The Washington times., 1906-01-24

The bill introduced into the House by
Representative Sims recently TO regu-
late the speed of autossobiIes and other
purposes. in the District Of Columbia. d"
has caused the autoists in the city 10
rise up in arms, and if the suggested
bill is seriously considered by the
House a committee will be appointed to
represent the Automobile Club Of Wash.
ngton and a hearing VIII be requested
by that body.
W. 5. Duvall. a well-known attorney
Of the city, and an enthusiastic auto
mobilist when seen this morning. stat
ed that such a law would be radical and
out OF reason and that every means
pOfsibie viii be taken to keep it from
passing into effect. Mr. Duvall, among
other remarks, said that the present
speed laws OF the District were suffi-
cie"t 10 protect the interests OF pedes-
trans and that 10 further restrict auto
ISIS here would be encrOaching upon
their rights as American citizens 1T
is an acknowledged fact" he continued,
that horse driven at ten miles an
no II Is more dangerous to the public
tran an auto driven AT twenty, and 10
demand everything of the owners Of
autos and nothing OF drivers. is a little
too much to be stood for without
kick being registered
Speaking further. Mr. Duvau said:
Commissioners' Low Satisfactory,
Notwithstanding the fat that we
nave three most competent Commission
ers for prOmulgatsag suitable police
regulations and that Congress has vest
"a that body with ample authority for
so doing, yet / see that bill has been
presented in the House and referred 10
the Committee on IN District OF Column
bia. which seeks 10 regulate the speed
OF automobiles in the District Of Column
bia.
Our Commissioners. after a great deal
of investigation and time have prepared
and had promulgated what they CON
s!der ideal laws certainly ideal from the
PEDESTRIANS standpoint If not from the
altomobilist s-which laws, If obeyed and
strictly followed, gives every user OF our.
public streets and roads every possible
protection As a rule the laws are
obeyed most strictly, and thar they are
rigidly enforced where not obeyed, can
be amply verified by our Police Court
records. These laws have been passed
upon and held by our local courts.
Chicago--they have been declared invalid
hy the courts as class legislation.
Should Defeat Bill
However this may ne. they are per
lectly adequate ana the Automobiles
have perforce agreed 10 obey them; ana
furthermore, they are understood Now
comes this proposed new law in the
shape or Congressional enactment ana
which seeks 70 undo al the AUTOMOBILE
lists have learned and to impose new re-
strictions until II is simply unbearable
and were it not for the seriousness of
the situation would be perfectly farcioaL !
The automobiles should indeed be thank !
tul that there are so many Representa- /
tiVes and Senators who use automobiles
in our streets during the sessions Of
Congress, and who. / have no doubt. /
will see that this bill is defeated.
a glance at The provisions OF the
bill shows that under certain Condi- /
tons the speed must not exceed four
miles per hour; at certain points six
miles, al others FIVE miles; at others
twelve, and az others fifteen, such dir
feTenCes being made between the build
ing lines Of certain streets, while turn
ing certain corners. while going along
certain streets. etc II the law was
carried into effect II would mean that
edCn police officer would have To be a
civil engineer, and each automobile !
with a speedometer with which
10 accurately and minutely measure his /
speed, a map with different colored /
lines TO indicate the different speeds
allowed in the different localities. and
a fash light for night use such as as
trOnOmers use with which 20 study |
the maps OF the heavens after dark
Bad MemoTy-Jail Sentence! /
Again. the bill provides that for the
first offense the fine shall be from s.
TO $50. and for the second offense within |
a year, Imprisonment from ten DAYS TO !
one year. Perfectly lovely-and such
should no doubt be hailed with