Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-17
Covers Both Day and Night.

These figures do not show whether Or
not the accidents occurred at night or
day. whether or not the vehicles were
lighted. At the hearing granted the
protesting team owners ]. HI. Ralston,
attorney for the team owners heard the
figures read, and remarked:
Those statistics do not show that a
single one of those accidents occurred
because of the lack of lights on any of
the heavy drays of which l speak, SO the
statistics prove nothing.
Mr.. Ralston had been speaking of the
large moving vans. just previous to the
reading of the figures.
The first draft OF the lighting regulation
was forwarded to Commissioner john
ston. August ., 1910, by Maj Sylvester,
who sand then:
In compliance with your instructions,
have prepared several tentative regula-
tions pertaining to lights on vehicles and
unnecessary noises in connection with the
operation of motor vehicles. In this con-
nection 1 have the honor to invite your
attention to the recommendation of the
majo and superintendent of police under
date of September >. 1904, wherein he
states that all private vehicles in the
District of Columbia should he required
to carry lights after sundown, and to
the letter of the Commissioners dated
May IA, 1910, wherein reference is made
as follows: The occasion for requesting
legislation is a doubt in the mind of the
legal adviser OF the Commissioners IL
the Commissioners have authority under
their power 70 make regulations for this
purpose
with reference to lights on all vehicles
I have to state that there must be taken
into consideration the light running ve-
hices drawn by horse power. and to the
slow moving vehicles drawn by the same
power, including wagons engaged in ex-
cavating. vehicles hauling lumber. build
snv -I.r
and hay wagons coming in from rural
districts.
Shortly after that memorandum, the
first drastic regulation, since nullified and
revived and modified, was announced.
Indorsed by Automobiles.
Discussing the order Of the Commission
ers that horse-drawn vehicles shall carry
lights after dark, William S. Duvall.
president Of the Automobile Club of
Washington. declared today that, COM
and owners of borse-drawn vehicles have
been particularly well treated.
My experience has beeI,' Mr.. Duvall
said, that lights and identification num-
Der tags are largely matters of educa
ton. There was very great talk about
expense danger marring, etc, when the
law relating to the application of light.
and number tags were first suggested
In connection with the automobile After
a little, however. We got used to 1t. Of
course. these things add to the expense OF
maintaining vehicle of any kind. and
with the automobile carrying gasoline q
Hight is more or less dangerous: but all
are intended for the good OF the pubic
and hence are commendable laws. While
i would he the last one to burden our
merchants. or, i'm fact, any one. Yet
have always believed that lighting al
vehicles Is necessary. This question OF
lighting cannot be viewed now as it wa
ten years ago, for then II was merely
horse vehicle against horse vehicle, but
with the rapidly moving trolley cars and
auto-vehicles Of all descriptions con
slider. as q matter of safety to all, lights
should be carried.
In reading over this new police regu
iation cannot but be impressed with the
very extreme leniency of our good Com
missioners toward horse-drawn vehicles
According TO the regulation any kind o
cheap lamp will answer. whereas tn,
(Continued on Second Page.)