The morning times., 1896-07-19
JUSTICE FOR EHEGLME1
Chief Consul Robeftson's CRU
sads- in Their Behalf. -
L. A. W. Official Writes Letter TO
District commissioners Calling -,
Attention to Unjust Laws.

! Mr.. ". T. Robertson, chief consul. OF
| the District Division, League of American
| Wbeeimen, has opened upsstEe League's
| crusade against the police regulations.
| Yesterday Ne sent s communication to the
| Commissioners ASKING them to name a
| day wnen a comuilItee from tine League
could call on them.
>, he also lnc,osed clippings from The
| Times ana u contemporary about the fine
| imposed on a RECKLESS oriver Tine arfver
| ran into a wbeeiman and injured him
| severely. He was arrested and IN the
police court was meg Sl: a few minutes
cyclist for fast r.ding ana the fine i'm
posed on him was $40, with the threat
mat The next tiIne IL Would be s4U. mr.
reads:
July 1s, 1896.
Hon: commissioners of the District OF
GenL,eii,en: l attach hereto clippings
from. The Times and Star to which most
Respectfully cal your attention. Iney
show the justice generally Int.ted out 10
tie wheeiuien or tine District or CoIum Dta
All sensible Elders admit that It is
necessary TO enforce laws to hold down
the reckless or those inclined to be recK-
less. but It does seem haru tiiat those VINO
ride in lawful manner should be made
TO suffer for those Who do not.
l believe in the regulation making it
necessary fOr the cycisJ 10 carry a i,gtJ
and bell, also limiting the speed, but
other veHicIes should De limited in the
same way; A wagon, carriage. or vehicle
propelled Dy beast or burden, should lie
Is not pubffc vehicle, and should nave
some means other than the drivers voice
TO warn those CROSSING ITS path. 1t rs
sad tiiaC the noise iIaIe by the hOrscs'
hoofs and the ruInbling Of the wheels ia
sufficient, but One gets accustomed TO
this>sound.s and the same attention Is not
PAID 10 ii as would De to some sharp, slirii
soand. like a gong or other suita bic note
OF warning.
f,very ulIe but the rider seems tote
against the cyeilst: The driver OF the
ordinary Vehicle takes particular delight
in running him down, and in many cases
forces hiIn 70 ride upon the payenieht..
Some or the braver ones expostuate but
not killed."
The street cara are permitted a greater.
speed than the rider. No particular at
tention Is paid TO wagons. The police
are gwen special Instructions to tase up
riders, ana the over Jealous ones take
in those who are trying to ride WITHIN
The limit. and some or the most reckless
ones escape SIMPLY because they can
ride faster than the police. a,u-
/ would mCst respectfully suggest that
SPECIAL police he appointed TO look after
wagons and see that drivers DO rot abuse
the rights OF the wneeimen and otner uss.
break the police regulations. and that
SPECIAL police lie appointed TO SIT. tnat cars
DO not 20 faster than prescribed by law.
Not one POLICEMAN out or thousand
can discriminate between five and eight
miles an hour. l cannot myself, and
am sure | am better dialiIIed to Judge
the speed OF i bicycle than the ordinary
po!!ceman. or even the squad appointed
for that purpose. frjIE
More stringent ruleslarei enforced against
wheeimen here than III any other City
in the country The Ihwffare more we're
than in the crowdediiGues OF New York
and Buffalo, in these cities and in most Of
the others In the country tine drivers of
wagons and carriages are required TO fol-
low the regulations.
! t'f,.s rs i's.5tIer city where the pedestrian
uses the streets between the Crossings
as they do here, but the cyclist is 'itn-
Inesiiateiy arrested ii oae OF these careless
PERSONS collide with him the wheeIli.an
always getting the blaae
< In other citiest the Ia wtfS enforced against /
these who throw glass, 3acks and other
rubbish in the streets. No attention is paid
worth OF tires are spohet annually by rub 4
oish deposited in the. cutters anu thrown
III the Mtdlle snfs .tiIe .slrsAtff RI 4 = r 2,
!! Tie Regulations prafIi6G the sUeetgcarg
fss 9a aash "a s5 fstalss II sps ksg ssE # sq ss % isa
an hour at -cre~siD Is. 1t Is "a common
occurrence on Ninth street northwest and
Four aBd-a-half street south west for cars
have been known to travel at twenty miles
an hour and pay no attention to crussing gs,
1t is necessary for u cycilst when has.e Is
required 10 r!de alongside of these cars, as
they know they are safe from arrest, as
they are going no faster than the cars
The two clippings attached slow one in
stance or tile aniinoslty shown the wheel.
men. would respectfully request that you
give the above your most earnest ConSidera-
lion and that you appoint day for a coIn-
niittee from the League Of American WheeI- \
men 10 taiS over The rules applicable TO
riders OF bicycles and tine users OF other
vehicles. Very respectfully,
a. 4H.ifi W. T. ROBERTSON, -..
Chief Consul, D. C. Div L. A W.