Evening star., 1942-04-07
Trade Board
Group Fdvors
Keeping A. I.U.
Record of Arrests
Cited as Showing
Need for Squad

The Trafice Committee Of the
Board of Trade at special meeting
yesterday urged that the Accident
Investigation Unit of the Police
Department be continued and
strengthened.
The action was taken on the basis
Of report submitted by Joseph D.
Ashby, chairman of a subcommittee
appointed to study the work of the
accident squad, following agitation
for abolition of the unit.
The committee, in urging con-
tinuation of the police unit, re-
affirmed a previous position taken
by the Board Of Trade last August,
calling for strengthening of the unit
1t is expected that the District
Commissioners soon will receive a.
report from the Traffic Advisory
Council on its survey of the unit.
Arrests by Squad Cited.
P. Y. K Howat, chairman of the
Board of Trade Traffic Committee,
called yesterdays meeting so that
the Commissioners might have
knowledge of his committees senti-
ment on the matter, along with that
of the Traffic Advisory Council.
John Victory, committee member,
reported that the value of the unit
could best be judged on the number
of arrests made as a result of the
units activity. He stated that at
the same time that the regular
police were reporting arrests in 20
per cent of the accidents, the in
vestigating unit had reported A per
cent arrests.
Inspector Arthur E. Miller, ad-
illustrative head of the unit, con-
firmed Mr.. Victory's figures, adding
that the period for which this record
was kept covered six months and
during that time his msn had
covered 10 per cent of the reported
accidents while the regular force
had covered 80 per cent. There
were convictions in 80 per cent Of
the cases.
Inspector Miller stated that the
value of the unit was comparable
to bookkeeping system in any
business-only by bookkeeping could
adequate records be kept on the
success of any venture. AS a re-
suit, he added, prior to the estab-
fishing of the unit, the causes of
accidents were known in only rs per
cent of the cases. Now, the causes
are known in better than 80 per cent
of the accidents.
He explained there are 36 privates
and three sergeants assigned to his
division, and maximum of six cars
and a minimum Of two cars on duty
at sll times. He said that he is con-
vinced of the effectiveness of his
unit and stated his qualification of
the position taken by the Traffic
Committee.
Keneipp Makes Report.
George E. Keneipp, chairman Of
special committee to study the
budget of the Office of the Director
of Vehicles and Traffic for 1943,
reported his subcommittee indorsed
the adoption of both the preliminary
and supplementary estimates as
suggested by the District Commits
sioners and also recommended con-
sideration of a reclassihcation Of
employees in the traffic directors
Office. His report was adopted by
the committee
The committee, acting on a reso-
luton presented by Jereome Fan
ciulli, favored introduction here Of
a plan for Government parking
lots similar to those in effect in
Detroit and other cities. Under this
plan, no one would be allowed to
use Government parking area
unless the driver could show that
he transported a full car load Of
workers from his area.
F. w. Lovejoy, executive secretary
of the recently established High
way Traffic Advisory Committee Of
the War Department. commended
this plan. He also described his
committees work in establishing
five military routes through Wash
ington, which take Army conveys
through the city in % minutes
without encountering downtown
traffic.