Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-11
GIVE PUBLIC HEARING
BROAD TIRE BILL TO BE DISCUS
SEQ THURSDAY.

The District committee of the Senate has
referred the broad tire bill. which passed
the House recently and is up before the
Senate for action, to the Commissioners for
a report, and Commissioner Macfarland an
nounced today that they will give a public
hearing on the subject Thursday morning
at the District building.
Since the proposition to regulate the width
of tires in the District became generally
known vigorous objections have been made
by the local business men, and Commits
sioner Mcfarland stated that the Commits
sioners are DESTROYS of hearing the views of
the public upon this question before they
approve or disapprove it. When the bill
was passing through the various channels
in the House of Representatives after il
had been introduced by Chairman Babcock
of the District committee it was not re-
ferred to the Commissioners for q report.
as are the majority of other bills of vital
interest to the local community. This over
sight 1t is explained was due to the fact
that the bill was being fathered by Mr.
Babcock and as he is chairman of the
District committee he was satisfied that
the bill was all right for action and needed
no recommendations from the Commits
Sioners.
The bill provides that all wagons or other
vehicles weighing with their loads over
two tons shall be required to have tires at
least four inches wide. This is DONE 1t is
stated, for the purpose Of protecting the
asphalt pavements. Mr.. Babcock has con-
tended that much of the impaired condition
or the local highways is due to the lack
of width of the tires on the heavily laden
wagons.
The idea of his bill came to Mr.. Babcock
as an inspiration, it is said. When party
of congressman and other officials of
which Mr.. Babcock was a member last
FEBRUARY visited the dedication of the new
Highway bridge across the Potomac river
he decided that Washington's streets should
be preserved by the use Of the broad tires
He received this inspiration while looking
at the smoothly paved approaches to the
bridge, which some one pointed to and said
II would not be long before the heavy
wagons crossing the bridge would wear the
pavement out.
Commissioner Biddle's View.
The city's highways come under the jul
risdiction of Commissioner Biddle. He has
never given an official opinion upon this
proposed legislation, but said today that he
does not think 1t Is necessary to increase
the width of tires to preserve the asphalt
pavements. He stated that he could read
lily see why legislation is needed such as
this for the preservation of macadam roads.
The most persistent protestant against
this legislation is Mr.. John l.. Newbold.
president of the Merchants Transfer and
Commissioners several weeks ago while dis
cusS1ng this legislation privately that there
is only one city in the United States that
enforces broad-tire law. He said this
law will apply to more than 5000 wagons
In the District and will involve an approx
mate expense to the owners of about
81 100000.
The Commissioners will direct their sec
rotary to send notices Of this hearing to
the Board of Trade. the Business Mems
Association and the Jobbers and Shippers
and all other such associations that may be
interested. However, the public at large Is
invited, and the Commissioners look for a
large assemblage at the hearing.