The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-18
BAN ON The AUTOS
Must Keep Out of State House
Grounds.
Signs of Warming Put Up at
Entrances.
FEAR OF AN ACCIDENT.
Danger Of Collision Under the
Arches.
Mr.. Denton, Secretary of State,
Tells Why Order Was Made.
NO AUTOMOBILES ALLOWED
ON THESE GROUNDS.
BY order of
The Executive Council.


The above forbidding sign nailed to
a telephone pole at the east and west
entrances to the state house grounds
appeared Sunday morning.
1t was put there for the purpose of
avoiding danger of collisions in the
north and south arches. which danger
will continue to exist as long as reck-
less automobiles are on the streets, of
Topeka, and are allowed to go tearing
around the sharp curves and into the
dark archways under the state house
steps. (
The order is good in its intentions,
but the chances are that it will prove
to be illegal. 1t may have to be Ino6i-
fled. The attorney general has been
called upon to pass upon the right of
the executive council to make such an
order and its right to enforce the order
If made. The attorney general has not
yet given written opinion to the coun-
Gil
1t is probable that the council has the
right to regulate the speed of automo-
biles in passing through the state house
grounds, and some believe that under
the general rule giving the council the
right to manage and control the
grounds, it can bar automobiles. But
there is no penalty for a violation of
the order of the council. The only
ground of action would be for trespass-
BY making a rule requiring automo-
biles to go through the grounds at
very low rate of speed. the executive
council could punish violations under
the state law making it a misdemeanor
to drive an automobile at dangerous
rate of speed.
Secretary of state c. E. Denton said
in spea king of the order: THE execu-
tive council made this rule about a
week ago to stop the reckless running
of automobiles through the state
house grounds. Automobiles come
through the grounds at the rate of 20
miles an hour. When they approach
that passa geway under the arches
they frequently move along noiseless-
ly There is the greatest danger that
they Will run somebody down coming
out of the state house, or else collide
with a buggy or other vehicle. pc
lieve that this rule is a good one, and
ought to be enforced am rnyseif
the owner of an automobile, and L
know that drivers go good deal last
er than they have any intention or go
ing 1t is a dangerous place around
this state house, and a bad accident is
sure to happen sooner or later unless
the automobiles are stopped. we
could not enforce a speed limit, If we
should fix one. The only way seemed
to be to shut up the arches entirely,
or keep automobiles off the grounds
We decided the latter to be the better
plan The rule. 1 understand IT,
prevents automobiles coming into the
grounds at all, even to draw up to the
front steps. though this matter was
not discussed by the council.
While Mr.. Denton was talking, a
large touring car belonging to some
body on business inside the capitol,
was standing out by the east steps.
Captain J.. c. Collins, custodian or
the state house grounds, who put up
the sign. said:
II put UP that sign at the order OF
the council 1 don't know just what
steps will be taken to enforce 1t, but 1t
ought to be enforced For the present
am simply taking the numbers of the
machines which 1 see going through
the grounds. l took several mum bers
sunday. and am ready to make an ex-
ample of somebody as soon as the ex-
ecutive council directs. There have
been a number of very narrow escapes
from bad accidents under those
arches. and for time the arches were
kept barricaded. 1t might be possible
to aviod some of the danger by re-
quiring all vehicles to turn r to the
right when going through the grounds:
If that rule was enforced, there would
not be so much danger Of collision
between vehicles, but there would still
be danger for pedestrians from reck-
less autom obile drivers.
The sad accident to the little boy
who was run over by big touring car
in this city a few days ago is what
stirred the executive council up to &C
tion. Unless the guilty party in that
AFFAIR is found and punished. public
sentiment is going to become still more
hostile to the owners of motor
vehicles.