The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-17
ONLY REGULAR OFFICERS.

ONLY REGULAR OFFICERS.
AS to the imposing and collecting Of
fines for violations of the provisions to
be incorporated in the ordinance there
was another warm discussion. The
wheelmen wanted it specified that reg
ular police officers alone should have
authority to make the arrests. even
though they be by warrant, and that
the hearings should be only before the
mayor or some alderman or aldermen
designated by him. The design in this
is to prevent the abuse to which wheel
men are subjected in some municipali-
ties, where unscrupulous special otti-
GERS and magistrates make q practice
of leeching bicycllsts. The committee
could not consent to this because of
the legal question it involved, but
agreed to give it due consideration af-
ter the city solicitor had passed upon
it.
The fine of 50 for the first offense and
$5 for the second, provided for in the
Lansing ordinance, was agreed upon by
the wheelmen to be very fair penalty
and it will stand in the contemplated
ordinance. The wheelmen wanted the
moneys derived from these fines to go
into a fund for a winding cycle path at
Nay Aug park, but the committee would
not hear to this and as first contem-
plated this revenue will be applied to
general street repairs.
The wheelmen made no kick on the
bell and lantern provisions. but regis
tered a most vigorous kick against
brakes and succeeded in having the
compulsory brake clause stricken out.
The question of speed was left over
until future meeting, when there will
be representation of the counCilmen on
the committee. Five miles an hour at
crossings and three miles in turning
corners was satisfactory to both sides.
but on the general maximum of speed
there was a division of opinion, the
committee believing eight miles an
hour as fast as should be permitted
within the city limits, and the wheel
men holding out for a ten mile limit.
USE OF SIDEWALKS.
The wheelmer wanted an exception
made to the provision against riding on
sidewalks, making it permissible to use
the sidewalks in outlying wards where
the roads are unfit for wheeling or
where dirt roads in the more central
rain or sprinklng. The committee
would not hear to this requested con-
cession at all, but said it would con-
slider the practicability of having the
street sprinkler men leave a space of
Il few feet unsprinkled on either side
OF the road near the curb.
At the request of the wheelmen the
committee promised to make it a penal
offense to throw tacks, glass or broken
dishes on any street.
The question of keeping to the
right" was left open until Street Com
missioner Dunning receives the New
York and Philadelphia city road rules,
which he has written for.
The clause against coastinG at any
and all times was knocked out, but
provision is to be inserted regulating
this dangerous practice. Riding with
both hands off the handle bars was
condemned by the wheelmen them
selves and a clause will provide that
at least one hand must be constantly
kept on the bar. Riding more than
three abreast, except on parades, for
which permits have been granted, was
| also made a violation of the ordinance.
1t was also provided that a wheelman
who refuses to give his name and ad-
dress, after colliding with a pedestrian,
shall be amenable to the prescribed
| fine even though the collision was due
| to no fault of the rider.
BICYCLE OFFICERS.
The combined clubs, as an earnest Of
| their desire to have wheeling properly
regulated, agreed to provide special BIZ
| cycle officers to patrol the streets
awheel and look out for offenders
| against the ordinance.
Another meeting will be held at the
call of Chairman Chittenden. A rough