Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-25
Limitation Of Speed Within
the District
UNDER CONSIDERATION
COMMISSIONERS CONFER WITH
OWNERS OF MACHINES.
Suggestions Made by Messrs. II. G.
Hunter and w. 8. Duvall-An
Innovation.

An innovation In the method of preparing
laws Tor the regulation of operation of au-
tomobiies within the Jurisdiction OF the
District OF Columbia is under consideration
by the authorities the intention expressed
being to secure the views of those most in
terested before new statutes are PREPARED
or amendments made. The plan was sug-
gested by Commissioner West ana Il owes
Its origin indirectly to the recent organiza-
ton OF the Washington Automobile Club.
and to still more recent communication
sent to the Commissioners by II. c. Hunter
OF 1347 Harvard street northwest
In his letter Mr.. Hunter asked whether
one OF the laws OF New Jersey. with refer
ence to automobiles. could not be enacted
here. copy Of the law, which was mciud
ed In the letter. read as follows: Any
chauffeur or other person who drives or
operates any motor vehicle or applies. or
sets In motion the power that propels any
motor vehicle upon any street or highway
OF III any garage or other place where mo-
tor vehicles are hired, stored or sold In the
absence OF the owner OF such motor We
hiele. and without his consent in writing.
snail be guilty OF a misdemeanor.'
Request for Opinion.
This suggested regulation was submitted
by Commissioner West to w. 8. DuvalI
president of the Washington Automobile
Club. with the request that the views of au-
tomobilists be expressed concerning It. Fur
Their than this. Mr.. West wrotsI
Il take pleasure in adding that Il Is my
purpose In the future to submit questions
and propositions concerning the regulation
of automobiles In this Jurisdiction TO the
Automobiles Of the District. through your
association and otherwise. In order that all
persons concerned may be afforded an op-
portunity to discuss the matter before final
action is taken"
Besides thanking Commissioner West .Tor
the courtesy extended" Mr. DuvaIl in his
reply. presented the form of a regulation
In lieu OF the one suggested by Mr. Hunter
In which Is eliminated the provision making
1t a misdemeanor for any person other than
the owner to set in motion the motive
power OF an automobile within garage or
store-but providing that any person who
operates q car on the streets in the alb
sence or the owner and without the written
consent OF the latter shall be guilty of
misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be
punished by fine not less than 500 or
more than $500. or Imprisonment for one
year. OF both" Further. In this same con-
nection. IT Is suggested, however, that moth
Ing in the proposed statute shall be con-
strued to prohibit the delivery of automo-
oiiCS " polutS utSiTeu ny the OWNER, OF inc
return Of machines from any point to the
garage where same are stored. by a regu-
larly licensed operator connected with said
garage-provided that such delivery or re-
turn shall be accomplished by shortest
practicable route
Elimination Explained.
In explaining the elimination of the
provision concerning operation of cars UNI
der their own power In garages Mr.. Du-
~S.
danger to the public, and that 1t is fire.
quently necessary because of the impossi-
bflity of moving heavy cars manually The
specification regarding delivery or return
of automobiles by shortest practicable
route Mr.. Duvall explains by calling at
tention to the natural objection both on
part of the owner Of the public, TO have
an operator running a car all over the
streets.
Another regulation suggested by the pres
ident of the automobile club would impose
a fine of not less than $50 nor more than
$500 upon any person who willfully tam
pers with, destroys or damages any part OF
motor vehicle, or who takes away any
OF its parts or appurtenances
The taking of lamps or anything Of a
value less than $35 is now merely petit lar
ceny." said Mr.. Duvall. and the punish
ment Is usually insufficient, whereas, by
the loss Of tail-light the owner Of an
automobile Is subject to a fine of $40" In
this same connection 1t is pointed out that
the phrase "tampering with In such a
annoyances. such as boys jumping in and
out of automobiles left standing blowing
horns. etc.-offenses which at the present
time are unpunfshable.
Provision Against Other offenses.
Still another added statute Is deemed
necessary to infiict heavy punishment upon
persons who wilfully cast stones. sticks.
or other missiles at an automobile, or who
attempt to injure the machinery while the
vehicle is In motion. Speaking of the trials
endured by owners and operators of au-
tomobiles. which this regulation is designed
to ameliorate. Mr.. Duvall says: There Is
a growing tendency on the part of the Vi
cious and lawless to damage automobiles
and injure their occupants and 1t Is a COM
mon thing to have attempts made to thrust
sticks between the spokes of wheels and
to dash water, stones and gravel into the
faces Of the occupants. This is mostly
done by young hoodlums difficult to catch
and hard to identify, and even IL caught
and identified they are only charged with
simple assault and fined s.. This practice
Is not only annoying and outrageous. but
by the temporary piinding OF the operator
or by spokes broken out of a wheel. con-
troll of the car may be lost. and untold
damage be done"
In conclusion. Mr.. DuvalI. on behalf OF
himself and fellow automobilists, asks
more strict enforcement OF the regulation
which prohibits scattering of broken glass
on highways within the District. He states
that hundreds of dollars damage Is done
to tires each year by contact with glass
and he cites cases to show that milkmen
and telephone and telegraph Hnemen are
principally to blame for carelessly throw
ing away broken bottles and damaged In
sulators.
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