Evening star., 1925-07-11
The Traffic Bureau Change.

1ne 1ramc bureau Chdnge.
Congress at the last session just
held passed an act creating a depart,
ment of traffic under the District Com
missioners, with a director at its head,
for the purpose of a more effective
regulation of traffic In Washington.
The administrative powers of the di-
rector, subject to the Commissioners,
were TO be largely, indeed mainly, eff
fected through the police force, which
was enlarged by the same act for that
purpose. The police cooperation with
and service under the director of traf-
tic was vested in an inspector, who
was made responsible to the director
for the execution of orders and the
enforcement of regulations.
The Commissioners appointed a di-
rector of traffic after a most careful
consideration of all available persons,
man whose qualifications have been
recognized and accepted by the COM
munity. After several weeks it was
found that there was lack of co-opera-
tion with him on the part Of the in
spectOr of police, who after a long
period of service in traffic work had
been assigned to that post. The Com
missioners unanimously decided upon
change in personnel, a change which
unfortunately required the demotion
of the inspector to a Captaincy. They
announced that this change had been
made for the good of the service, D."
without specifications or details re-
garding the nature of the failure of
cooperation with the director on the
part of the inspector.
An agitated discussion has followed
this change in personnel, friends and
partisans of the denoted inspector de-
manding hearing for him. The Com
missioners, for whose action in max
ing this change without trial or hear
ing there is abundant precedent, have
declined to reopen the case, replying
TO a resolution adopted by one of the
civic organizations that in their judg-
ment full publication of all the facts
upon which their administrative acts
are based would not be in the public
interest.
1t is much TO be deplored that this
heated discussion has arisen. The
Commissioners are vested with re-
sponsibility for the execution of the
law They found that the admins
tration of the new law required a
change of personnel, which they or
dered. They are entitled to confidence
in their good faith, in their justice,
and in their judgment. If the COM
munity cannot give them that conf
dence in this matter it cannot give it
to them in any other matter of munic-
ipal administration.
There is nothing in this case to war
rant a failure of public confidence in
the Commissioners. They had select
ed director of traffic of exceptional
qualifications and ability. They were
in duty bound to give him police
representative as his aide who would
give loyal and efficient cooperation.
In making change to this end they
were compelled to impose a loss of
record had been excellent and whose
services had been valuable but who,
in the present conditions, did not meet
the requirements of his assignment.
There is nothing in the law or in
the practice of the Police Department
requiring hearings or trials in the
case of officers of higher rank where
only change of status is involved. If
the Commissioners were compelled to
grant hearings or to conduct trials
whenever the rank and pay of any
subordinate officer of the District gov
ernment are involved, they would be
overwhelmed with the quasi-judicial
duty. Their responsibility would be
divided with public opinion. which is
not an infallible guide to detailed ad-
ministrative action. Their admins
tration of District affairs would be
hampered and retarded. In this pres
ent case they have made no mistake
in reaching a decision upon the rec
concentrations of those upon whom
they rely for the execution of the
laws.
Misunderstanding based upon in
complete or incorrect information re.
garding this case has led to a discus
sion which cannot helpfully serve the
officer who has suffered demotion or
the community, the security of which
is at stake in the efficient administra-
zion pf the ira fIic law continue
tion of that discussion will not effect
a change in the situation or serve
the public welfare.