Evening star., 1941-02-16
D. {. Heads
Will Review
Miller Case
Inspector Slated
To Stort Traffic
Duties Today

The Commissioners are scheduled
tomorrow to review" the action OF
Maj. E. w. Brown, superintendent OF
police, in assigning Inspector Arthur
E. Miller to command the police
traffic division and the newly CEN
traliZed motorcycle unit, during
leave of absence of Inspector
William E. Holmes.
Inspector Miller was TO take
More than temporary assignment
is involved however, since it has
been reported Inspector Holmes will
retire about April !, and Maj. Brown
has announced he eventually" will
recommend Inspector Miller for the
permanent assignment
Commissioner John Russell Young
revealed yesterday the temporary
appointment would be reviewed. He
said Maj. Browns plan might be
found to be proper, but he added
that personally he felt this thing
should not be jammed down our
throats"
Miller Is Puzzled.
Inspector Miller, who was pro-
NOTED TO the rank of inspector after
he had taken a special course in
traffic control work at Northwestern
University, said when asked for
comment on the dispute:
Il have never met Commissioner
Young either personally or officially.
I cannot imagine why he feels the
way he does about me. This seems
TO be a controversy between Mai.
Brown and the Commissioner"
Maj. Brown told reporters yester-
day after he learned of the plan to
review his assignment of In
Spector Miller, that he could not
understand why an officer granted
nine months of leave with pay to
attend university to get special
lied traffic control training should
not be assigned TO just such
duty after he had had his training.
Inspector Miller is the logical
man." he declared.
Maj. Brown pointed out that all
inspectors hold equal rank. except
as to seniority, and that he regarded
his decision to designate Inspector
Miller temporarily to take over In
Spector Holmes duties as matter
| of administrative routine.
Two Commissioners Agree.
Commissioner Young and En-
gineer Commissioner David Nc
Coach agreed that perhaps an as
signment might be made without
formal action by the Commissioners
If no change in the setup or rank
was involved, but they suggested
it might be considered more logi-
cal" that the second in command
of division would take over in the
absence of the chief official.
Maj. McCoach, in amplification.
said he felt this was the proper
procedure unless some one with
proper authority made the different
assignment" Asked if he meant
by this that he thought Maj. Brown
did not have proper authority, the
Commissioner replied that he did
not know
Capt Milton D. Smith, who Is In
command of the traffic division, un-
der Inspector Holmes. would have
been given his supervisory duties II
the plan suggested by the Commits
sioners was followed.
The Commissioners, with the pos
sible exception Of Commissioner
Melvin C. HaZen, were taken by
surprise by Maj. Browns an
nouncement yesterday that he had
assigned Inspector Miller to the ex-
ira duties, it was reported. Com
missioner Young said he had asked
whether any promotion or assign
ment had been recommended in con-
nection with proposal By Maj, Brown
to centralize control of the depart
ment's 60-odd motorcycle officers
under one supervising official He
said he was told no assignment was
: involved in the order, which the
Commissioners adopted Friday.
Called Before Congress.
! After learning of Inspector Mlller's
! assignment, Commissioner Young
said:
The traffic situation in Washing
ton is an important matter. The
Commissioners have been called to
testify before a congressional COM
mittee on this subject We are ulti-
.. mately held responsible, and re-
.. Gently there was wave of traffic
accidents and deaths. The assign
ment of Inspector Miller to do In.
.. spector Holmes work during his alb
sence may be a routine matter and
Maj. Brown may have acted prop
erly, but think in view of the whole
situation, our advice should have
been asked and this thing should
not be jammed down our throats."
:. Mai. Brown argues that he ha,
the authority to make assignments
of personnel except where changes
in pay or rank are involved.