The Washington critic., 1890-05-22
FAST DRIVING All THE CAPITAL.
Pedestrians Forced to Run the Gaunt-
let by Reckless Jehus.

Pedestrians Forced to Run the Gaunt-
let by Reckless Jehus.
1t is to be hoped the resolution of
Representative Thompson of Ohio, con
cerning fast driving and insufficient and
inopportune street sweeping in this city,
willwork an awiully needed reform, says
q Washington dispatch in o.day's Bal
timore San. For certainly ten years
pedestrians in Washington have liter
ally run the gau ntlet of every populous
street crossing with their lives in their
hands. Tourists and travellers, whose
observation and experience cover the
civilized world, make daily comment on
the reckless and brutal disregard of the
rights of others displayed by the men
who traverse the streets Of Washington
with reins in their hands, and their as
tonishment is not lessened by the knowl-
edge that the hand of authority seems
absolutely palsied. The inefiiciency Of
the present District Commissioners in
this respect is not more marked than
that of their predecessors, but an in
tense interest pervades the community
in anticipating what explanation or ex-
cuse can be offered by them.
So far as is known there is not in the
world civilized city of $4,000 inhabi-
tants, where policemen are not stationed
at prominent crossings to regulate the
speed of vehicles and protect pedes-
trians at crossings In this capital city
of the greatest nation on the globe,
where at periods of the day thousands
of people are traversing the principal
| thoroughfares, there is not at any cross
! ing a detailed policeman. The atten-
ton of the District Commissioners has
frequently been called to this, but with
out avail. In the whole length OF Penn
! sylvania avenue from the Treasury to
! the Capitol for hours at time not po-
liceman is in sight, while drivers and
riders tear at John Gilpin speed over
the long triangular spaces where. every
| pedestrian must look out for himself
| and the devil take the hindermost
1t isquite true. as alleged by the Dis
trict Commissioners, that in the spo'
radio cases where their stray policeman
apprehend murderous rider or driver
and bring him before the local courts
he is often let off with nominal pun
ishment. but this is really no excuse
for dereliction of duty so far as they
are concerned. AT the same time. the
House of Representatives will do well
as it has taken hold of this crying evil,
| to haul the tender, hearted Judiciary
over the Goals. 1t still rankles in the
minds of the people of this commu-
nifty that not very long ago one of the
! judges on the District Bench impris-
oned in Jail for a few days and fined
5000 man who deliberately rode down
and killed one of the most respected
and highly appreciated citizens of the
District.
In Paris the code Of the street pre-
scribes the pedestrian always to be the
offender. 1t is his obligation to get out
of the way and if he is not killed on
the spot for obstructing the wild career
| of a rider or driver, he is liable to be
| hauled before the courts and punished.
This seems TO be the committee law in
Washington, but 1t pertains nowhere
else. In London the uplifted finger OF
policeman is all that is necessary to
arrest the careeer of the most obstrep-
erous and wayward horseman. Such
should he the case here, and the House
| of Representatives which passed
promptly and unanimously Mr. Thomp-
sons resolution of inquiry is evidently
in mood to law down that law.
The street-sweeping business, as it is
conducted here, is simply the most out
rageous nuisance, and whoever is re-
sponsible for ii should be brought to
book at once. No street sweeping
should be tolerated in any city until
after midnight. Here, in the early
hours of the evening, when the whole
population is on the street promenading
visiting, going to or returning from
places of amusement, the sweeping
machines are encountered, at almos
every step, stirring up choking, blind
ing volumes of dust aud filth, running
clothes, obstructing breathing, obscur
ing sight, and generally making every
one miserable. Mr., Thompson's reso
luton, when answered by the Distric
Commissioners, may possibly throw
some light upon this.