Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-07-10
MEASURE EVokEs LIVELY FIGHT
Rsssrs. Christie and Harris Vigorous.
y Oppose Increasing Present Limit
Of Eight Miles an Hour-Presldent
Jones' Holds Out for Fiteen-miie
Limlt--Extsnd Curling Contract.

lug tue cHfc0 Vi thS HaNuiheS " -
duc1nk the speed limit from fifteen 10
twelve miles an hour, and making mill
or changes In Several other sect onS,
the common council. In special ses-
s;on last night, unanimously adopted
TIE automobile ordinance, which was
introduced last March by Mr.. Charles
r. Fellows, OF the Second ward.
Strenuous opposition was offered TO
several Of the provisions OF the meas
tarc. out II was not until the matter
of the speed limit was taken up thar
the real battle deselcped. MessTs.
Christie, w. Z. Jones and Harris led
the fight for retaining the present
1peed limit of eight miles an hour,
wtile President Jones argued for the
ortKinal fifteen miles as contained IN
the ordinance. and sAiessrs. Fellows,
Ford and others bitterly opposed the
eight mile limit
Pres. Jones Favors Higher Limit.
President Jones asked City Attorney
J. A. Massie how fast he ran his ma
cntne and Mr.. Massie replied that he
ana other automobile owners observed
4 fifteen mile limit The president
then declared that he believed that
the council should fix fifteen miles MS
the limit. because II 1t WIS made low
es than that the owners and drivers
e machines would not observe II and
the police would have no way of de-
termining whether the machines were
running at the rate OF twelve or mr.
teen mites an hour. Il think we had
better make the limit fifteen miles and
see that 1t Is lived up to than to make
it ten or twelve miles an hour and
s~ink at violations of that limit" said
<nE. Jones.
2aF. sesiitlssss h Nsw YORK.
nr. Christie protested vigorously
AGAINST any limit more than eight
miles an hour. lie said that already
several cities had passed Jaws prohib-
tting automobiles from running within
the Limits OF those cities and that he
had "Seen informed upon good author
zty that New York city is thinking
sersousiy ct prohibiting the running
OF any automobiles in that city"
In opposition to a higher limit than
the one now In force. Mr.. Harris said
Ne knew that automobiles are now
run within the city limits at the rate
<of from thirty 10 forty miles an hour
and that they would be run even fast
e. II the present limit should be IN
creased.
Mr.. WE. Jones raised the same
confentton against the fifteen-mie
limit. but suggested twelve mile
Emit. Mr.. Fellows accepted. and the
o7aendment passed. eleven to one.
President Jones being the ony member
20 7oke nay.
ssys Chief Is Mot Qualified
Mr.. Harris. objected 70 that section
IL the ordinance that requires every
5efsca who wishes TO drive a machine
- the city to secure a permit fruEil
chief Of Police Reyonlds and that the
caief shall grant permits Only 20 such
Dsr<ons az he thinks are capable OF
funning machines. Mr.. Harris con-
tended that the chief diu not know
anything about cunning automobiles
Asmee1s and, therefore. was nct com
pescu< to pass upon the qualifications
q others. After the poin: had been
51scrssed at leagth. the section was
oxreed to withou, change.
There was some opposition to .neI
section requiring not only the owner.
8z(3 everyone who drives = machine
10 bare q permit. but that. 700. was
r1Ssed over without being amended
Amend Section Regulating Fines
TIE section relating 10 fscs was
amended after a somewhat lengthy
discussion. As originally drawn. the
rC-<:cn provided that y a person
ekculd be convicted third time for.
vs1;sf.nr tn speed limit fzes in the
or<fza1cc mis- or her permit shall BE
revoked and such person may not Sc
rsre another permit within six months
<rcu the date on which the permit -
revcfcd. CITY Attorney Massie point
a cut that man misht violate the
ordnance only three times in ten
5e1rs and yet For the third cfense he
wo11c lost dis permit. He suggested
J1ak the sect,cn be changed 20 a. 10
~ fh1: II any pcrson violates the
c<<.n1rce three times withia one or
: <<o rrers Il was hnaily agreed 10
u11kc TIE section read -and spon con
x1r<<o1 of a third violation q section
--<k<s< fsrcc5 finio Of this ordnance
5 ~>1ta tso years he shall ~ deprived
Fin>, Arc t1rrcs TO.
TIE Ercs provided for TIE violation
n <h~ provisions Of the ordissncc vere
11r<>c 70 vifbcut dIscassion. The