Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23

ME I6CGI1L OIO6T OF MAJ
Henry G. Pratt, Superin-
tendent of the Metropolitan
police, to the effect that
more courtesy is to be employed
in the future by members OF his
force, is to be commended.
Unfortunately the National Cap
ital has not received the reputa-
ton of possessing minionS OF the
law who excel in this line. The
average citizen is deserving of
far better treatment than he
often receives. PoliteneSs goes a
long way in irnpelling respect for
law.
Treatment Unwarranted.
1t is not right for the violator
of some minor traffic ordinance
to be treated like a criminal, even
at the time a ticket is being
handed out or an arrest made
Perhaps at times it is a little diff
ficult for a policeman to be Suave
and gentle toward some f1ippant
and conceited youth. But often
the bruSqueneSS and bulldog
methods of the officer of the law
are directed to an elderly person
or member of the feminine per-
SuaSion.
Age and the fairer sex should
not be the recipients of any Spe-
cial privilege, per Sc, but common
decency and respect is due all
Abusive treatment is never neceS-
Sary, and the order of Maj. Pratt
should be fully enforced.
In Mai. Pratt'S order is the con-
structive suggestion that warn
ing often can be given for petty
or minor infringementS of the
traffic regulations. This plan is
left to the Judgment of the in
dividual policeman, and naturally
could not be carried out in every
incident. 1t is strange, however,
that in the past warnings or
friendly advice is given nearly al
ways by the same group. The
other group, a much larger one,
only gives out tickets and sum-
monSeS to court.
Another Evil Described.
There is another evil that fire.
uuently occurs which likewise
should be remedied. 1t is the
practice of serving warrants in
traffic cases, where careleSSly or
wilfully, as the case may be, the
person to whom a ticket has been
given does not visit one of the
precincts and deposit collateral.
Maybe "a friend" is fixing the
matter up. And so, in the course
of time, the policeman who is
making the complaint has a war
rant issued at Police Court. Up
to now, well and good. Such
things have to happen, dislike
them as we will.
But now what has been neceS-
sary becomes unnecessary, or at
least is frequently the case. There
is no need for hurry, and the per-
son can be gotten in touch with
in many ways, all of which with
some consideration. If a motor
iSt knows there is a warrant out
for him, he or she is not going to
forget" any longer.
Instead of phoning, either at
home or the office, the policeman
in many instances will Swoop
down upon the dwelling and in
form the inhabitant that he must
come with him. The policeman
invariably will draw himself up
: in all the majesty he can sum-
mon and deal with the Suppliant
as if he was the most hardened
criminal on earth. The regula-
lions require that collateral to
appear in court must be put up
by the defendant himself, and so
alongside of his "captor" he must
leave his home and set out for the
station house. The policeman
may allow ''his man" to proceed
a short time later, but this seldom
occurs. often the policeman will
have a second policeman with
him, to add bit more Splendor
to the scene.
Trouble Avoidable.
OF course, all this may be avoid
ed by strict compliance with the
law. But few motorists do not
slip up now and then. Then,
again, every charge brought forth
is not always proved in court.
Mistakes are made. It is human
to err. But, after all, policemen
and even motorists are human.
Speaking of Mistakes a real
one, or, in this particular instance
two real ones, we're reported the
other day. 1t cannot be claSsed
as exceptional.
One day during the real Winter
weather, with it's attendant snow
fall all around, motorist far up
town, late in the afternoon, park
ed abreast for a few minutes to
save his wife from blowing
through drifts that bedecked