Evening star., 1936-03-06
POLICE INCREASE
DEMANDED AT D. c.
TRAFF|CHEAR|NCS
Bishop Freeman Among
Those Expressing Concern
Over Toll Here.
MARSH, CAPT. SMITH
AND MRS. THORPE HEARD
Suggestions Include Pleas for
Night Court and Tightening
of Regulations.

Insistent demand that there must be
at least IS more uniformed motor
cycle police on traffic duty featured
the hearing on the Washington traf-
fic problem today before the special
House subcommittee which is prepar-
ing corrective legislation.
Bishop James E. Freeman, as chair
man of the Traffic Safety Committee
of the A. A. A.; Burton w. Marsh, di-
rector of safety in traffic engineering
for the A. A. A.; Capt. Milton ID.
Smith, in charge of the Traffic Divi-
sion of the Metropolitan Police Force,
and Mrs. George Thorpe. chairman OF
the Women's Traffic Safety Commit
tee, A. A. A., were witnesses. They all,
as we'll as members of the committee,
emphasized that the major require
ment for promotion OF traffic safety
is more traffic policemen.
''You can pass all the laws you wish.
but If you do not CIV us more police
men for traffic duty it will do no good" !"
Capt. Smith, who has been after traf-
fic violators 18 years, quoted to the
House subcommittee today from traffic
hearings held 10 years ago. He said
that was just as true today.
He also renewed the plea for night
traffic court.
Representative Reed Illinois) asked
about motor cycle escorts for recep-
tions. Capt. Smith told of escorts of
sergeant and six motor cycle men
attending the President as escort to
a dinner given by the Vice President
which kept them on duty from shortly
after pm. till after midnight, as
they did not have motor cycle men
for traffic duty. When the President
addresses Congress. he said, all motor
cycle men are on duty with the Presi-
dent or escorting other officials.
Accident Figures Given.
Capt. Smith quoted figures on traffic
accidents. He said that speed is re-
sponsible for the majority of traffic
accidents.
The members OF the committee. es-
corted by Traffic Director Van Duzer
and Maj. Brown. superintendent of
police, were late in getting started on
their survey of tie hurry-to- work
traffic this morning from the blimp
Enterprise, so they missed seeing the
heaviest morning traffic.
Bishop Freeman as chairman of the
Traffic Committee of the A. A. A. urged
cooperative effort all along the line
to drive death from the streets.
Bishop Urges Coordination.
''The number of accidents. the per-
sons killed and injured gives me pro-
found concern" he said, land prompt
ed my appearance here to urge CO.
ordination of all efforts to reach
solution of this most serious problem
I realize it is unusual for the Bishop
of Washington to be interested in this
subject. but I come here as chairman
of the Traffic Committee of the A. A.
A. and vitality interested to get
1roper solution"
Capt. Smith said that the lack of
personnel is the greatest handicap.
showing that in 1928 there were "a
motor cycle policemen, while now there
are only 81, in spite of the increased
registration of cars.
Capt. Smith argued that establish
ment OF, magistrate courts, as pro-
posed by Corporation Counsel Pretty
man, would proye lust another bur-
den on the public" Asked by Chair
man Carpenter regarding prohibition
of left-hand turns in congested Sec
tions, Capt. Smith thought the result
would be to keep more cars in the traf-
fic tangle, going five or six blocks to