Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-04
GIVES LITTLE PROTECTION.
BICYCLE ORDINANCE PASSED THE
LOWER HOUSE LAST NIGHT.
MIR. Wolf Wanted Officers Mounted on
Bicycles Detailed 10 Enforce the
Ordfnance-NO BeIIs or Tags,
but Lamps Are Required.

For a few neeting minutes last night the
spectacle of policemen mounted on bicycles
chasing "scorchers' over the streets, al
leys and public highways of the city loom
ed up as an interesting possibility in the
lower house of the city council. This was
Councilman WoIf-s solution of the prob
lem of enforcing the bicycle ordinance
which was under consideration. Only
Speaker Smith and Councilman Simonds,
however, agreed with this manner of solv-
ing the problem, and like many other Of
Mr.. VOLTS practical and unhaCkneyed sug-
gestions it was buried beneath an opposi-
tiOn vote.
The bicycle ordinance. as it finally passed
the house. and goes back TO the upper
house. is much like the Wilson bill-there's
mighty little protection in it.
II emerged from the gauntlet of the
house, sans tags, sans bells. sans every
thing but the enacting clause and few
incidental provisions, such as requiring
lamps. limiting speed to ten miles an hour
through the streets. and five miles at
street crossings, prohibiting the sprinklinS
of tacks, nails; cinders or scrap iron on
the streets, and fixing the penalty for Vio-
lation at from 81 to So.
Albert Young. president of the Kansas
City cyclists; and A.. E. Sheriff. and
Wheelmen appeared before the house.
They protested against wheelmen being
required to furnish lamps or bells or to
of speed.
Counciimen simonds and Lynch urged
the public. Colonel Simonds declared that
about l per cent of the bicycle riders were
reckless i'll their utter disregard for the
rights of pedestrians.
Councilman Wolf offered an amendment
that six policemen mounted on bicycles be
detailed TO see that the ordinance is en-
forced. Messrs. Wolf, Smith and Simonds
alone voted for the amendment. Mr.. Wolf
declared he would go before the police
board this afternoon and ask that officers
on bicycles be detailed to enforce the Ordi-
nance. He declared that was the only way
to catch the "scorchers."
COuncilmen Smith. Brinkley and Craig
voted against requiring lamps. Council
men Lynch. Hough and Simonds voted for
tags for wheelmen.
The ordinance was finally passed by
unanimous vote.
The appropriation of 5000 for repairing
the QuindarO reservoir was authorized.
In the Upper House.
In the upper house. Alderman Morgan
made desperate but unsuccessful effort to
get through his ordinance authorizing the
mayor to turn over 81 900 of his s.. 900 char
ity fund to the Proyident Association and
$1,000 to the Helping Hand institute. Sup
erintendent Shawhan of the latter insti-
tuition offered to equip a free public bath
house with 100 bath tubs if given 81 200.
Don't vote against a good thing because
Old man Morgan puts it forward urged
Alderman Morgan. Il have been accused
OF having a sharp tongue, but l am here to-
night to apologize for anything ugly /
may have said in the past. 1t is nothing
working along the lines of charity and
cleanliness. l wish l could say 1 could
work along the lines Of personal piety like
our president. Maybe / can some day"
Alderman Jewell said that he didn't want
to give anything to the PrOvIdent Associa-
ton, which, he said, did not reach the de-
serving poor in the proper manner. Alder
man Morgan said the association had re-
formed and wasn't carrying on its business
= Il q =
The matter was referred to the finance
committee.
resolution resembling the resolution for paw
ing Broadway from Fourteenth to Six
teenth under specifications allowing COM
ing the street with Trinidad lake asphalt.
The old resolution called for open specifica-
tions under which all companies would be
allowed to bid. while the new resolution
shut out all competition. An overwhelming
majority OF the property owners had pc
senting the wishes Of the property owners.
Alderman Brown insisted on competition,
son sHt srd nb1 fSd the pof6p tba
the property owners had the right to select
their material and should get what they
pay for.
A motion TO refer the resembling resolu-
tioE to the public improvements committee
was lost, and the resembling resolution was
adopted. and the resolution calling for
Trinidad lake asphalt was adopted, Alder
men Brown and Graham voting no. City
Engineer WIS OWNS SeNenIg-HNe lttI OF
ground on the street affected. He was en-
phatically for competition.
resolution was adopted providing that
no license or tax shall be charged for
painting or distributing the labels OF labor
uniCnS.
Resolutions were adopted for paving
BeIeview from Twentieth to Twenty-first;
Roberts from Indiana TO Bales.
Ordinances were passed for paving IN
diana avenue from Twelfth to Fifteenth
with asphalt: Cherry from Independence
avenue to Eighth street with brick.
The ordinance providing for furnishing
water to Westport was referred to the
water committee.
Ordinances extending the time for the
paving of Nineteenth from Main to Tracy
and Broadway from Sixteenth to Twenty
first and parking Lydia from Twenty-third
to Twenty-fifth were referred to the public |
improvements committee.