The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-07-27
lUDGE PHELAN TO
KEEP ON SOAKING
AUTO SPEEDERS
|ays He'll Enforce Ordinance With
Such Severity That Drivers Will
Learn That Detroit's Streets Are
Not speedways.
I'm for the Pedestrian First, Last
and All the Time, . Declares
the court.

There will be no let-up IN the sever
ty OF fines and Jail terms imposed In
he recorders court upon violators OF
he traffic ordinance. Despite the wall
heard from disgruntled automobilists
.lnd from certain other quarters.
Judge Phelan and his associate insist
ipon standing by the ordinance, and
iext Monday morning. persons before
he court, charged with fragrant speed
fgiolations are sure to be dealt with
{severely.
Where are the people going TO get
| on. II the courts do not stand by this
fordinance?" demanded Judge Phelan.
Thursday. THAT ordinance was built
ITO protect the people on the streets
and It's going to be enforced and en-
tforced with such severity that the
| Ldriyers OF automobiles will come to
learn that Detroit streets are not
.speedways, and that Detroit pedes-
trians have a right to the streets.
The streets, were built primarily
for the pedestrians. He has to use
them. He occupies an infinitely small
er space on the highway than the
driver of the runabout and the touring
car. and Is, therefore, entitled TO that
much more consideration. Consider
the poor unfortunate who is forced TO
struggle across Woodward-aye. and
stand In wait for street car. He has
TO be pretty active these days, not only
In vending his uncertain way through
the maze Of traffic, but In getting on
the car and maintaining an upright
position after he gets on. I'm for the
pedestrian. first, last and all the
time
The threat the autoists are making
to carry their convictions TO the su-
preme court on the ground that an
ordinance regulating traffic on the
streets OF municipality conflicts with
the state laws Is not worrying the re-
corder's court nor the corporation
counsels office. The same trouble was
experienced In Wisconsin and Ne
braska. In Milwaukee, the council
passed an ordinance regulating the
traffic on the streets. In many re-
spects 1t went over the state law. The
automobile drivers carried che matter
to the supreme court of Wisconsin and
lost out. the court ruling that muni-
cipality has perfect right TO safe
guard its people by regulating street
traffic as Il saw At. The corporation
counsePs Office points to this as an
excellent precedent.
Il cannot see where this ordinance
Is hardship on the automobile driv-
ers," said Judge Phelan. They criti-
ci1e me because fined some people
for allowing their machines to smoke.
Why. In New York, Chicago. and other
big cities, they are dealt with far more
severely for that very thing. The po-
lice officers there drag the autoist out
of their machines and hale them to the
station, where ~they are required to
make q deposit or else forfeit their
machines until their cases are settled.
This ordinance will continue to be
rigidly enforced until drivers learn to
use the streets carefully
Sergt. Staples. who Is at the head
OF the motorcycle squad, said Thurs
day, that he notices a decided change
In the attitude OF auto drivers. He
thinks they are becoming educated.
There were lot OF them who did
are beginning to learn IL now, however
expensive the lesson may have been.
The last three speeders we got We're
people from out of the city"
One OF the most recent complaints
and one that Is being suppressed. is
against Strathearn Hendrie, who was
caught while driving in from his
Crosse Pointe residence The officer
who caught him says that Mr. Hendrie
complained that 1t was impossible to
keep his machine within the speed
limit