Evening star., 1931-12-27

the prevalence OF third degree tactics
throughout the country was still fresh
in the public mind and the clamor at
once arose demanding punishment not
only for those in the Harker case, but
for all other policemen found guilty of
brutality.
DR.. Luther H. Reichelderfer, chair
man of the Board of Commissioners,
made a personal appeal to President
Hoover for assistance from the Depart
ment of Justice in ferreting out the
guilty. After a painstaking investiga-
ton, the indictments followed.
Many Changes Come.
While all this was going on Maj
Henry G. Pratt, superintendent of the
department, and Assistant Superintend-
ent William S. Shelby were found
physically incapable of any further
duty and Inspector Louis j. Stoll. who
was present at the precinct station on
the night of Harker's detention, re-
quested retirement, which was granted
promptly.
Brig. Gen. Pelham D. Glassford,
U. S. A., retired, was then selected as
Washington's new police chief and
promptly won his way into the conf
dence OF Washingtons citizens by
his efficient handling of the march of
unemployed persons who came to de-
mand relief from Congress on the open
ing day of the session.
There had been important changes
in the department. even before the
third degree scandal. Effective July l.,
1881, the Commissioners adopted
new order, making retirement from the
force compulsory at the age of 81 for
ali members. Three new inspection
districts were also set and three of the
older precincts abolished Inspector
William Henry Harrison was the first
to retire on account of the new age
limit His place was filled by the pro-
motion of Capt o. T. Davis, formerly
OF the second precinct.
The department had installed a radio
broadcasting system, sending descrip-
tions of hold-ups and similar crimes
to radio scout cars. C.rpt. F. S. w.
Burke had been made assistant super
1ntendent in charge of the Detective
Bureau and Assistant Superintendent
William S. Shelby had been made ad-
mlnlstrative aide to Maj. Pratt.
Utilities Board Kept Busy.
The Public Utilities Commission We'd
with the Police Department for head
Lnes during the year. Perhaps the
most sensational case involved its in
curry into the ownership of the Wash
lngton Gas Light Co., which revealed
TO the satisfaction of the commission
that the local companies had become a
part of an immense chain of utilities
heading in the Central Public Service
Corporation and Albert E. Peirce of
Chicago. The corporation counsel now
Is under instruction to file suit in the
District Supreme Court compelling the
Central Public Service to disassociate
itself from the local companies.
The gas company and the commits
sion spent large part of the year at
loggerheaoS on the subject of gas pres
Sures and gas bills Early in February
the commission was flooded with COM
plants from consumers that their bills
were too high, especially in view of
the reduced rates put into effect bv
the company in 1890 Commission in
vestigations showed that its pressure
limits of to inches were being yio-
lated in many sections of the CITY.
After extensive public hearings, the
matter was finally adjusted by chang
ing the allowable pressure limits to 3
TO 8 inches and insisting on the in
Stallatlon OF pressure governors at
numerous strategic spots.
Warfare between the commission
and the Potomac Electric Power Co
proceeded without letup all wear AS
part of its order fixing the 1881 cleo
trio rates at 40 cents per kilovatt
hour, the commission found that under
tne consent decree of equity court. used
IN determining the rates the company
was making too much money and an
nounced its intention of correcting this
condition.
Policy TangIe Cleared.
Before coming to grips with the
company. however, the commission in
dulged in long wrangle with it's own
counsel, Eho had advised it to proceed
to set new rates for the company as
though the consent decree were not in
existence. At first the commission re-
Jected this advice and instructed the
corporation counsel to draw UP a pc
tition to the court asking that the
consent decree be revised. This peti-
ton was actually drawn up, but never
nled as the commission finally Welded
and made an order of it's own setting
up new sliding scale and ignoring the
consent decree.
This order is now in litigation in the
District Supreme Court.
Congress in February passed an act
setting cents as the rate for
school children. This led to a long
battle between the commission and the
car companies, in which the latter de-
manded an increase in the adult rate
TO make up for their losses in the chill
drens rate. This also found its way
to courts, where it now rests.
Ihe year saw replacement Of street
cf
Seventeenth street by busses.
Taxicabs came in for large share of
attention owing to the rate war during
July, which cut the rates on most cars
to 20, 40 and so cents on the zone
system. So many persons took to driv-
ing taxicabS without attending to the
formalitieS required by the commission
that hearing was called at which a
new taxicab code was drawn up to be-
come effective next January 10. Cardi-
nal features of the code are a require
ment that each cab be equipped with
a meter to register distance only with
a fare of 25 cents for the first two miles
and cents for each additional third
OF mile, and section abolishing the
rental system Of taxicab operation.
Agree On Traffic Bill.
After long dispute between the
District Commissioners and the Public
Utilities Commission as to their respec-
tive traffic powers, the two bodies finally
agreed upon the text Of a traffic bill
which was passed by Congress in Feb
ruary. effective July l.
William A. Van Duzer was chosen as
the Districts new traffic director
During the year the rotary left turn
was abandoned in favor of the Hoover
turn Drastic parking ordinances were
drawn up. prohibiting parking in the
| central downtown zone between 8 and
$50 in the morning; limiting parking
to one hour In the zone immediately