The Detroit times., 1911-05-12

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These are some OF the important
provisions In the new ordinance for
the regulation OF automobiles prepared
by Chief Assistant Corporation Coun-
sci Richard I. Lawson. The measure
will go before the common council
committee or ordinances for consid-
Grafton, Monday, and will be reported
to the council Tuesday night.
Il don't know whether the commit
tee or council will indorse that pro-
vision, designating the business dis
trict OF the city as all that territory
lying inside the four-mile circle" said
Mr. Lawson. but | put IL In. anyway.
certainly think IL ought to stand. II
II stands, IL means that no automobile
will be able to travel faster than 10
miles an hour within a radius of four
miles OF the city hall. The state law
provides that the speed OF automo-
biles in the business district of any
corporation shall be 10 miles an hour,
Is miles an hour outside OF the busi-
ness district In the city and 20 miles
In the country. We cannot change the
provisions OF the state law In regard
TO the speed OF automobiles in business
districts. but think we have the right
to say what territory shall comprise
the. business district would like to
make a test case on the point, any
way"
The four-mile circle In Detroit takes
in all territory bounded on the east
by the boulevard: on the west by
Peter Cooper-ave.; on the north by
Bancroft-ave.. and on the south by
the Detroit river.
The ordinance is not expected to
pass the council as presented For
instance, II is likely that the provi-
sion for autos to keep six feet away
from street cars, as provided I'm the
police regulations, will be eliminated
IL the clause, suggested by Aid. Sher-
man Littlefeld. for autos to stop on
approaching stationary street car
at crossings, be allowed to stand. The
later provision will go before the
council. even IL turned down by the
committee, Aid. Littlefeld being de-
termined TO push this provision as the
most important in the ordinance.
Il shall see to Ii that my pro
vision to have autos stop when ap-
preaching stationary street car on
street crossings, goes before the
council" said Mr.. Littlefield. III the
committee should decide against the
provision. ! shall bring 1t in through
minority report. The provision TO
make the machines stay six feet
away from the cars when passing
them may be all right in way, but
1t cannot be as effective as the pro-
vision bringing the autos to a stcp.I
Anyone standing on the rear platform
would know whether an automobil1
stops at a street crossing but
would be difficult to tell whether ~
kept six feet away in passing. Ther0-
fore, there would be more likeliho0d
OF the auto drivers respecting the
stopping ordinance than the provi-
sion to keep six feet away from the
car.
Police Commissioner Croul II
fighting the stopping provision pretty
hard; he thinks II Is going to inter
fere with his traffic regulations. II fs
fact, however, that the six-foot pro-
vision has not been respected In the
past. and when | asked Mr.. Croul In
the committee meeting why II had
not been enforced. he mumbled some
thing. but I doa't know just what II
was. He Is enforcing II now, though.
because he doesn't want my ordinance
to go through. The people want II.
though. and so do many drivers or
automobiles.
Recently have had owners OF au-
tomobiles come to me and state that
the stopping provision In my ordi-
nance was a good thing for the pub
lie | hope II will go through, be-
cause am satisfied that something
OF the sort is needed to protect peo-
pie from certain automobile drivers
who. apparently, have no regard for
the rights OF those on foot"
Mr. Lawson suggests In the SIX
foot provision that the dead line" be
marked by the placing OF white bricks
in the pavement at the crossings. He,
argued with The Times that the dead
line" would be just as effective as tho
stopping idea, but finally admitted !
that IL would be Of little service when
covered up with snow.
Mr.. Lawson hopes that the provi-
sions against the emitting OF smoke
and gasoline fumes by autos. and en-.
pIosions i'm the streets. will be allow
ed to stand. Most explosions are caus-
ed by defective carburation and Mr..
Lawson is convinced that they can be