Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-16
Maj. Sylvester Wants Changes
in Traffic Laws.
LIGHTS ON ALL VEHICLES
Also Licenses for Drivers of Horses
and Hotel Chauffeurs.
TRAFFIC BUREAU
Hopes Some Day to Have a Force
Sufficient to Cope With
Growing Problem.

Ii is the desire of Maj. Richard SEl-
vester. chief of police. to have on duty
in the business section of the city a
traffic squad. in order 10 meet the in
creased demands for protection along
the more congested streets i'm the bust
ness section. He has made effort to
establish such squad with the limited
Number of policemen at his disposal
Mai. Sylvester thinks there should he
certain changes in tho law respecting
hiclcs of all kinds. and hopes some day
to have a traffic bureau to deal with all
questions relating to the operating of We
hicles on the public thoroughfares. In a
recent report to the Commissioners Mai.
Sylvester discussed the question of We
hicular traffic and made certain recon-
dations.
The vehicle service in this jurisdiction
should be of a character to elicit the
most favorable comment. he said, 'and
IS now passing through that change
which must establish for 1t eventually
high standard of excellenCy. 1t was but
few years ago when the popular motor
vehicle was unknown here, when the
single and double horse hack was the
popular means of transit. In those days
the herdic drawn by horses and the d.
apidated night liner held prominent place
FOR patronage. These conveyances were
the relics of the period following recon-
struction. Electricity was substituted
for horses as a power for operating street
railway cars. and with that the evolution
began. Now every conceivable kind of
motor vehicle is operated here. the taxi
cab being the latest among them.
Throughout this period. embarrassed by
inadequate laws, the authorities have had
IN the main to depend on regulations,
many of doubtful legal effect. to meet
The rapid changes in character of vehicles
and their conduct.
Divided opinion and diversified inter-
ests have all along made 1t somewhat
difficult for the Commissioners and Con-
gress to embody the whole situation in
one complete set of laws Court con-
structions have added to the complica-
ton. and all i'm all the stranger public.
il not the local residents are unable to
proceed intelligently, generally. SO as to
avoid imposition at all times. Under pre-
vailing legal provision the motor vehicle
garage or the livery stable proprietor
under lease may have an exclusive hotel
privilege. with office therein, and stand
his vehicles along the curb without to
the exclusion of the public vehicle of
identical character, to serve only pat
rons of such hotel.
I'm rendering this service. in having
this privilege. these vehicle owners have
no public vehicle license to procure. may
charge a rate agreed upon or not, and
are not subject to police supervision ex-
cept as to the rules of the road and good
order. They must not, however. solicit
or convey patrons aside from hotel
guests.
'In brief. the patron who employs a
vehicle paying a license as public
vehicle is afforded the protection of the
police in the matter Of rates. while the
livery stable. garage and hotel vehicle
Is private concern and can fix it's own
fat rate for transportation. except that
taxicabs of private or public character
mus. carry duly inspected and accurate
taximeters and rates. This latter re-
striction was made effective by the Com
missioners and an improved and more
satisfactory service has followed. Taxi
cab rates continue to call for some
criticism, but that is question which
must be determined hy exnerience.