The Washington times., 1901-08-13
THE SPEED OF AMBULANCES
A Regulation to be Drafted by the
District Commissioners.
A Hearing Held Yesterdny-Neccs-
Sity for Certain Vehicles to Run
Faster Than the Usual Speed
Limit-The Complaints Explained.

The question of the speed of ambulances
and other mechanical carriages used in
emergency work was considered in a hear
ing before the Commissioners at the Dis
trict Building yesterday. Several COM
plants relative to the matter were re-
Gently lodged with Commissioner Mac
farland, in the absence of Commissioner
Ross, and an order promulgated in 1888
was quoted against the practice of the
ambulance of the Emergency Hospital, in
particular, in running at great speed TO
take patients TO that institution. \ letter
was also written to the Commissioner
relative to the matter, in which 1t was
made 10 appear that the ambulance of
that Institution was violating the law,
to the manifest danger to life and limb
of the public. The letter appears to have
been inspired especially by the transfers
and cabmen who are accustomed to water
their horses at the watering trough just
south of the Treasury Building on Fiji
teenth Street.
Upon the return of Commissioner Ross
who has immediate supervision over the
Police Department, the matter was con-
sidered and a hearing appointed yester-
day afternoon. at which all parties in
terested were invited TO appear At the
hearing there were present Major Sylves-
ter, the Superintendent of Police; DR.
William c. Woodward, the District Health
Officer; Daniel Curry and Francis Nye. of
the committee appointed to revise the
Police Regulations, and DIR. II. L. Z.
johnson, Of the staff of the Emergency
Hospital. The cabmen and the drivers. as
well as the citizens who demonstrated
against what they alleged was the danger
Gus speed at which the ambulance of the
Emergency Hospital has been run through
the streets, were conspicuous by their alb
sence.
AT the time appointed for the hearing
the matter under discussion was talked
over in an informal manner. Various
views were advanced as 10 the necessity
of certain vehicles used by the Health
Department, the Police Department. the
street railways. the hospitals. and the
Board Of Charities, running at high speed
through The streets in the discharge of
their special duties. 1t was shown that
emergencies frequently arise when il is
necessary for these vehicles to hasten
through the streets TO some point where
person MAY have been injured where
the lines of the street railways may be
down, where some disorder may have
arisen. The general view was expressed
that these vehicles ought to be allowed
the right of way and should be permitted
to run at greater speed than is allowed
the ordinary vehicle In case of accident
1t was shown that the services of a ply
sician on the ambulance were essential to
the saving Of life. In like manner il was
shown that in the case Of contagious dis
ease hike smallpox. it was needful for
the ambulance TO hasten through the
streets at high speed TO remove the pa
tent from given neighborhood. 1t was
shown that the convenience of the com
munity as well as the safety of property
required that certain vehicles be allowed
10 be operated at high speed
Views of this kind were expressed by
the Superintendent of Police, by the
Health Officer, and by the acting manager
C. the Emergency Hospital. 1t was shown
that the cities of New Haven and Cincin-
matt have adopted regulations giving these
emergency wagons the right of way