Evening star., 1898-02-26
THE LIGHTS ION VEHICLES
Postponement Of HAts1or the Enforcement Of
Regulation.
Probability of. Observation-Disclosures
Urged Against 1t by Farmers OF
Montgomery County.

The police regulation requiring lights to
be placed on all vehicles, to remain from
an hour after sunset until an hour before
sunrise, which regulation it was first in
tended should go into effect the first of
March, was today amended by the District
commissioners so as to provide that 1t shall
take effect the first of April.
The postponement of the date was made
that the Commissioners might have more
time IN which to consider the objections
which have been urged against the enforce
ment OF the regulation by not only the peo-
PIE OF the District. but also by people re-
siding In the country adjacent to the Dis
tricf. These objections have been set forth
In The Star from time to time, and 1t is
understood they have convinced the Com
missioner mlssioners that the regulation should be
amenoeo IN several instances. 1t Is, there
1ore' more than probable that it will be
amended some time between now and the
nrst OF April. although the amendment or
amendments have not yet been finally de-
clded upon by the Commissioners.
Farmers. Protest.
The farmers are among those who most
strongly protest against the enforcement of
the regulation as it now stands, and at
recent meeting of the farmers of Montgom-
cry county, Maryland, at Sandy Spring, it
discussion of the matter, that the ordinance
IN It's present shape would work great hard
ships, inconvenience and expense to them
and to the truckers, should it be enforced.
messrs. Asa M. Stabler VIM E. Munca ster
anu oirlc Hutton were appointed a COM
nlttee TO confer with the District Commits
siohers ana place before them the views of
.he meeting The committee has done this
and, after first explaining that It would be
very ulmcult for the country people to carry
out the provisions Of the regulation with GER
.ain m. KINDS OF produce daily sent to the
markets. OF washington, the memorial pre-
sented by the committee continues as fol-
lows: 90 A'i-
AS we understand it, your contemplated
iaW requires that lights shall be seen in
front as well as on either side of the We
hlcle. This We think impracticable with
ioads or hay and straw, as there is no suit
anie place to attach light which would
comply with the requirements of the law
out winch would not incur the risk of set
Ting fire to the load from various accidents.
or even from stone being thrown by a
street urchin
Second. Our large road wagons are so
constructed, without springs, that in most
cases it would be very difficult to keep a
lantern burning at all times.
Other Disadvantage.
Third. We are placed at disadvantage
because these restrictions are imposed ten,
fifteen or twenty miles from our homes and
IN case OF accident by breakage or on the
lanterns going out and the drivers being
unable to replace them. we would be SUBJ
1ected to serious Inconvenience, delay and
expense, and perhaps arrest of the team
Fourth. While weydo not make a habit
OF travelling in the District with our teams
In the hours when lights would be required,
yet by accidents and from force of circum-
stances we are sometimes compelled to do
SO. but our vehicles being large, easily seen.
noisy and moving slowly we think they
"ouid seldom, If evep cause an accident by
coming in collision with other moving yee
hicles.'
Elaborate sI,IoraI DesSun.