Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-12
BROAD TIRE Bill [
HEARING BY THE HOUSE DIS
TRICT CoMMITTEE ON 1T.

The House District committee devoted its
entire session today to the hearing on the
broad-tire bill This measure is attached
as a rider to the bill providing for the
Long bridge and provides that after Janu-
ary 1. 1907, all vehicles in the District of
Columbia weighing when loaded more than
two tons shall be provided with four-inch
tires.
President Knox Of the Knox Express
Company appeared before the committee
at the head of a delegation of five business
men selected to oppose the passage Of the
measure through Congress. Mr.. Knox said
that the bin was a surprise and a disap-
pointment to those citizens of the District
of Columbia interested in drayage or in
the coal lumber and express business, or,
In fact in any other industry where there
was much teaming involved Mr.. Knox
said he was opposed to the bill not only
because of the short time allowed team
owners to make the necessary change IN
their vehicles but largely because there
was absolutely no reason for the change.
Standard tires, he said, had width or
from two to three inches and a consulta-
ton of the various wagon makers cata-
logues showed that four-inch tires were
not kept in stock and were furnished only
in special orders.
Mr.. Knox said that a meeting of those
citizens OF Inc DlstIlCL WutSS DhsiItSS
would be affected by the proposed legisla-
ton had been hastily called some weeks
| ago. and 1t had been unanimously agreed
| that there was no necessity for the law
| proposed.
Mr. Knox called attention to the testi-
| mony Of officers of local street paving con-
| Germs to the effect that the standard width
! tires were not injurious to the streets The
| gathering he mentioned had represented
three-quarters of the interests of the Dis
| trict that would be affected by the pending
legislation. Mr.. Knox said that he had
made a hurried calculation, which indicated
| that 1t would cost more than million dol
| lars to replace the present standard tires
| with those having four-inch tread If the
bill were passed.
Chairman Babcoek of the committee
asked Mr.. Knox If he ever remembered see
ing Pennsylvania avenue in worse condition
than it was at the present TING. MIR. Knox
admitted that he never had. and he said
| that 10th street was just as bad.
Representative Pearre's Views.
Representative Pearre of Maryland ap-
peared before the commission on behalf
of the farmers of Montgomery county and
of the sixth district of Maryland to oppose
the passage of the bill. Mr.. Pearre was
iaboring under the impression that the
farmers of his district would be seriously
affected in financial way by the passage
of the measure, and he also thought that
90 out of 100 of the vehicles used in that
dis' "lct Tor heavy work were supplied with
nan. sw-tread tires. But Representative
Babcock read a. report furnished by Sur
geon Hadley of the local police force, show
ing that In the last fifteen days, from
March II to April 6, out of forty-six diff
ferent loaded wagons that had come into
Washington from the surrounding country
forty-five were already provided with four
inch tires. Mr.. Pearre thereupon admitted
that In his opinion II the time were ex-
tended little bit SO that the change from
the narrow to the broad-tread would not
In every case have to be made by January
1, 1907, the bill was not Objectionable
and would not be detrimental to the inter-
ests of his constituents
President Oyster of the local Business
Mems Association told the committee that
the greatest objection to the bill was the
limited period of time allowed team own
ers to make the change.
Mr.. Hoibrook, who is connected with
the largest brick manufacturing concerns
In this vicinity, and who has been en-
gagged in business here for thirty years,
Informed the committee that his company
had voluntarily changed from the narrow
to the three-and -one-haH and four-ineh
tires and would not purchase any wagons
hereafter that did not have the latter
wheel tread. His company did some OF
the heaviest hauling in the District, Mr..
Holbrook said and his experience had
been that the broad tires had been more
satisfactory. Referring to the approach
es to the new Highway bridge, Mr.. Hol-
brook said that they Wnry. not vet IN