Evening star., 1935-12-15

favoritism has been a bad factor in
the traffic problems of today. 1t is
human nature that one will not be so
careful driver if he or she believes in
the possibility or the likelihood of get
ting off" if apprehended. And while
favoritism exists it Is also human ma
ture to try to get off" if you know
that some one else is doing it,
In the District of Columbia, because
of its status as the National Capital,
favoritism is rather widespread. With
Congress membership numbering 531,
not inclusive of hundreds of secre-
taries and other persons of political
importance residing here part of the
time, it is only too true that the
chances of escaping punishment in
traffic violations are very good.
In due respect to many of the above
mentioned it is very probable that
many at no time use their influence
in aiding a friend caught in traffic
lam. No one knows how many motor
lists use the name of some member of
Congress without his knowledge. But
is the policeman always to know that?
He may feel that it is better for his
position on the force that he will look
over" the ofense in question.
None of this goes to helping the
situation here. 1t may not be the
chief cause of Washingtons low
standing on the honor roll of cities,
but certainly it is a contributing factor.
B. L. Corbett, executive secretary
of the Milwaukee Safety Commission,
at the request of The Star has sent
in the following information:
In reply to your communication
of the 26th. relative to safety cam
paigns. we have never have safety
campaign in the city of Milwaukee.
We attempt to wage a continuous
campaign. I am attaching a digest
of the set-up of the Milwaukee Safety
Commission and also copy of Public
Safety, carrying a story of the activ-
tiles of the Milwaukee Safety Com
mission"
Milwaukee Safety Commissions set
up is as follows:
Milwaukee for the past II years
has had a Safety Commission COM
posed of non-elective city officials,
public utility directors, operators of
heavy truck fleets, doctors, newspaper
editors and publishers, engineers and
public and parochial school officials.
These men are appointed by the mayor
for three year terms. The appointment
IS honorary and they serve as an
auxiliary and advisory body for vari-
Gus city departments and they have
been responsible for co-ordinatlng the
variuos governmental agencies in the
CITY along the lines of public safety.
The Safety Commission endeavors
to study all matters pertaining to pub
lie and home safety and recommends
to the variuos departments that GER
tain courses be taken in the interest
of safety.
The commission has School Com
rnittee, Traffic Committee, Research
Committee, Committee on Awards for
MeritoriuoS Acts, and a Committee
on LEGISLATION. These committees
meet regularly and make recommen-
dations to the commission, which are
passed upon and in turn carried to
the proper city authorities for COM
pletion.
Representatives of civic associations
and commercial truck owners and
operators compose an advisory group
to the commission proper.
AS a result of the activities of the
commission. the citizens of Milwaukee
take an active and direct part in the
prevention of accidents due to street
and highway traffic.
Public opinion, through newspaper
publicity and newspaper campaigns
sponsored by the commission, has COM
pelled the cooperation of law-enforce-
ment agencies, judicial action and
the elimination of favoritism in ar
rests and punishment.
x x
Bylaws and rules of procedure OF
the Milwaukee Safety Commission, as
found in chapter XXVI a, Milwaukee
Code are:
Section 1895. There is hereby
created a safety commission for the
city of Milwaukee consisting OF Is
members, appointed by the mayor,
from the citizens of the city. 1t shall be
the duty of this commission to inves-
tigate, advise and report to the mayor,
Common Council, police department
and commissioner of public works and
other city officials concerning the best
methods of providing for the safety
and convenience of the public on the
streets and elsewhere, to educate the
public on matters of safety and to give
the greatest possible publicity as to
safety precautions.
The Safety Commission shall choose
one of its members as chairman and
one as secretary. 1t shall be the duty
of the secretary to call meetings of
the commission, to keep minutes of its
meetings and accounts, and to be
ready at all times to advise with the
city officials as to the work and rec
concentrations of the commission.
The names of the members of the
commission and of its officers shall
be reported to the Common Council.
Section l. This organization shall
be known as the Milwaukee Safety
Commission.
Section 2. The commission is hereby
empowered to create such additional
Offices not covered by ordinance as it
deems advisable for the carrying out
of its work.
Section 5. (a) The annual meeting
ef the commission shall be held in
the city of Milwaukee during the first
10 days of the month of January on
a day specified by the chairman, and
notice thereof shall be mailed to all
members of the commission at least
one week prior to the day of holding
the meeting.
(b) The commission shall hold reg
ular or special meetings at such time
and place as designated by the COM
mission.
Section 4. The headquarters of this
commission shall be located in the
Il.