Evening star., 1929-11-15
More Policemen Recommended.

William Phelps Emo, noted autnorlty
on trafic, has recommended to the
Senate subcommittee. which is studying
local conditions, an increase In the
police force in the National Capital OF
five hundred men. While Mr.. Eno's
report to the subcommittee showed that
the grand average of seven cities, COM
parable in size to Washington, is one
policeman to every 462 inhabitants
whereas in the District there is one
policeman to every 412 inhabitants he
strongly urged that on account of the
numerous special duties to which pa
trolmen are assigned here and because
of the very considerable number of
miles that must be patrolled the
average for Washington should be one
guardian of the law for every 300 in
habitants.
Unquestionable merit attaches to Mr..
Eno's suggestion. Washington's present
force is in the neighborhood of 1900
men, and with court appearances, de-
tails at the White House, public build
ings, embassies, legations and functions
of various kinds, this number has been
for years admittedly inadequate. With
1900 men on the rolls, as proposed by
Mr.. Emo, Washington would be proper
ly policed.
Especially in the daily handling of the
heavy traffic would more patrolmen be
valuable. A recent statistical count in
New York City showed that the greatest
speed of vehicles reached, except under
extraordinary circumstances, was four
teen miles an hour in going from one
point to another. Despite the wide
streets in the National Capital 1t
is doubtful If any better time is made
here in the morning or afternoon rush
hours. The reasons for this in WASH
ington are twofold-first, the lackadaisi-
cal manner in which many motorists
operate their cars in getting started
after q "go" signal and the absolute
disregard on the part Of the pedestrians
of either trafhc officers or the auto
matte lights.
1t is obvious that In respect to ,pedes-
trians this situation could be remedied
by a few policemen stationed at inter-
sections. In Washington's recent feeble
attempt at pedestrian control, which
incidentally is a part of the traffic code
SHE'D at by every official from the Com
misSioners down, only four men could
be spared to conduct the experiment.
These four made valiant efforts to teach
pedestrians how to walk on busy streets,
but it would take many times four
men properly to carry out the regula-
tions contained in the traffic code.
Even If the pedestrian regulation was
still looked upon by the authorities as a
red-headed stepchild, when an addition
was made to the force, few more details
at crossings to handle as best they
could those who insisted that lights or
policeman's signals meant nothing in
their lives would materially improve the
situation. Some pedestrians undoubtedly
would heed the blue-coated guardians OF
their safety and would be content to
wait for the propitious moment to breast
the traff1c stream.
Whether the number Of new police
ment needed is 500 or 200 is a question
that must be decided by the Commits
sioners, the department, and Congress
but certainly there can be no contro-
versy over the fact that a substantial
addition to Washington's police force
should be made. The city owes Mr.
Emo a vote of thanks for bringing this
matter so effectively before the legisla-
tors on Capitol Hill