Evening star., 1926-04-29


piled that he does not come in direct
contact with Mr.. Fenning. that in his
Judgment Mr.. Fenning is "a very able
man. but has made many grave ad-
ministrative errors" Asked What
they were, he answered.: "The de-
motion OF Inspector Headley was, In
| my opinion, the most monstrous ad-
ministrative crime in the history OF
the Police Department" Here the
crowd in the caucus room applauded
more vigorously than ever. Chair
man Gibson warned the audience that
they must desist from expressing
their approval or disapproval, or the
hearings would be continued in execu-
tive session, and he asked the coopera-
ton of the audience that the hearings
might be continued in an orderly way
to expedite solution of the problems
through remedial legislation. Inspec.
tor Shelby cited no other instance Of
grave administrative error.
BIames bad Advice"
In reply to further questions he
said he considered Commissioners
Fenning badly advised in the Headley
matter" but said he did not know
by whom. He stated tha- he dM not
believe Mr.. Fenning had any iM:wlii
in making the demotion. Mr.. Gilbert
emphasized that the result was not
only to do a grave injustice to the
man after 90 years of faithful serv-
ice, but must have a bad influence
in disorganizing the force. Mr.. GIN
bert said 1t was suspicious and a
peculiar coincidence that for nearly
80 years MIR. Headley had continued
in the high regard of officers and his
associates and then within a week
of the unfortunate incident with the
Commissioner wife. this extraordl'
nary action took place. When Mr.
Houston questioned what was in the
record connecting Capt. Headley with
that incident Mr.. Gilbert explained
that it had been previously testified
that Mr.. Fenning was angry at In
spector Headley because he thought
the latter did not reprimand Traffic
officer Gore as severely as Mr.. Fen
ming thought should be done. In
spector Shelby said he hated to be-
lieve there was any truth in that"
and that he couldn't believe It..
Pressed further by Mr.. Gilbert. In.
spector Shelby said that he believed
that Inspector Evans either acted on
orders to make the recommendation
for demotion or that he honestly be-
ucNeu IL Wdo AoA SiAo eooU ~
service.
Mr.. Gilbert said that further sus.
picion Of improper influence is aroused
by the secrecy with which the case
was closed. There Is nothing in the
record to show the reason why" In,
spector Shelby declared: you must
go higher than me, for there Is ab'
solutely nothing on the record to
show why"
Asks EIdridge Be Called.
Mr.. Gilbert said: with that rec.
ord and that blow wouldn't we feel
that there must be some Interior mo-
tive unless some one gives US good
reason? Where can we get II! IL
was suggested that Inspector Evans.
Mr., F'enning and TRAFFIC Director
Eldridge should be questioned. Mr..
Gilbert asked that Inspector Evans
be summoned and Mr.. Eldridge re-
called.
Mr.. Gibson questioned what dif1er'
ence there is In the conditions under
which the present inspector OF tramc
works from those that existed when
Inspector Headley was in charge. 1t
was testified by Inspector Shelby that
there was a direct order which re-
suited in Mr.. Eldridge and Inspector
Headley not dealing directly with
each other, but through Commis-
sioner Fenning, whereas now Mr..
Eldridge deals directly with the trar-
fic inspector.
1t was emphasized by questions OF
the subcommittee that through this
method of dealing through Commits.
sioner Fenning it might easily De
made to appear that there was not
proper cooperation between Director
Eldridge and Inspector Headley. In
spector Shelby expressed the opinion
that the present system Is preferable.
Sees Loss to District.
Mr.. Gibson brought out that al
though the present traffic act pro-
vides for reissuance of drivers per-
mits, no effort has been made to
carry out the law In this respect and
that as result the District is suffer
ing a loss in revenue Of 100000 a
year. He asked why the act Of
Congress was not carried out?
Mr.. Bowman asked II there was
friction between the police and the
traffic bureau. Inspector Shelby
testified that they are working ami
cably and he believes with good results.
Further questioning brought out that
Improvement in traffic conditions
probably resulted from an installation
at great cost of the electric traffic
light signal system and the addition
of approximately 100 policemen, a
ma iority of whom have been assigned
to traffic duty.
No Regulation on Point.