The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-14
AFFAIRS OF THEDISTRICI'
A Protest Against Placing Num-
bers on Automobiles.
A Committee Appears Before the
commissioners to Oppose the Bill
introduced In Congress-A Commit
tee Heard Regarding the Rate of
Wages Paid TO Local Lnborers.

Tho Commissioners vest erday granted a
bearing to a committee representing the
| National Capital Automobile Club, who
| appeared before the board to protest
against Senate bill 5s22, specifying that
auto-vehicles should be licensed and num-
hered TO assist the police in identifying
| them The committee was composed of
| p. J. Lockwood, Thomas C. Pole. and DR..
| w. b. French. Mr.. Lockwood presented
the protest of the club. The matter was
| discussed at length between the commit
tee and the Commissioners, and at the
close of the hearing the former was told
that their statement would receive care
full consideration at the hands of the board.
The point mos discussed was how to
| identify an auto-vehicle when it's driver
violated the law, and caused it TO go at
unlawful speed. On this point the COM
mittee and the Commissioners were some
| what at variance. but after each had stated
| his views it was seen that the position
| of the authorities that there should be
| some means of identifying the driver of
| the vehicle was the correct one. The
statement of the committee follows:
"As resident citizens and taxpayers of
the District of Columbia and members of
! the National Capital Automobile Club of
| said District, being a committee selected
by said club for this purpose, we desire
| TO enter our protest against the passage
| of the District bill, Senate No. $500 par
! ticularly as is set forth In section of
said bill. Our objections to this proposed
! law are:
"First-Tbere is no demand for the
numbering of private vehicles driven by
| electricity or steam within the District
| of Columbia that would not apply with
| equal force TO the placing of a number
upon every other form of vehicle therein
| or even the numbering of each citizen
| upon the back of his coat or elsewhere
upon his apparel to distinguish him from
| every other citizen.
''Second-The operator of steam We
hicle is now taxed the sum OF IS for his
first years operation of said vehicle with
in the District and S. continuing yearly
| thereafter. This tax is more than he
ought to bear.
Third-This section of said bill singles
out class of individuals who are forging
the way of progress and designates them
as a class of suspected or probable crimi
mails and is therefore humiliating, eXas-
perating and disgraceful. 1t is beneath
the dignity of any man who strives to be
law-abiding citizen to be tagged or
branded in the manner prescribed in said
bill.
"Fourth-If the city OF Washington by
Congressional action or other police reg
ulation imposes upon the operators of
horseless carriages this or any similar
requirement, II sets the example for every
other State, county, or city, village. ham
let, or any or all of them TO impose sim
liar requirements upon any traveller
through the country upon and with this
class Of vehicle, thereby practically bar
ring their future and further develop
ment at once.
"Fifth-The horseless carriage has
come to stay, being bound TO fill a long
felt want, and, while the present users
by reason of the imperfection. OF the state
of the art, are being benefited but slight
ly in comparison with the costs of oper-
alton and construction, they are imposing
upon no one, are in no wise menace TO
the health, comfort, or safety OF the pub
lie, and are not Justly to be termed an ir
responsible class OF this community.
''Sixth-The present and existing regu-
lations completely cover any and all just
and proper regulations for the use and
management of private automobiles in the
District of Columbia.
got a great many miles of asphalt pave
ment built and constructed at enormous
expense, over which these vehicles travel
guided and controlled by careful oper-
stors, practically noiseleSs in movement,
which is greas comfort to every person,
and yet TO the individual who Is not ac-
quainted with their effect upon roads and
the roads required by them. 1t may seem
that they are enjoying a disproportlonate
amount of comfort and profit out of this
asphalt construction, and therefore ought
10 be and are proper subject for further
restriction and taxation. But this ques-
ton. when presented TO the practical oper-
atOr or close observer renders this sort OF
argument not only nugatory, but abso-
lutely ridiculous and foolish. The smooth
gravel road is decidedly the best for an
auto-vehicle and not only is that the best
road for them, but when propelled over
asphalt streets they are absolutely no wear
upon chem. There are today perhaps one
hundred and fifty auto-vehicles within your
city, and If the entireLraffic Of this city
was done by rubber-tired auto-vehicles.
not one mile Of asphalt pavement would
be required except for purely sanitary rea-
sons. And even If the concrete pavement
as now maintained were TO be continued
for sanitary reasons this pavement would
last indefinitely and always remain IL per-
feet condition il none other than rubber
tires were trayersing II. Aside from this
the use OF these $50 auto-vehicles removes
from your streets the filth incident TO the
use thereon of about 300 horses, great
assistance in the way Of health and saw
ing in expense in the street cleaning
charge.
These vehicles cost from $1,000 TO
s., 600 and the individual who operates one
as his private carriage ought not 10 be
selected out of the community as being
an irresponsible criminal, which the pro-
posed police regulation branding him or
his private carriage with tag logically
and necessarily implies. As rule the
private auto carriage is operated by its
owner in person, and if il is propelled ty
steam, he is licensed by District author |
ity and when we take into account |
fair estimate Of the mileage made In the |
District of Columbia in the past year |
with these vehicles and the further fact |
that at best the operators of the carriages |
in their present early stages Of introduce |
ton are amateurs, and their construction |
more or less defective and faulty, the |
record is certainly favorable one. Sew |
eral Of these carriages to our personal |
knowledge have been driven from 5000 TO |
s 600 miles without a single accident or |
injury TO its operators or to any CT the |
public. and not single accident have we |
seen or heard OF, wherein the tagging Of |
the vehicle would have prevented the |
damage or assisted IN placing the respon- +,
sibility.
1T may be said that numbering OF the
specified in the section referred |
to is for the purpose OF detecting individ-
uals who may exceed the speed limit |