Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-16
Wagon Owners Object to
Lights Regulation.
MAY TAKE JOINT ACTION
Combination to Raise Rates on De-
liveries Suggested.
ORIGINAL ORDER MODIFIED
Commissioners Surprised at Lack Of
Universal Acqufescence-Their
Reasons Explained.


Surprise on the part Of the District
Commissioners as we'll as by the owners
and managers Of a large delivery serv-
Ices has followed the publication Of the
lights on wagons police regulation. The
commissioners are much surprised to
find that any one objects to the softened
and compromised regulation and the
wagon owners are surprised that any
regulation should be adopted at all.
While the Commissioners were explain
Ing just why the delivery wagons and all
other vehicles should carry lights, and
why certain notifications and compro-
misses had been made since the original
order, merchants and delivery company
officials were explaining their views on a
police regulation which to some seems
ridiculous. unnecessary and distasteful
and to others a perfectly safe and sane
exercise of the police power granted to
the Commissioners by Congress-.
Viewpoint Of Commissioners.
Commissioners Rudolph today explained
the situation from the viewpoint Of the
commissioners. AS a preliminary, It Is
pointed out that had the original lights
on wagons" order been kept on the po-
lice books the protest from merchants
would have been far more widespread
than 1T Is at present. That original regu-
iat1on required lights on all vehicles dur
ing every minute of the time when the
sun was on the other side Of the globe
Owing to protests, Commissioner Rudolph
suspended the order and held q hearing.
After that the three Commissioners tried
to get together in one idea time and time
cy0tv hp,k
regulation. as explained by Commissioner
Rudolph, Is compromise and has in 1t
two or three points showing that deep
consideration had been given the Views
OF business men Of the city.
One of these, said Commissioner Ru-
dolph, Is the fact that the many wagons
which a.e out In the very early morning
do not have to carry lights.
Exemptions From the Rule.
"Of course" said the Commissioner. we
all know there is very little traffic at
or o'clock In the morning Bread wagons
and milk wagons and any other wagons
out at that time have the city to them
selves. They don't have to carry lights
And realize that heavy express wagons
that 60 out into tm suburbs to do a bit
entirely unexpectedly. Well the regula-
ton expressly stipuiates that IL they are
delayed they have an hour and q half lee
way to get home, provided they are going
is dangerous for wagons to travel the
streets after dark without lights, and the
cost OF maintaining lamp on a wagon
would be about % cents q year for oil. I
should imagine.
Some one suggests that stable may
catch fire. This regulation doesn't de-
mand that lamps shall be lighted In the
stao Some one says that scenery will
eaten fire on the wagons equipped with
oil lamps. II that is So I'd rather have
the fire on the wagon than In the theater.
Every bit Of scenery that is brought into
the city is supposed to be asbestos or fire.
proof In some way. 1t is tested by the
fire department men with gasoline torches.
/ don't think that is valid objection
All scenery mover has to do is to hang
a lamp on one end of the wagon
Joint Action Hinted At.
w. 8. Knox is one Of the business men
who object.
AS soon as we get our BREATH" he said
today. Il suppose we will get together in
a meeting and formulate some plan of ac-
ton or protest. We believed that the
hghnng regulation was dead for all time"
I'VE are going to raise the rates on de-
livery. / believe" said John L. Newbold
president of the Merchants Transfer and
Storage Company. this morning. land II
we can get up combination to raise the
rates on all sorts OF deliveries, | think
the people will see just where the Com
missioners' ruling are affecting the cost
of living.
Prefers Better Lighted Streets.
This lighting regulation will be obso-
lete within a few years, I'm sure The
way l figure 1t, drivers will be in the
police station all the time The Police
Court and station houses will be crowded
with trivial Offenders. The whole matter
could be done away with by decent light
ing OF some of the streets OF course,
realize that streets cannot be supplied
with lights as quickly as police regu-
lation can be passed, but the streets
should have had better lighting years
ago.
Even allowing an hour and half
leeway at night for belated delivery wag-
ons. the regulation is unpopular with the
business men of the town. / don't believe
that even with constant supervision at
extra cost all the lights on all the wag-
ons of big express company could be
kept in proper trim. This regulation is
one of the most unpopular l ever knew
Of
William Corby of Corby's bakery said
that he appreciated the Commissioner
thonshtfulness in redrafting the regula
ton. LAS it stood originally he said.
"all baker wagons and other early morn
ing delivery wagons would have had to
carry an equipment Of electric lights, as
1t would be unsafe and insanitary to
carry kerosene lights with bread and
rolls"
Opinion Of e. S. Alvord.
f. S. Alvord of Littlefield, Alvord &
Co. said: Il do not see the need of lights
on vehicles which are moving along at
walk We Representatives of several
storage companies) met last spring when
there was some talk about forcing wag-
ons to carry lights after dark and de-
cided to have our wagons carry them in
the outlying districts. where there were
no lights. The matter was dropped. and
We thought for good and oil.
Lights would not be needed If the city
streets were properly lighted. l do not
see how it will be possible to put lights
on some wagons, for instance, the coal
wagons. There is no place on them to