The Washington times., 1902-01-20
Instructed the Public.

| Yesterday was devoted principally to
the instruction OF the public. and but few
arrests were made, but the lenlency will
not long continue. The men are directed
! TO cover certain streets at certain hours,
| known only to Major Sylvester and to
| themselves.
The schedule will he changed every day,
and il is the purpose to make it impos
sible for those who are likely to disre-
| gard the laws to tell when they will run
! into q bunch of officers and marched off
| TO the station house, to be LOCKED up TN
| til next morning, unless they secure their
release on bond or collateral. Fast rid
ing or driving. making use OF the wrong
side of the street, turning corners rap
idly, and many of the other rules of the
road will receive attention
The Greatest Offenders.
The operators of motor vehicles are
| said to be the greatest offenders, although
bicyclists and drivers of fast horses will
also receive the attention of the police.
The bicycle officers appeared on Penn
sy!vania Avenue yesterday morning and
scattered along the thoroughfare from the
Capitol to the White House. 1t did not
take long for the news of their presence
to spread but before it became generally
Known IHeTe were many amusing lHCluenl5
and crestfallen individuals.
One Old GentIeman's Mania.
One old gentleman who has developed
mania for endeavoring to break his rec
ord for the run OF his automobile from
the Treasury to the Peace Monument and
return was one of the first to run afoul
of the pedal brigade He has from time to
time paid some attention to police mat
ters and thought he knew there were only
two bicycle men operating in any pre-
cinct at one time.
Shortly after s o'clock yesterday morn
ing he started down the Avenue at a good
clip. He slowed up as he saw a bicycle
officer ahead of him, only to speed up
after he had passed him. A second wheel
man halted him block farther down and
warned him that he was exceeding the
lawful speed. AS the officer turned away
the automobiiist recalled :hat there were
only two bicycle officers in the precinct
and having passed them he settled down
for a that would make Up for lost
time.
BIuecOnts Cut or the Current.
Throwing his governor to the highest
notch, he glanced back with a smile at
the retreating policeman who had stopped
MIN. IL soon Iaded. as MS machine came
to sudden stop and he saw two more
bluecoats, one on either side of his ma
chine. One of them had grasped the lever
on the side of the automobile, and, cut
ting OFF the current, brought it to quick
stop.
It's an excellent idea TO enforce the
rules of the road. and will greatly add to
the safety of the Streets" he sorrowfully
remarked; but l wish they would eX-
empt me-"
Ladies' Highly Incenscd.
Several ladies became very much in
censed when warned by the officers to re-
strict the speed of their vehicles, and
threatened dire vengeance on the heads of
the men who were obeying the orders of
their superior officer.
The plan OF having q number of bicycle
policemen cooperate in the enforcement
of the regulations originated with Major
Sylvester. and, judging from the results
attained yesterday il will be most effec-
live In rapidly reducing to a minimum
the dangers of the crowded thorough
fares.