Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-15
AUTO OWNERS PROTEST
SUBSTITUTE BILL FOR REGULAT-
ING SPEED OF MACHINES.
Regard the Sims Bill as ImpracttcabIe
and Unjust-Hearing Given
Today.

strenuous protest against the provisions
of the Sims bill. which proposes stringent
regulation OF the speed of automobiles in
the District of Columbia. particularly to the
mandatory infiiction of Imprisonment of an
automobilist upon conviction of second Of
Tense. was made at a hearing before the
Commissioners In the board room at the
District building today. No one appeared to
argue in favor of the enactment of the
proposed measure, and w. S. Duvall. pres
ident of the Washington Automobile Club
and r. B. Caverly, its captain, were the
principal speakers in opposition Mr. Du-
vail submitted the draft of substitute
bill which he regarded a more nearly con-
forming to what Is right in the premises
When the hearing opened Commissioner
Macfarland read both the bill introduced in
the House by Representative Sims of Ten
nessee and the existing police regulations
with reference to automobiles in the Dis
trfct of Columbia.
Mr.. Duvall, who opened the discussion
said, in part, as follows:
Both the public and the Automobiles as
body understand the existing regulations
and have endeavored to obey them strictly.
They were promulgated after great deal
of thought and labor; their validity WIS at
tackled In the courts, and by the courts sus-
never been accident by an automobile
and to a pedestrian that any more rigorous
regulations than now in force could possi-
bly, have avoided.
Mechanical Construction.
ut is evident that the Trainer of the bill
which We are considering does not under
stand the automobile from a mechanical
point OF view. or else he cares little for UNI
necessary damage done to this very valua-
BILE piece of personal property or he would
know that to reduce the speed of an auto
mobile at every intersecting street could
only tend to wear one of its most vital
parts"
Mr.. Duvall also called attention TO the
practical impossibiity of an auto opera
tor watching his speedometer. so as to keen
within the law and at the same time be on
the lookout for pedestrians or vehicles or
other obstructions ahead.
Against the penalty provision OF the hill
which provides mandatory Imprisonment
upon any second conviction within one year
OF an automobile owner or operator in tha
Police Court, the speaker argued mos
Iorc.by The question naturally arises
he said IF in view OF the fact that anv
OF our well-known citizens and people who
support the city government to a great ex.
tent are upon second conviction, which is
JUS as diKely as the FIRST to subject them
automobile worth the risk they RUM"
Provisions of Substitute Bill.
lation and operation of automobiles In the
District provides that such machines he
tween the hours of Q am and pm ana
in the territory bounded by street perr.
sylyania avenue. 9Th street and 18th stree,
northwest shall not be driven at a higher
speed than twelve miles an hour and that
during the same hours, the speed on Penn
Syiyania avenue between LIST street and 18th
street. 9th street and 18th street Pennsvi
vanla avenue and New York avenue ana
fth street. u street to Pennsylvania ave-
nue., shall not exceed ten miles per bopr
Six miles per hour Is the general snaea NE
scribed for all motor cars In turing
corners.
Outside the territory mentioned. and Win
In il between the hours of o M and q q
m. the maximum permissible speea If
autos and bicycles Is fixed at fifteen mi,es
per hour. Outside tho fire limits q maxl-
mum permissible speed of twenty miles ner
hour Is fixed. Provision is also mada for
regulation Of horse-drawn vehicles To !
speed OF eight miles an hour and four n,i1es
In rounding corners with the Central part al
the city and during business hours and TO
ten miles an hour outside the fire limits.
Another section provides that nothing IN
the bill shall be CONSTRUED as permitting
dangerous speed at any time or place, and
that drivers of autos or horses or riders az
bicycles at all time and places must be
governed by surrounding circumstances
The last clause fixes penalties at not less
than 81 nor more than SO for first con-
viction, and IS to $40 for second within
wit l.