The Washington times., 1924-11-19
BeIated Work Of Police iii.
Traffic Murders
BY BILL PRICE.


The Washington Police Department. we read, adopts
drastic to solve the Of traffic murders
IN the District AFTER pedestrians killed and knocked
around like cats dogs instead of adopting drastic
measures BEFORE many people murdered MANNED
The District Attorneys office admits that there 5000
booeggrs plying their trade in this city the great majority
Of them allied with the worst criminals in the city Nearly
every msn or woman in the business totes his tsty pistol
Add these 5000 booteggs the regular run Of criminals
Of all Sorts and we have an assortment Of law defiers in the
National Capital that is appalling AND THE ENTIRE
CRIMINAL ELEMENT OF WASHINGTON ALMOST
WITHOUT EXCEPTION, HAS PERMITS TO DRIVE
No wonder the Chamber Of Commerce Of this city finally
takes up the question Of the with which licenses t
drive may be obtained here and insists upon references
and testimonials to the character Of all applicants eac
applicant to be vouched for i necessary by policemen
the beat where the applicant lives.
As things stand now thousands Of carrying drivers
permits who have given fictitious and false addresses
and who are known criminals Thousands Of others unfit
have such licenses in possession of hem all because there
are laws requiring search the characters and respon
bies Of applicants and because Congress refuses ap
propae the money necessary give the proper force to in
vesgate every application and the history Of the applicant
No wonder the Chamber Of Commerce demands that the
traffic police spend less time in enforcing trivial regulations
and apply themselves the enforcement Of the laws against
reckless driving and speeding and looking after drivers who
are tanked up with liquor,
This newspaper has repeatedly discussed these same things
has often recommended radical change in the methods of
issuing drivers permits and has time and again pointed out
that the traffic bureau Of the police department spends most
Of s energies in chasing voatOrs Of parking regulations and
Of trivial traffic regulations
Is
change in the program Of the traffic bureau under direction
Of the superintendent Of police and the Commissioners
a4 ~ s0u y put nOuu g
property In all parts Of the city speeders reckless drivers
and drns at the wheels their errands Of devastation
while many policemen are busy putting chalk marks on parked
automobiles and waiting for the appear that they
may be arrested and compelled to put up collateral
No city in America has yet been able to enforce parking
regulations without large police force Consequently Amer
policemen have concentrated their efforts serious
violations Of traffic laws occasionally making raids upon
be disObeyed with impunity
It is time somebody in the District building is waking up
to the situation and changing the policies that have pre-
vailed long It is time that Congress should be compelled
to act It is time that the courts and uries to realiza
ton that too much mercy has been extended to the whole
criminal element Of this town. including reckless drivers
speeders and auto drunks.
the hordes of criminals and adopt Of its own
to send large numbers Of them out Of Washington matter
ention to the KNOWN CRIMINALS and less to thougtless
boys and who violate traffic laws Pass the word to
some q the men ana women WIN Dad Crmna records tna
that they leave the city Kid glove tactics won't rid this
city Of bad men and women
with criminal histories is true but the spirit Of complete dis
regard they show for all traffic and other laws has its in
fuence upon large numbers Of irresponsible and boys
who care nothing for the rights Of lawabing citizens who
operate their in fear This again leads back to the
promCuous issuing OF divers licenses to anybody who
applies
called upon to remedy that ana may 90 So Dut little Is TO De
prevalence Of crime on that account The thing to
get the best results Of the force available through the use
Of sensible policies police heads insist foolish policies
then the thing to do to put in heads There is room
for grave criticism in the fact that for years the traffic bureau
has concentrated much time and attention parking viola
tons while the auto killers finding things easy in po
Iced portions Of the District.
Major SULLIVAN superintendent Of police Is absolutely
right in his contention that the license plates upon District
machines small that the numbers cannot be readily
The who kills human being and speeds away has all the
best Of the law in that the numbers upon his license plate can
not be distinguished few feet away from the by those
who have witnessed the affair In the excitement Of the
moment he is gone. When witnesses look up to get his
license number too late the cannot be made
out comparatively short distance away This notably true
after dark