Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-09-03
Fight for FIlleen-nlIe Provision In
Auto Ordinance Lost Before
b. Conference Committee.
AUTO OWNERS ARE DISAPPOINTED
Few Changes Made in Measure As
Sent Down From Board OF Alder
men--Chief Of Police Issues Permits
60 Drivers Of cars-PenaIties Are
Slightly Reduced.


t~s.it
Although the few automobile owners
present and some of the members OF
the committee earnestly urged nj
teen-mile limit, the conference COM
mittee of the city council. appointed
to revise the Fellows automobile or
dinance. last night fixed the speed
limit for automobiles and other motor
vehicles running within the city
limits at twelve miles an hour.
AS adopted Dy the common council
the limit was twelve miles an hour
When the ordinance was taken up by
the board of aldermen. number OF
automobile owners were present at
the meeting and they urged a fifteen
mile limit and other amendments. A
majority of the board favored high
err rate of speed and IL was decided to
ask the lower branch TO appoint con-
ference committee to revise the meas
use as II was passed by the common
council.
Measure May Be Held Up.
Few changes were made I'm any OF
the provisions of the measure last
night and there are some who do not
believe that the ordinance Will be
passed by the council in its present
shape. i is practically certain that
automobile owners will maze a siren
uous fight against the twelve mile lin
II and some of them are opposed to
paying a license tax on their ma
chimes. In addition to the regular tax
as assessed by the commissioner or
the revenue.
Besides Councilman f. !. Ford ana
City Attorney ]. A. Massie. Messrs. Il.
y. Donnie and W. e. Rouse were the
only automobile owners present when
the committee met to take up the re-
vision of the measure. The commit
teemen present we're: Councilman
ford. chairman, and Councilman w.
K. Jones and C. r. Fellows and Al
dermen Read, helms and Kellum.
Fight for Lower Speed.
While the consideration OF the
other provisions consumed great
deal OF time, the committee spent
long time in the consideration OF the
speed provision and some warm dis
cussicns were had. For time II
looked as if those in favor OF the nj
teen-mile limit would win out, but
Councilmen w. r. Jones and Ford
fought so strenuously for the twelve
mile limit that 1t finally was carried
Mr.. Kellum being the only member
TO vote against il. The speed limit
for the machines rounding street
corners was fixed at six miles an
hour. there being no objection to that
section.
Chief Issues Licenses.
After somewhat lengthy discus
sion, the committee made no changs
in that section of the ordinance which
requires that the owners and opera
tors of all machines must secure their
licenses to run the machines in the
city from the chief of police and that
the chief may refuse to grant such
a license when he does not think tina;
the applicant is 1T and proper per-
son to run an automobile.
Objection was raised to this section
on the ground that the chief Of police
is not qualified TO pass upon the
question as to whether or not per-
son Is a fit and proper one to run a
machine.
This section of the measure also re-
qrires that owners and drivers must
pay license tax o. 81 when securing
their license from the police CHIEF.
The license is good only for one year
and must be reversed annually by the
payment OF a tax 1850
Penalties Are Reduced.
The penalties for failure to comply
with the law were slightly reduced.
For the first violation OF any OF the
provisions. the offender may be fined
not less than s. ncr more tdan SIS,
for the second violation. not less than
SIS nor more than $50. and for the
third offence. not less than $40 nor
more than 500. and the forfeiture
Of the license to run machine. This
license NAV not be renewed until six
months after the third conviction for