been named, 1t was said |
Inspector Sullivan has had wide ex.
perience, 1t was said, and has
handled every job in the department |
from patrolman to chief. with one |
exception-that of head of the |
Women's Bureau.
The Commissioners said that In |
apector Sullivan was very popular |
with the men and that he was pm |
fcetly atle to handle the Job until |
the new man had been selected.