Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-07
Seeks Opinion From Counsel
Defining Jurisdiction of
Each Official.
TRAFFIC HEAD SHOULD BE
UNDER HIM, CHIEF HOLDS
Congress Intended Such Course,
Police Superintendent Writes
in Complaint.

AS Traffic Director William H. Har-
land today started his second term in
office, following reappointment for three
years yesterday, Maj. Henry G. Pratt,
superintendent of police, complaining
that the authority of the traffic director
had been misinterpreted by the District
Commissioners, asked that the corpora
ton counsel be called on to supply an
opinion defining the jurisdiction of the
major and superintendent OF police and
the director of traffic.
Mai. Pratt points out that the act
creating the Office of director of traffic,
passed in March. 1925. states that the
director of traffic shall perform the
duties prescribed in the act under the
direction of the major and superin-
tendent Of police"
Contends He Is Superior.
"It was clearly the intent of Con-
greSs," Maj. Pratt wrote, that the di-
rector of traffic in carrying out the
provisions of the traffic act would be
subject to the direction of the major
and superintendent"
AS matter of fact, Mai. Pratt points
out, this has not been the case. An
official order of the Board of Commits
sioners, passed in April, 1925, states
that "all official communications from
the director of traffic to the District
Commissioners concerning the passage,
repeal or modification of regulations
shall be sent to the Commissioners and,
simultaneously, a copy thereof sent to
the major and superintendent of police.
The latter shall make any suggestions
he may deem advisable thereon as
speedy as practicable to the Commits
Sioners"
This is all the control he has over
the traffic director. Maj. Pratt states.
las a result of this order the duties
pertaining to the Office Of the director
of trafiic have not been under the
superintendent as set forth In the traf-
fic act" the report reads. with the ex-
ceptfon OF receiving copy of the rec
ommendation to the Commissioners of
the director of traffic on changes or
amendments to traffic regulations, all
matters in reference to traffic coming
to the Office of the major and superin-
tendent are submitted by the assistant
superintendent of police, commanding
the Traffic Bureau"
Hits at Efficiency Bureau.
Maj. Pratt's report takes a polite slap
at the Bureau of Efficiency, which
recently accused the Public Utilities
Commission and the Commissioners Of
usurping authority of the Traffic
Bureau. Pratt, specifically, goes into
that section of the Efficiency Bureaus
report which said the Commissioners
had no power to order a hack stand on
street designated by the director of
traffic as one on which no parking
should be allowed at certain times Of
the day. The traffic regulations them
selves, promulgated by the director of
traffic, take care of this situation. Mai.
Pratt pointed out a paragraph in Sec
ton Is which provides that the restric-
tons as to parking shall not apply to
licensed public vehicles occupying stands
designated by the Commissioners for
public vehicles.
Mr.. Harland said today that he was
contemplating inaugurating some new
policies in his second term, but that
none of them would take effect until
after July /, and that he would be
unable to discuss them until he learned
the final action Of Congress on the
Districts 1881 supply bill. AS soon as
final action has been taken on this, he
said, he will be ready to announce the
changes in policy.