Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-11-06
TRAFFIC OFFICERS
GARB VIEWS VARY
Meeting of Civic Leaders
Produces Praise and
Blame for Practice.

Alternately CONCERNING and prals-
ing the practice Of the Washington
police department of placing off,
GERS in plain clothes on motor cycles
to enforce the "antiquated" traffic
regulations Of the District of Column
bia, representatives Of the American
Automobile Association, the Wash
ington Board of Trade. the Chamber
Of Commerce and the police depart
ment at luncheon at the City club
yesterday afternoon heard varying
opinions as to the propriety and
efficiency Of the use of plain clothes
men on this duty.
Gathered at the request of the Amer
lean Automobile Associatio which
has strongly protested against the
practice, chairmen of committees of
the two large trade bodies and In
spector Albert ]. Headley, head OF
the traffic bureau, met with the en-
tire personnel of the committees OF
effort to place before the people Of
Washington the facts of the stu
alton.
Hits Letter Publication.
The stand of the American Auto
mobile Association was outlined by
Ernest r. Smith, general manager OF
the three AS, who said that although
the original letter of his organiza-
ton to Commissioner Oyster had not
been intended to be made public, it
had leaked out and precipitated an
embarrassing situation. Since 1t had
got out he said, he thought it proper
that all the agencies working toward
greater protection of life and prop
erty here should get together to talk
the matter over. Mr.. Smith char
acterized the traffic spy" system as
village constable system of plain
| clothes men" and declared that Off
GERS not in uniform tended to induce
speeding, citing numerous examples
received by the association from
other cities leaning toward this view
He said the system is inappropriate
| to Washington and is dangerous, with
the possibility that it may lead to
loss of life due to policemen being
| mistaken for highwaymen.
Mr.. Smith announced that the
American Automobile Association is
prepared to pay the expenses OF Maj.
Sullivan on a tour to several cities
with model traffic laws over 10 days,
In order that he may observe traffic
regulation in other cities. He added
| that the association realizes the DO
! lice department here is undermined,
particularly in regard to traffic regu-
lation. and said he believed Washing
ton should have an ample and the
| finest police force in the world
Justinex Strategy.
W. Pearce Raynor. chairman of the
special traffic committee OF the Board
| OF Trade, agreed with the police de-
! partment that an undermined police
| force with but 1o motor cycle men to
| patrol 527 miles of streets and high
| ways. many of whom had to be. in
court much of the day in connection
with traffic cases. was justified in US
| ing such strategy to fool the public
| INTO believing there are more officers.
Mr.. Raynor pointed out that the po-
| lice are mo more spies out of uni
| form than in uniform" and that il all
the traffic regulations on the statute
books of the District were enforced
| many more arrests could be made
than are now made. He added that
| there is a class of automobile drivers
who will violate the law any time an
| officer is not in sight.
Mr.. Raynor raised the point that
| there are in Washington Senators and
| members of the House who are i'm
| mune from arrest, adding that fire.
quently men high in official life, men
| tioning members Of the cabinet, speed
| recklessly along the highways, defy
|
here must know whom to arrest and
whom not to arrest"
| Asks Modern Regulations.
The Board of Trade representative
made a plea for modern traffic laws
! in Washington and for 800 more
! traffic policemen here, declaring that
if the traffic laws of Washington were
| transferred to Philadelphia and
| placed in operation there street car
riders would never get home.
| Speed laws in the District of CO.
lumbia reminded Charles w. Darr
| chairman of the fire and police pro-
| lection committee of the Chamber of
| Commerce, of the prohibition law
| good laws, but not possible of COM
| plete enforcement" Referring to
speeding on Connecticut avenue, Mr.
Darr said if the thousands Of mo-
florists who use the highway every
day did not exceed the speed limit
| there would be a traffic jam during
| the crowded hours from the Zoo to
Chevy Chase Circle. Mr.. Darr urged
a speed law of from 25 to 80 miles ar
hour outside of the downtown sec
| ton.
| Inspector Headley defended the
| plain clothes mounted policemen
claiming that the man who violated
the law did not care who made the
arrest, but that the man who obeyed
the law need not fear arrest. THAT
is my duty, to enforce the law, and
I H. 90 he hoe IF