Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-28
ARRESTS HIS TOPIC
Sheriff Howard Discusses
Cases of Aut0iStS.
NOT HIS POLICY, HE SAYS
Matter May Be Called to Attention
Of County Commissioners.
INDIGNATION RUNNING HIGH
Fee System" in Vogue in Mary
by Washington Autoists.

Discussing the recent wholesale arrests
of Washington autoists at Chevy Chase
for technical violations of the automobile
regulations of the state, Sheriff Clifard l..
Howard of Montgomery county, Md,
disclaims all responsibility for the action
of the officer.
According to Sheriff Howard the Off
Ger who made the arrests was con-
stable, and was acting solely in that ca
pacity, and received no orders from the
sheriff. who has no control over con-
stables who are appointed by the county
commissioners. Sheriff Howard did not
hesitate to declare that the constable had
gone entirely too far.
''The policy of the sheriff's office since
l have been in charge said Sheriff How
ard, has been to deal leniently with
autosts. My instructions to my deputies
have from the start been to modest no
one except for fragrant violation of the
automobile laws, and, so far as l am
aware, one has been arrested by any
of my deputies for a mere technical vio-
lation.
New Licenses for 1913.
''The autoists must understand, however,
that they must make an honest effort to
observe the law, such as obtaining the
necessary licenses and keeping within
the speed limit. The law requires new IL
censes to be obtained for the year 1913,
and autoists who run their machines out
into the county after the first of the
year without having their license num-
bers properly display ed on their machines
are in danger Of being arrested.
1t is understood lnal the action of the
constable IN making the arrests at Chevy
Chase will be called to the attention OF
the county commissioners at the meeting
t. hx.-
lieved Steps will be taken by the COM
missioners to prevent a repetition of the
occurrence. The constables are under the
control of the commissioners, who have
the power to remove them at any time.
Autoists Are Indignant.
Indignation is still running high among
| District autoists over the treatment which
| they have recently received at the hands
| of some of the Maryland officials. That
certain officials are making it a policy
| to accept every opportunity to annoy
| the automobile drivers from this city. no
matter how technical or harmless the Of
fense may be, was declared Dy seVeral
! auto enthusiasts of Washington today.
1t is pointed out that fully so per cent
! of the automobiles In Baltimore have
| their license numbers attached to their
machines with wires or straps and are
| not molested by the police in Baltimore.
! white the Maryland autO-trappers in
Montgomery county have made it a point
to arrest if the tags are seen to move
even in the slightest degree
| The fee system" under which the OFF,
GERS of the law Of Maryland work, was
! 4 cause of much unfavorable comment
| oday.
| This system, it is said, works i'm man.
ner similar to a commission system. Each
! arrest a constable makes brings net
profit of 10 cents. Ten arrests in one day
| would represent $50; twenty would bring
| $15 and so on. This is the only rake
| off, the constable gets for his labors
Magistrate May Profit.
The magistrate, however, has several
sources. For every case he tried he earns
| 60 cents. Witnesses are sworn In at IL
cents each. For issuing a warrant the
MAGISTRATE receives a twentyfive-cent fee
and the same amount for taking a man 5
4 bond.
| All the moneys named above come out
of the costs of the trial The fine Is
separate and distinct and is supposed to
| go to the commissioner of motor vehicles.
From the fines received by the commits
sioner salaries are paid and any surplus
| is turned over to the state treasury
Positive knowledge as to the names or
| the constable and magistrate involved IN
| the arrests Sunday could not be obtained
Tod