Evening star., 1937-10-29
TRAFFIC REFORM
ORDERED BY |CKES
Secretary Tells Force to
Tag VioIators to Promote
Safe Driving.
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.

Secretary Ickes made his first Off
cial inspection of the full United States
Park Police force yesterday afternoon
lating them to do better job" of
enforcing local traffic regulations in
helping to make Washington a bit
safer for driving.
He didn't exactly lecture them, for
his words were more kindly than
critical, but he did make some peril
nent suggestions, especially to the
motor cycle corps. about being more
on the alert for offenders.
I'm not complaining" he told the
men as they assembled respectfully
before him in a semicircle. You're
doing darn good job-but just do
1t little better.
"You are delegated to make traffic
as safe as you can. I realize there
are not nearly enough men on the
force-there should be more-but
ask the few of you to do as good
a job as you can"
Compliments Courtesy.
He told them also: You're courte-
Gus, we'll set-up, good looking Let's
see if you can't set an example here
in efficient, courteous law enforce
ment."
The inspection, first of its kind
made by Secretary Ickes since the
National Capital Parks Office took over
the Park Police four years ago. was
supposed to have been a strictly
private affair At least it was un-
heralded. Only Supt C. Marshall
Finnan of the parks Office accom-
panied Mr.. Ickes.
Awaiting them in the garage at
the propagating gardens were Capt.
P. j. Carroll and all the men who
could be relieved from duty-68 out
of total of 49, 1t was to be a real
the Secretary. You will also inspect
the pistols" he reminded.
Mr.. IckeS looked a bit dubious
"Are they all unloaded?" he smiled
The men were drawn up at atten-
ton in three rows, with the motor
cycles in the rear Their uniforms
were freshly pressed and they stood
In soldierly line
First Sergt H. T. Mishell called the
roll.
Handles Pistol Gingerly.
Mr.. Ickes passed along the line like
an officer on tour of inspection and
looked at them with approving eye
He took a pistol from one of the men
and handled it very gingerly. A few
PAGES on he took second pistol and
seemed more at ease. Then he exam
ined another and another. In a few
minutes he was twirling cylinders and
looking through barrels with the eye of
military man.
At the conclusion. Mr.. IckeS said to
them. Gather around bit so you can
hear me better. 1 want to talk to you
bit about the traffic regulations. l
don't claim to be an expert but at
least have the power of observation"
Cheered by Men.
He concluded his brief remarks with
one pertinent expression of opinion:
"1f We are not going to enforce the
laws. let's take down the signs" 1t
was greeted with cheers from the as
sembled men.
Mr.. Ickes' remarks about the Pc
culiarities of Washington driving were
based on some of his own experiences,
he said. in driving through the streets.
His complaint was not directed at
speeding" he said and he hastened to
sdd: I'm not advocating speeding
but there are other things, some of
them trivial, that are the cause of
more accidents"
Summed up. the cause of most of the
traffic troubles, in his opinion, are
drivers crossing from one lane to
another, failing to give hand signal,
parking double abreast and parking
where the regulations forbid it,
Cites Tie-up by Officer.
A few days ago, he said he drove
by an intersection with four lanes
of traffic going south. The traffic po-
liceman let a car in the third lane
turn left and cross two traffic lanes.
Just as the stop light was turning on.
Now that policeman was not doing
a good job" he remarked He not
only slowed up the original lane the
driver was in, but he slowed up two
other lanes"
Mr.. Ickes took the motor cycle men
somewhat to task for not ticketing
enough cars or stopping violators. He
blamed it on their indisposition, he
said, to get off their vehicles.
Spots 20 Violators.
Overtime parking on the Ellipse
was scored by Mr.. Ickes and blamed
on the neglect of motor cycle men to
stop to put tickets in cars. He re-
vealed that recent ride around the
Enipse with Mr. Finnan, he counted
at least 20 violations of mo Parking"
signs, but said that no car had been
ticketed.
Mr.. Ickes' inspection of parking
conditions on the Ellipse, it was
learned yesterday, have resulted in
the issuance of new regulations.
Two hour parking signs have
been put on the outer circle where
heretofore parking was unlimited.
This was to stop a rather common
practice, it was explained, of switch
ing cars from the inner to the outer
circle after a few hours to escape
tickets.