Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-02-18
BUCHANAN WINS OUT
Automobile Bill Slightly Amended
Passes House.
AUTHOR HASHARDFICHTFOR MEASURE
Ten Amendments Were Offered and
Seven Motions were MADE Roepoet-
ing 1t But MIR. Buchanan Comes Out
With Flying Colors.

After one of the hardest fights on
the floor Of the house Hon. A. W. Blu
charan of this city has safely engineer
ed the automobile bill, of which he is
the author through one branch of the
general assembly.
Ten amendments to the bill were
offered and seven motions were made
respecting it. 1t was before the house
for one and one-half hours and passed
in slightly amended form
AS passed the measure limits the
speed of automobiles in cities and
towns to eight miles, and in the coun-
try to fifteen miles, and also provides
that upon crossing bridges and street
crossings or highway intersections
the speed shall be reduced to five
miles per hour. Every automobile or
similar motor vehicle shall be provid-
ed with good and efficient brakes, and
with a suitable bell or other signal.
After sunset such vehicle shall carry
IN front two white lights and in the
rear red light.
The bill contains the following sew
ton with reference to the actions of
drivers of automobiles in passing or
meeting teams:
Section 3. Every person driving an
automobile or similar motor vehicle
Shall at the request or signal by put
ting UP the hand or other appropriate
visible signals, from person driving
or riding a FESTIVE horse or horses, or
driving domestic animals, cause the
automobile to Immediately stop and
remain stationary, so long as may be
necessary to allow said horses or do
nestle animals to pass. This provi-
sion shall apply to automobiles going
either in the same or in opposite direc-
tionS.'
Owners of such vehicles are requir-
ed to register the same with the Sec
Rotary of state, paying fee of one
dollar for such registration and receiv-
ing in lieu thereof a certificate, the
number of which he shall attach in
letters orStfgures not less than three
inches in length on the rear of such
vehicle. This clause is for the pur-
pose of identifying owners or drivers
of automobiles in case of accident or
damage by them to property or per-
sons. Violation is punishable by fine
of not less than ten dollars and of not
more than one hundred, or by impris-
onment in the county Jail for not more
than thirty days, thus making the Of
tense triable before justice Of the
peace.
The bill met with most strenuous op-
position on the floor of the house, but
the rural members or those who fear
ed having horses scared by motor We
hicles and having no proper remedy by
law flocked to it's relief and voted
down every amendment and motion Of
fered which sought the life of the
measure.
Three different attempts were made
to increase the speed limits on coun
try roads to twenty, eighteen and sew
enteen miles, respectively, but all fail
ed
Clarke, of Dallas, chairman of the
judiciary committee, moved to amend
by striking out all reference to high
ways from the bill. He said that cit
les and towns We're the only places
where automobiles were in use or like
ly to be in use within the next few
years, and that he did not believe il
going farther than enacting Legislation
pertaining to cities and towns at the
present time. He Ikened the nresenl