Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-31
SPEED OF AUTOMOBILES
COMMITTEE HEARING ON THE
SIMS BILL.

mittee on the District of Columbia, yester-
day presided over a hearing on the bill to
regulate the speed OF automobiles in the
District OF Columbia, which has been
passed by the House of Representatives.
This hearing was granted in response to a
| request by Representatives Giilett ana
Ames of Massachusetts and Mr.. James
Stoddard, president of the Cook & Stod-
dard Co., dealing in automobiles
Representative Sims. the author of the
bill, was also present and made stout de-
Tense of the measure. The hearing was
opened by a statment on the part of Repre-
sentative Sims in defense of the bill Mr.
Sims claimed that if there was to be eff
feetive regulation of automobiiists it would
be necessary to reduce the speed limitations
and to provide more than mere money pen
alties for persistent vioiators of the law
He claimed that automobiles IN this CITY
are geenrally people OF considerable means,
for whom a fine has but little terror, ana
said that they would be very willing to pay
SIS or $40 whenever caught in the act of ex-
ceedfng the speed limits For that reason
the Imprisonment penalty of the biif which
has been passed by the House was abso-
IuteIy necessary and he hoped that it would
prevail.
Mr.. Stoddard's Statements.
Mr. Stoddard, president of Cook & Stod-
dard Co. stated to the committee that 1t
was a practical impossibility for automo-
biles to reduce their speed rounding cor
ners of streets to four miles an hour, as
provided In the House bill He said that
six miles an hour was as low as 1t was
practical to make the speed limit in round
ing curves. He said also that 1t was prac-
tically impossible to avoid technical vio-
lations of the law.
Mr. Stoddard was also strongly opposed
to Imprisonment upon the third ofrense on
the part of an automobfiSt within Single
year The bill provides for such 1mprtson-
ment in the discretion of the court, but Mr..
Stoddard thought that only money fines
should be exacted.
Senator Blackburn interrupted the witness
to state that he did not think the bill
would prove effective, or, in fact, of any
use at all unless such Imprisonment for
third offense is made mandatory instead of
discretionary as provided in the BILL He
thought that the judge should not have any
discretion in such matters, but that when
an automoblist violates the law third
time In single year he should be given
a Jail sentence. Representatives Gillett
and Ames, both of whom are automo-
bilists, and are frequently seen on the
streets of this city, agreed with Senator
Blackburn that Imprisonment for the third
offense should be mandatory.
Mr.. Stoddard was asked by Senator Gal
linger, the chairman, to submit to the
Senate in writing, such amendments on the
made to the House bill.
Representative Sims stated to the COM
mittee that he had received a number OF
letters-hundreds of them-from people In
this city indorsing the bill for the regulation
of automobiles which had passed the
House and of which he is the father. he
said that he did not believe the present
regulations are being enforced in the Silght-
est degree, and said that there are numer-
our instances of unusual carelessnesS on
the part of Automobiles. Very recently.
he said. he bicyclist going at fast
rate of speed, while an automobile turned
a corner, going in the same direction as
the bicyclist, and almost ran down the
bicycle. The rate of the automobile under
such circumstances, he said, especially as
it was turning a corner and the ehauffeur
could not see what was ahead of him, was
reckless in an extreme degree.
Representative Ames referred to the lin
itation of fifteen miles an hour outside OF
the fire limits in the District of Columbia,
and said that in his Judgment twenty five
miles hour would not be too fast. with
provision that the automobile should
slow down to twelve miles when passing
another vehicle.
ANY one who rides in automobile"
said Mr. Ames, ''will testify that fifteen
miles an hour is pretty slow driving
Senator Scott's Experience.
Senator Scott interrupted to say that he
was strongly opposed TO such fast driving
as twenty-five miles an hour; in fact, he
was opposed to automobiles on general
principles.
II purchased an automobile for S1.sO0.
said Senator Scott, .'and. after keeping 1t
for six months, became so nervous for
fear would kill some one or get killed my
self that gave 1t away. l would not ride
In one of them, and l think that the speed
ought to be kept down to point of safety,
or at least comparative safety.
Representative Giiiett stated that he had
no objection to imprisonment for violations
or the law as provided in the bill, but he
thought that the speed limitations of that
bill should be Increased. He thought that
the speed at intersecting streets and ave-
nues and across railway tracks was too low
as provided in the bill. He thought that
the speed of five miles an hour at intersect-
Ing streets and avenues should be Increased
to eight miles. and, In turning curves. In
stead of four miles an hour 1t should be six
miles an hour. he believed that the speed
limitations as provided IN the bill were
simply impracticable.
Twenty-Five miles an hour outside the fire
limits, he believed was entirely safe In the
case of one qualified to run an automobile
The limitation to fifteen miles ha believed
too low.
Representative Ames said that, while he
saw no objection to the Imprisonment
clause of b3lI a baIiayad xxr4,s1ld }nsfs