The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-10
HOT SESSION ON
AUTO ORDINANCE
AGE LIMIT A FRUITFUL CAUSE
OF DISCUSSION.
After Long and Spirited Debate, the
Measure Is Sent Back to the Commit
tee to Be Polished Up-Defnition Of
"Thickly Settled Portions of City
Causes More Debate.

No automobile ordinance was passed
by the city council last, evening, althos
the aldermen tinkered away on the re-
vised Westphal measure for more than
an hour. 1t was then sent back to the
special automobile committee to be pol
ished again. Numerous attempts were
made to refer the ordinance to the com
mittee, but the members insisted so
vigorously that it was impossible to
tions wer defeated. Only when the al
dermen became involved in parliament
tary and other snarls over what consti-
tuted the ''thickly-settled portions of
the city, was the majority willing to
give up the fight and let the committee
take another turn at the measure.
The first objection was against fix
16 years. Alderman Mccoy declared
that no one under IS should be e%ntrust-
ed with an automobile. Alderman Van
Nest went to the other extreme and
wanted the age limit abolished as any
one competent to run an automobile
should be permitted to do so. President
Merrill and Alderman Walker made a
plea for, the 1o-year-limit as they were
certain that boys of that age would be
more likely to study the machines than
older men. Alderman Petersen was
willing to admit that boys might know
the machines but they did not nave the
necessary presence of mind and judg-
q ment to be entrusted with autos in
dangerous situations. The age limit
was left at Is years.
Satterlee Wakes Facetious.
Alderman Satterlee next took a rap
at the examining board consisting of
the commissioner of health, city ~electri
clan and master mechanic of the fire de.
partment. He inquired why the milk
inspector and a representative from the
old women's home were not added. AL
derman Schoonmaker inquired as tc
who would examine the examiners
Alderman Westphal saved this section
1t was on the section attempting tt
define the "thickly settled' portions
of the city that the main struggle tool
place. The ordinance established a dis
trict inside of which the maximum
outside of which a speed Of twenty-five
miles is permissible. On the Yves
Side the limits were approximately
Twentieth avenue N, Lyndale avenue
Kenwood boulevard, Franklin avenue
Humboldt avenue, Lake street AM
Thirty-third avenue S. On the Eas
Side the line was so crooked that II
Ouo COlllu lOf1OW lG.
Alderman Walker wanted the spec.
limit taken off the entire eighth ware
and Alderman Satterlee wanted tn
same for the second ward. The.
thought that the state law was plai1
enough and that the courts should sa:
what was a thickly settled district
The motions to exempt the eighth an
second wards failed. Then Alderma:
S~choonmaker suggested that the eight
mile-an-hour district include all With
a radius of one and a half miles froI
the courthouse. This Alderman Rya
amended by substituting five miles fo
one and one-half. The latter propos:
ton carried, but a moment later tn
council got confused on the effect O
the passage of the amendment a
amended, and in desperation dispose
of the whole ordinance by chasing
back to the committee.
Controllers Complaint Received.
The complaint of City Controller Da
C. Brown against Health Commission
T. M. Hall over the latter's failu1
to comply with the new system Of a.
counting was referred to the joi1
committee on ways and means and a,
counts Of city officers, which is col
sidering a similar matter from the cit
engineers office.
Nine bids for the construction Of Ii
proposed engine house at Hennepi
avenue and Thirty-sixth street wei
opened, but all were in excess of th
appropriation Of $14 600. The loves
bid was that Of g. w. Brown, who 0.