The Detroit times., 1911-05-04
|l|TTLEF|ELO PLAN
| IS |NDORSED BY
ALDERMEN
Poll Shows Overwhelming Sentiment
In Favor of Effective Measure To
Stop Slaughter in Streets BY
Automobiles.
Aid. Walsh Tells of Seeing Success
full Operation of Similar Ordinance
In PittsbuIg.

A poll OF the aldermen by The
Times shows an overwhelming senti-
|inent IN favor of the Littlefeld ordi-
nance, requiring automobile drivers
i o stop their cars on approaching
.street cars that are discharging or
eaking on passengers. The aldermen
Agree that immediate action looking
10 the greater protection OF the pub
4 ic Is necessary and they believe that
The Littlefield measure VIII accom-
'plish the desired result.
The probabilities are that, when
he ordinance committee meets, Fri
flay afternoon. to consider the ques-
lion Of regulating the automobile
kraffic, IL will either recommend the
Immediate passage OF the Littlefield
ordinance or will at least incorporate
It's main features in general
measure. The fact that such an or
Finance is being enforced with good
results in Pittsburg and other cities
\ s a strong point in its favor The
objection raised in some quarters
thar ii would greatly delay automo.
bile traffic and cause the drivers 10
ose much time, is easily disposed OIL
tt is pointed out that all the drivers
will have to do, II they want to avoid
making stops as required by the or
.iinanee, is TO switch over TO other
streets where there are no street
lars.
Aid. Littlefield has a letter from
will b. Wreford, municipal secretary
bf the Detroit Board OF Commerce,
acknowledging the receipt OF copy
bf the ordinance and adding:
The Board OF Commerce Will make
livery effort to aid you in putting this
ordinance into effect"
aid. Littleheld has the right idea.
Bold Aid John Grindley. I'VE have
lried TO be decent with the automo-
bile drivers. but II they will not be
tiecent I'm return then they must ex-
beet TO be treated accordingly.
certainly am In favor OF adopting the
j-ittlefield measure, and | believe IL
would put stop to the slaughter
that In going on in our streets.
The conditions warrant drastic
hction and We should lose no time In
butting some enforceable measure IN
o effect said Aid Thomas Gilman.
Iormer president of the council.
Aid. Andrew Walsh returned only
last week from a visit TO Pittsburg,
where he took particular notice of
jraffic conditions.
The ordinance requiring not only
but all vehicles to stop
when approaching halted street cars
working out to perfection there,
he said. The drivers understand
hat the police authorities mean busi-
hess and there is no attempt TO dlsre-
lard the law. OF course, the streets
there are narrower than In Detroit
hnd the traffic is heavier. but that
Hoes not alter the fact that some
thing has got TO be done in Detroit.
h think the Littlefeld ordinance is
|ius; what we need.
Some other aldermanic views fol-
bow:
Aid. Richard Watson: Il think the
n lT.ittlefeld ordinance would be all
right as applied 10 narrow streets
where there are street car lines, out
In do not think IL ought to apply to
wide streets like Woodward and JET
where there Is plenty OF
room between the tracks and the
|curb.
Aid. John Lodge: "In drafting an
ordinance to regulate the automobile
|traflc the first consideration should
be the safety of the public. All other
considerations should be secondary
ITO that, and | think the committee
will be able to agree on an ordinance
that will be effective"
Aid. William Gutman, president or
|the common council I'VE have got
no do something right away to pro-
|tect the lives OF the people. think
|if the police judges would make an
axample of some of the reckless driv-
ere by sepding them to Jail without
the optionVof fine, that they would
(ContInued on page -.