Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-07-09
WHEELMEN OPPOSE
THE ORDINANCE
BlcycIIsts Wait Upon the Mayor
Today in a Body
WANT THE BILL VETOED.
They Claim the Measure II Illegal and
Lacks in Reason aud Conn
mon Sense,

The wheelmen Of Salt Lake City, or
at least the majority Of them, regard
Hartenstein's bicycle ordinance. passed
at last Tuesdays Council meeting, as a
ridiculous proposition from more than
one standpoint
Headed By Charles l.. Berry, presl-
dent Of the opal club, about twenty-five
well known cyclists swooped down upon
Mayor Thompson IN his private Office
shortly before noon today and made a
demand Of his honor that he veto the
measure. Chairman Berry presented
petitions signed by no less than 1891
citizens protesting against the OrdIn-
anoe and asking the Mayor to dlsap-
prove IL.
Trlor 10 waiting upon the clty's chief
executive the wheelmen held a caucus
IN the ante-room Of the Council cham
Der where It was decided, upon motion
Of ~ Y. schofeld, to ask the Mayor
to use his veto power. George a. Smith
thought this would be too dangerous
a course 20 pursue. He believed the
Council would pass It over the Mayors
head. anyhow and he favored trying TO
get the Mayor to recommend a recon-
sIderation Of the matter, The majority
however. wanted TO hit straight from
the shoulder. They knew the measure
was illegal" unjust" too sweeping
altogether" "olass legislation" and
wanted II killed outright Chairman
Berry assured Mr.. Smith that he need
have no fears about the Council. Wen
take care Of those fellows" said DR., w,
f. Beer.
Il am reliably Informed" continued
Mr. Berry, that President Buckle. the
two Howes, Fernstrom. Beatty, Reid
and Whittemore, will vote TO sustain
the Mayor should he consent TO veto
the ordnance Now, as II will take two
thirds Of the members OF the Council
TO defeat the Mayor. l would Ike to
know where those who hope to see the
bin become a law are going 10 get on
at"
In the middle Of the road" suggested
August stein.
DR., Beer referred TO that portion OF
the ordinance prohibiting the carrying
OF children on wheel lie said that
great many cities had passed such a
d.. Ge Of
whose backbones were too weak 70 sup
port their head.
Then that will include the majority
Of the Council members said George
A. Smith, "for TO my certain knowledge
most Of them have but little back
bOne'
This remark brought out a hearty
laugh and you bet" from the others
August Stein said the ordinance In It's
Present form prevented a man from
taking his child in a buggy.
There were further criticisms OF the
measure, after which Chairman Berry
led the way to the mayors Office. The
delegation was cordially received by
Mayor Thompson and Secretary Eich-
nor and after all were seated Mr., Berry
presented the petitions and resolu-
ton drawn up by the wheelmen last
May setting forth their views and sug-
costing the kind Of an ordinance calcu-
lated 10 meet all the requirements. Mr..
Berry said the ordinance passed last
Tuesday evening was unjust In every
particular. The district embraced was
altogether too large The trouble was
with the scorchcrs, who represented but
per cent OF the riders OF wheels but
Il. a.
he nor colleagues had the least bit Of
sympathy with this class OF people He
thought the bicyclsts were entitled 20
some rights and they were there 70 de-
mand them. I'VE are I'm for any kind
Of an ordnance said Mr.. Berry, that
viii protect pedestrians and at the
same time down the scorchers.
Remarks Of a similar nature were
made by Mr.. Smith, Of H. Q. NJ l..
George A. Smith Or. Beer, n. Y. Scho-
field, Principal Mckay. Of the Lowell
school, and August Stein, at the con-
cluslon OF which Mayor Thompson said
he would give the matter due considera-
ton.
Mr. schoheld said the ordinance IN its
present shape was clearly and fragrant
ly a violation OF the rights Of Wheel
lAtli AAf lhNNAtu ~ nAlAuhFNA ilNhHMlF
10 put down "scOrching,' even going so
far as 10 suggest the conhscation Of
"scrochers' wheels and a sale Of them
at public auction
Prof Mckay said he favored an or
dinance that would protect wheelmen
and pedestrians alike.
Mr Stein predicted that In the event
OF the ordinance becoming a law wheels
would be hung up on the weeping will
low tree for az least eight months dur
ing the year. This meant that boys and
girls working in stores and getting
small wages would have 10 spend all
they earned In street car fare.
IL was stated that out OF the nu-
merous people employed az Walker
Bros. Auerbach's and 2, c. NJ. /. fully
go rode wheels
Or. Beers said the ordinance made Il
unlawful for invallds 10 be ridden on
the sidewalk. or for little children 10
ride tricycles. He yentured 10 say that
he attended as many cases Of accident
as any physician IN the city. IN the
whole course Of his experience he found
but few cases that were the result Of
reckless riding OF wheels on sidewalks.
Whenever one occurred, however, a big
roar always went Up. People talked
about Il; the newspaper reporters would
write columns about Il and the Council
would come out with another ordinance
prohibiting riding on the walks.
II a person happened 10 get run over
by horse and buggy very little atten-
ton was paid TO II. Ii was regarded,
by some people as the visitation Of
Providence, and the TOO frequent reck-
less driver was allowed TO depart IN
peace and hunt up another victim He
thought the city should FIRST construct
the proposed pathway and then make
the street where the path was laid
a prohibited district
He also thought that the ordinance
should provide a penalty for anyone
found driving a cart. dray, buggy or
vehicle on the bicycle path. As the or
dlnance was now the Wheelman was az
the mercy OF people who choose to block
the road whenever they took II into
their heads to DO So. II the bicycle
happened 70 20 on the sidewalk he
would be fined, but what was going 70
be done with the person who drove Ms
rig over the bicycle path? The ordl-
nance made no provision OF conungen-
cy Of this kind. This was another in
stance wherein Il was decidedly unfair.
nj l. eli