Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-12
The Traffic Directors Powers.

Introduction in the House by Repre-
sentative Thomas Blanton of Texas OF
a bill to increase the powers and the
salary of the District traffic director
brings to the fore an important sub
tect which has been occupying the
minds of traffic students since Mr..
Eldridge took office.
1t has been obvious THAI the traffic
director has been laboring under de-
cided handicaps. some of which can
be traced to contradictions in the code,
but the majority of them to the pc
culiar position he holds in relation
to District affairs
Mr.. Eldridge is ostensibiv in charge
of street traffic in Washington. To
him goes all the blame and the credit.
Yet in all cases he must report first
to the Police Department. and second
TO the commissioners.
Ten policemen are assigned to the
director. With these ten he must en-
force and carry out traffic regulations
promulgated by his office; these resu-
lations, of course. having first been
sent to the Police Department and,
second to the Commissioners.
If some especially desirable rule is
decided upon which needs rigid en-
forcement Mr.. Eldridge must first
send a request to the Police Depart
ment for more men, and, second. a
copy of the request TO the Commits
sioners. He then sits back and waits
to see whether the department will
grant his request or not. Sometimes
the action is favorable, and he is able
to get the additional men; at other
times it is disapproved.
1t is apparent that such d situation
Is not conducive to quick results. and
quick results in Washing:on's traffic
problem are necessary if the city is
to emerge from the evil conditions
which have beset it for many years.
The cure is easy TO find. The traf-
fic director should have assigned to
him, and to him exclusively, the ap-
proXimately 10 men who make up
the mobile traffic squad. He should
have the authority to dispatch any
or all of these men to various sections
Of the city. If d speed law. for in
stance. is being violated on Bladens-
burg road Mr.. Eldridge should be in
a position to consult with only the
Commissioners before sending out
men to break up the practice.
Mr.. Eldridge holds comparable
rank to the commissioners of motor
vehicles in other States. Yet he is the
only official who has no real authority
in the enforcement of the lawz.
There is no question but that sc
should be responsible to the Commits
: sioners, but they should lie the only
officials to whom he should report
The plan of putting a highly special
lied Traffic Bureau under the Police
Department has never been d success
and never will be.
Traffic regulation and the ordinary
run of police work cannot be linked.
1t has been tried here and has failed
The Police Department has co-operat-
ed to the best OF it's ability with the
director, but even cooperation of
this high character cannot produce
results.
If it is necessary to change the
status of Mr.. Eldridge for the pur-
pose of giving him control over the
traffic squad, a specific position should
be created for him. If the men can be
assigned without this action, we'll and
good.
The traffic director. however. should
be removed from the uIlsdiction Of
the Police Department and he should
have real control, rather than fancied
control of traffic.
Washington made a wise choice in
Mir. Eldridge. and therefore an Op-
portunity should be given him to
work out, unhampered. traffic regula-
ttons for the betterment of conditions
III the National Capital.