Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-02
Business Men Present Protest
to the Commissioners.
| MATTER IS AGAIN OPENED
Further Consideration to Be Result
Of Showing Made.
ARGUE FOR A COMPROMISE
Petitioners Want Ordinary Vehicles
on Lighted Streets Exempt From
Provisions Of Regulations.

After hearing series of protests that
amounted almost to storm of adverse
sentiment against the police regulation
requiring lights on horse drawn vehicles,
effective December 10, the District Com
sissioners decided this morning that they
will have to reopen the whole matter.
Protests were presented by committee
appointed as a result of the recent mass
meeting of businss men in protest against
the regulation. The committee called on
the Commissioners and talked for two
hours
The business men who asked for an eX-
tension of time. so that more data on the
subject of accidents to horse-drawn
vehicles at night could be obtained were
John NJ. Newbold, w. s. Hoge, Perry
johnson. T. w. Smith, L. S. Alvord, w.
W. Griffith. w. II. Moses, Carl Burgdorf
and w. Hamilton Smith. Several others
interested in the subject, but not on the
committee. made their appearance at the
hearing. Among them was J. d. Robin
son, who presented q set of petitions of
protest with 1000 signers.
Committee Presents Petition.
The committee presented to the Com
missioners this petition
lation in regard to lighting of vehicles
Is wise and necessary. We believe that
this should be done without discrimiha-
drawn or otherwise, but only where it
is necessary to prevent accident. We.
therefore, propose that all rubber-tired
vehicles of every description should be
lighted on the public streets. We fur
seription should be properly lighted II on
any unlighted city square or unighted
highway or road outside of the city
limits. We consider the compulsory
lighting Of an ordinary vehicle on a
an order would work q burden and hard
ship upon the whole community"
This pet ton was signcd by nearly
every merchant and business house In
the city whose business requires teams
and delivery wagons.
In addition to this paper. the petition
presented by Mr.. Robinson was as fol-
lows:
''Inasmuch az no accident Of serious
nature has occurred in our city, through
the fault Of any herse-drawn vehicle
not having lights, we, the Undersigned.
deem the new section Of article IL OF
the police regulations lately drawn by
you, in reference to the lights and tags
an unnecessary tax and burden, and as
citizens and taxpayers beg Of you to
remove said section relative to lights and
tags OH horse-drawn vehicles"
Two Thousand Signed It..
The 1000 signers to this petition were
for the'smost part the general public
householders, etc. Mr.. Robinson claimed
that he got these signers since Monday
and could have tripled the number with
little more time.
John NJ. Newbold asked that an extern
cir rpf fpa civ. hat IA
figures on accidents after dark could be
obtained He said that the figures col
lected by the police previous to the adopt
ing of the regulation were not separated
SO as to show whether or not the acci-
dents were after dark, whether they were
by lighted vehicles or not. In reply
Commissioner Rudolph said that the
greatest thought had been given to the
regulation. that it had been under con-
sideration by the Commissioners for ten
months and that 1t was believed that the
regulation Is exactly what the public
needs for its protection.
Mr.. Newbold told the Commissioners
that the opinion Of the business men WAS
ing the regulation would not be found in
the mere purchase price OF the liEhts, but
in the handling and finding Of ways and
means to keep SO many lamps and SO
much oil In and about the stables.
w. Hamilton Smith said he had been
watching traffic conditions in Washington
for many years, and KIN W Of no acct
dents from his own observation. He sug-
gested that the time for lighting the
lamps be made later in the day Other
lnembers of the committee had various
times for lighting lamps, so that wagons
that were caught out late In the day
could get back to the stables unlighted
without police interference. Commission. +
Rudolph had prepared q statement show
ing the average time for lighting the
lamps In each month OF the year, show
ing the earliest to be about $50 pm. in
December.
Defended the Regulations.
While the protests were being made the
Commissioners defended their decision
with not a little vim. COMMISSIONS,
Johnston told the committee that the
regulation was drawn up purely and
simply for the safety OF the general
public.
w. II. Moses argued that there is no
need for lighting regulation; that tn.
only part Of the public which reall,
wants the regulation is the automobile
riding public. He also said that the DAN
ger OF a confiagration would be tremen.
dous when a hundred thousand lamps
were left In the care. OF teamsters and
low grade employees.
At the close Of the hearing the Gem
missioners announced that they would
give the matter further consideration