The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-16
NOT FAST ENOUGH
Topeka Motor League Complains
Of Speed Ordinance.
Suggested Amendments at a
Meeting Last Night.
WAR ON JUDGE URMY.
Motorists Threaten to Place
New Candidate in Field.
Mayor Green Says Ordinance
Might Be Changed.
WAR ON JUDGE URMY.

At a meeting of the Topeka motor
league at the Commercial club rooms
last night the automobile owners and
enthusiasts of this city decided to pc
tition for repeal of the speed ordin-
ance which requires the auto drivers
to slow down to eight miles an hour
on Kansas avenue and sixteen miles
an hour in the residence streets.
The meeting was an indignation af-
fair caused by the numerous heavy
fines which have been inflicted upon
the auto owners by Police Judge S. S.
Urmy in the last month or two. There
is an ordinance in Topeka requiring
the speediacs adhering to the above
mentioned rules and if they are dis
obeyed and the motor cycle police are
able to catch them the fines vary from
So to $50. Since the speed fever has
been striking the Topeka automobile
lists Judge Urnny has decided to inflict
the maximum fines in order to keep
peace and quietness-and this is what
the victims are complaining of today.
The Motor league is under the i'm
preston that the ordinance should
be changed to read twelve miles an
hour on Kansas avenue and twenty
miles in the residence district, follow
ed by an eight mile rule while turn
ing corners. Also, according to their
idea of the speed limits, there shall
be two big exceptions to this rule
the doctors in answering calls should
have the privilege of breaking the or
dinance and the demonstrating ma
chimes should also have the clear
track to the limit of their engines.
Instead of making the maximum fine
$50 it should be reduced to $25-per
the proposed ruling of the motor
league.
The members of the league who met
last night have planned a little cam
n tn ga 1-I-Xy ont
their new rulings and they are at
work today. The first matter will be
to impress upon Judge Urmy the fact
that he is little too severe with those
who come before him on these mat
ters. AS a proof of their convictions
the motor league has threatened to or
ganize an Independent party before
the coming spring election in April
and insert the name of another gen.
tlemen of the city for police judge.
Several of the members of the motor
league said today that this would be
possible and there was a good chance
of defeating the present judge for re-
election. The man to run for the place
has not been chosen by the motorists
they are waiting for some action on
the part of the judge or the city.
1t has been suggested that each
member of the city council be taken
a ride down Kansas avenue at the rate
of eight miles an hour and then have
his opinion concerning the pleasure of
d
thought that a ride of this rate will
soon wear out the average American
who is desiroUs of speed and excite
ment. It will all be tried.
The automobile speed law is always
a question in cities. Topeka is differ
ent from any other city in this respect,
however, and the law should be
changed for this reason. In this city
ed out in such a manner that the
traffic is small and scattered. An
automobile could go twice the speed
limit in other cities and still be ap-
Kansas City where the streets are
narrow. the traffic is congested. the
hills are steep, the speed limits are
not any smaller than in Topeka.
With one or two exceptions there
are not any fast scorches in this city.
The average automobile owner in To-
peka is out for the pleasure of the
thing and they have little desire to
tors who have hasty calls generally |
take the side streets and they make |
little time on Kansas avenue. For
instance, the county coroner, DR.. |
Keith, maintains a little roadster for |
business only and in his case a ma
jority of his calls are urgent and it is |
a absolutely necessary that he make
fast time But the doctor is his own
chauffeur and he is a careful expert |
enced driver.
One prominent member of the |
Motor league SdlO
ST have no desire to run down any
human being or kill any domestic |
animal and still I have no desire to |
have any human being or domestic |
animal to run me down-and this is |
the case when we are required to |
travel so slow. There are horse driv
ers who go down Kansas avenue every |
day at a speed of fifteen and twenty |
miles an hour-the delivery wagon |
drivers can exceed this speed with |
very little trouble. And let me tell |
you've can stop a car just as quick |
if not quicker than a man can draw up |
his horse if there is any danger. I |
believe that the ordinance is uncalled |
for unless the screws are loosened and |
we are given a little more freedom. |
I also believe that the police are TAX
ing a little too much liberty-they |
seem to be laying for US and getting |
in their work whenever possible To |
end up with, Judge Urmy settles a /
fine that is unreasonable"
Chief Eaton's Statement.
Chief Eaton and Judge Urmy take |
the matter as a duty. The chief said |
to a state Journal reporter this morn
ing:
the autoists of the city. We have |
coming to the station every
day from people who ask that the |