Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-11-04

Regarded Gas Mans Protest.
Commissioner McGann Aroused by
Narrow Escape Sunday Makers
Of the Vehicles Favor
the Law.

,From the Chicago Evening Post,
Failure of the city authorities to Ell.
force the automobile ordinance is fast
becoming a source of popular COM
plaint. The latest to protest against
the rpcklessuess of horseless C1lrriage
drivers is Commissioner McGann, who.
while driving ON Michigan avenue sun
day. narrowly escaped being run down
by one of the new vehicles. with e. X.
q. Billings ON the drivers bOx.
These facts, together with the cir
cumstanccs under which the ordinance
was permitted to become dead letter.
make a good story which is being told
in municipal circles. The ordinance
was fathered by the administration
and was received by the public and
the promoters of the automobile rs IA
wise and proper provision. Mayor
Harrison approved 1t. and the measure
rs drafted by the law department with
the advice Of the city electrician. Com
missioner McGann and the chief of
police, was readily passed 10y the Co,n.
ell.
for signatures &. X. q. Billings called
upon the chief executive In regard to
the city's overdue gas bills. The or
dinance lying on the Mayors desk at
tractcd his attention.
"Do you mean To- tell me that have
got To get license to run an automo-
bilet" he asked.
That is the language of the ordin-
ancc." replied the Mayor.
We'll. I'd like to see the city make
me appear before the examining
board" exclaimed the gas man with
characteristic force.
The talk turned to gas bills. but the
Mayors mind continued TO run ON au-
tonobiles. Half an hour later City
Electrician Ellicott called upon the
Mayor for instructions In regard to the
enforcement of the ordinance, he ana
the commissioner Of health being made
members of the examining board by
the provisions Of the measure.
Have such men Us Billings got to get
licenses under this ordinance!' asked
the Mayor with entire absence Of his
former enthusiasm for the regulnti
"Certainly-thcy are rs likely to he
Incompetent as any other person."
well. I don't think the law Will
hold" said the Mayor. dismissing the
subject. You can't make citizen
pay a license TO ride in his own car
riagc."
That ended the matter. The Ordln
ance became u law without the Mayors
signature. but Mr.. Ellicott dropped II
like Il hot coal.
Commissioner McGann alone insisted
that the law was good and should be
enforced. In his opinion he Is backed
by legal advice rs well ms by the auto
mobile people themselves.
Several times while driving abou,
the city he has narrowly escaped being
run down. sunday presence OF minG
and a quick horse We're all that saved
him. he says. from being smashed III
by Mr.. Billings automatic turnout ~
IL rounded the corner Of Michigan ave
nue. and Jackson boulevard.
II wish had known Of Bllhngs' tail
with the Mayor Sunday said the Com
missioner. II would have let him taxi
wheel of"
Notwithstanding the Mayors opin
ION, the operation OF automobiles D.!
incompetent persons Is becoming n se
rlOus question In the minds of thOs'
who have watched the increasing us
OF the hOrseless carriage. a few seri
ous accidents, II Is believed, will be suf
dclent TO bring about an enforcement
of the ordinance. Strange rs II ma,
seem. interests directly concerned i
The manufacture and sale Of the yeht
c.es strongly advocate police regula
tlOns In regard to their operation The
desire only competent persons to drv
them, for the reason that every ace
dent creates a pGejudice against tn
automobiles and gives rise to the In
preston that they are difficult to maj
age. Ordinary knowledge Of mechal
los. true sight and unimpaired hearin
are the qualifications fOr license unde
the ordnance. The fee Is nominal.
From a police standpoint the law d.
partment has held the ordinance 10 b
sound. Protection To life and proper't
make such regulation necessar!
Many OF those most familiar with Tn
subject believe the operators Of stree
cars should also he examined and !
censed by the City. The great ndvaI
tage To he obtained by the system, i
addition 10 raising the standard Of con
potency Of operators, II that reckless
ness Il reduced Ia the minimum
through fear Of revocation of Il llcens,
Under the existing ordinance, as
Paris. the examining board upon goo
and sufficient evidence of carcieSsnes,
neglect or other display of incomp,
rcncy may revoke a liccnsc.
Recently n number of Stlght acc
druts have occurred. In one in,tano
the fault was with the "ycs!ght Of ili
operatCr. He was near-s!ghJed an
had no bus.ncss on the driving 10!
one Of the complaints recently rcccl'
cd was Of a woman who drove all W
hiclcs OFF Prairie avenue In her effort
To operate an automobile, Several ha'
been upset in the streets, In view {
the already overcrOwdcd condition {
the downtown streets and the lncrcai
ing popularity I the hOrse'ess ca
rlIgc, police regulations for Their col
trol are expected Ia occupy again III
attention Of the Council, unless May'