Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-29
TWO MORE POLICE
JUDGES ARE ASKED
Magistrate System for Hear
ina Minor Cases Held Un-
suitable for Capital.

Creation of two more judgeships
in Police Court in lieu of the estab-
lishment Of the proposed magistrate
system for hearing minor cases in
various police precinct stations was
recommended to the District Commis-
sioners today by the committee ap-
pointed by them to study the sub
ject. The committee also urged that
consideration be given to the advis-
ability of establishing traffic viola
ton bureau similar to that operating
in Chicago and Detroit and advocated
by Col. /. c. MolIer, assistant director
of traffic.
The committee made a thorough
study of the magistrate system. In
formation was sought from the
mayors Of 20 cities with a population
of 800, 900 or more, as well as from
Maj. Edwin 3. Hesse, superintendent
Of police; Traffic Director NJ. O. Ell
bridge and his assistant, Col. Moller.
Report Not Unanimous.
The committees conclusions. while
not unanimous, were that Washing
ton. rs not yet large enough for a
magistrate system, which would be
cumbersome, expensive, impractical,
and would Inconvenience attorneys.
A number Of other reasons also We're
given for opposing the system. Chief
among them were that the magistrate
courts would not materially relieve
congestion in the Police Court, they
would make more remote and more
impossible the uniformity of admins
tratiOn and certainty of punishment
in cases of repeated minor cases, that
they would not assist to a large de-
gree in keeping policemen on their
beats and would decentralize the keep
ing of court and police records.
Moreover, it was pointed out that
it would be impractical TO keep all
Of the records of the 10000 motor
vehicle operators in the headquarters
for the various magisterial districts.
or to secure from the central head.
quarters by telephone or otherwise in
formation needed in order to prose
cute such cases.
The minority report contended that
the magistrate courts would be in the
interest of greater efficiency of the
Police Department, would expedite
the handling of petty cases, relieve
congestion in the Police Court and
would enable the presiding judge to
give greater personal study to individ-
ttdl Eases dIlU W apply LclOI
methods rather than penal ones.
Hope to Cut Court Cases.
The trafYic violation bureau, which
the committee suggests should be
given consideration, is calculated to
remove the necessity for motorists
and policemen to go into court in
about 1000 out Of 100000 traffic cases
annually. In Detroit. the bureau is
operated as q branch of the police de-
partment traffic bureau, and is located
the central part of the city.
The police ticket for violation of the
traffic regulations, except in cases of
speed higher than 80 miles an hour,
reckless driving, driving while drunk
and leaving after colliding. orders the
offender to go to the violation bureau
within "a hours after it is served.
A. complete file is kept at the
bureau of all drivers. This file is
kept by names and operators permit
number. On the arrival at the bureau
Of the complete record Of traffic vio-
lations of the individual, an examina-
ton is given at once. The violator
Is then told that he has the option Of
paying the scheduled charge for the
offense. or If he prefers. he may go
to court. If he pays the matter is
closed. but If he elects to stand trial
a summons is made out for his ap-
pearance in court at designated
time, and the officer making the ar
rest and any witnesses are served
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