Evening star., 1901-07-22
LIGHTS ON AUTOMOBILES
OWNERS OF H0RSELESS CARRIAGES
PROTEST TO COMMISSIONERS.
Lieut.. Gen. Miles and Others Object
to Adoption of a Proposed
Police Regulation.

The District Commissioners have receiv-
ed a petition from Lieut.. Gen. Nelson A.
Miles. commanding the United States
army; Messrs. p. ]. Lockwood. William B.
French, Clarence F. Norment and other
owners of automobiles in the District of
Columbia, protesting against the adoption
of any police regulation requiring the car
rying of lights on private automobiles not
common to all other forms of private car
riages drawn or propelled by horse power.
The petition Is accompanied by an argu-
ment in support of the position Of the au-
tomobile owners by P. ]. Lockwood Ac-
cording to Mr.. Lockwood, it is maintained:
First, that the operator has got all the
care under the present regulations and all
of the duties that he can successfully dis
keeping lamps properly lighted is an aug
mentatfon of his present cares to the ex-
tent of at least 25 per cent.
"Second,that no incident or accident has
yet occurred that justities any change in
this behalf.
Horses as distractions.
Third. that there is no occasion for the
imposition of light upon a private auto
mobile that is not common to a horse
drawn vehicle. With the horse-drawn We
hicle the driver or operator has the horse
view of that portion of the highway which
is in direct line of his travel; that by
reason of this obstruction incident after
incident could be mentioned where he has
run against children and even grown per-
sons to their injury. Had not the horse
or horses obstructed his view he would
have seen the pedestrian and avoided the
collision. With the horseless vehicle there
is nothing in front of the operator to OBJ
Struct his view. 1t is incumbent upon him
not only to observe the pedestrian, but to
observe every obstacle of every kind or
character that may lay upon the pave
ment. The passage over a broken bottle
may cost him from thirty to fifty dollars.
If he collides with any obstacle, no matter
how small, he is liable to come out badly
injured In person or property. Instances
of this kind are quite common. 1t is re-
called that colliding with a dog laid up
one of our prominent physicians for
number of weeks, and instances of this
kind are not few, considering the time dur
ing which these vehicles have been oper-
ated.''
Other Objections Considered.
I'VE are aware" said Mr.. Lockwood,
that some complaints have been made
because of excessive speed While We have
no right to presume that the threatened
change in the police regulations Is intend
ed to obviate this objection. nevertheless,
1t is thought proper to give this phase of
the subject passing notice and ask the
Commissioners to tell us wherein the car
rying of lights upon vehicle Is going to
retard the motion of the vehicle or where
in 1t will serve to place better Judgment or
respect in the minds of the operators
Again, 1t has been suggested that these
EehicleS make no noise and cannot be
heard This Is sometimes given as a rea-
son for the imposition of light We are
likewise confronted upon other occasions
ana Tor other reasons with the objection
that they make too much noise; that they
throw out cloud of steam and smoke and
sometimes odor.
But what are the facts as they actually
are. No individual whO ever had his bed
room window raised within half a block
or where these vehicles frequently pass has
not heard them passing to and fro during
all hours of the night: the humming noise
OF the electric motor and the putting sound
from the exhaust of the steam engine
10 sum up the entire proposition. we
maintain that the experience and obserya-
uon OF these vehicles upon these streets
present no just and proper demand for any
additional police regulation. We hold our
selves IN readiness to answer any and all
arguments that may be presented; to af-
lord every facility that may be suggested
to the end that the position of your ne
titloners may be demonstrated