The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-01-17
AUTO ORDINANCE
DOESN'T SUIT MAYOR
Not Speed. but Careless Driving
the Trouble. He Says. at
Public Hearing.

A. the close OF hearing yesterday af-
ternoon in the city Hall on the new Folks
automobile ordinance Mayor Gaynor
suggested that IL be taken back to the
Board of Aldermen for reconsideration.
Otherwise, he intimated. he would feel
constrained To veto IL II isn't SO much
speed that is the trouble with automo-
htles. remarked the Mayor. as IL is the
carelessness with which they are driven.
y good deal Of opposition developed
against the proposed ordinance as the
Aldermen passed II Those who COM
piained against il centred their objec-
tions on four points That the owner
should not be held liable for the acts
or his chauffeur, even If he is riding
m the machine at the time Of the
offence. that the provision to hold "A
machine behind a trolley car which
has stopped To let off passengers would
n"cdlessly delay traffic. that fiat speed
rates should not be prescribed and
that the Csllan law as amended will
suffice for New York motor regulation.
Henry Sanderson. Dave Hennen Nor
is and Colgate Hoyt. former presidents
OF the Automobile club of America, were
on hand TO press objections against the
ordinance. With them came W. w
M!Aer. chairman Of the law and ordj-
nance committee of the club
AIR. Miller said that the club had no
desire to check a measure for the proper
regulation Of traffic, but thar the Folks
ordinance would not only fail in its
object but would work grave inius
tice.
In his address Mr. Miller said
1t seems popular at the present time n
lay great stress upon tho number Of per-
'onal injuries inflicted upon pedestrian,
by motor vehicles. and statistics OF stro.
accidents generally put particular sm-
pnasis upon this feature. For example.
IN" report Of the special committee OF In.
Board OF Aldermen which framed the ordi
nance under consideration gives length
N" total Of accidents caused by autorno-
hlos. by horse drawn vehicles and hy
street cars, but III" total number Of those
various classes nf vehicles in opcrstion in
tho streets "f this city are nowhere stated
very vital fact IN comparison OF this
kind.
II YOU will look over the figures Of that
report, pu viii see that the number Of
accidents caused ny surface street cars
often approaches and once even exceeds
tn" number OF accidents caused h., motor
vehicles. ! am Informed Ivy the Public
Service Commission for This district tina,
there are approximately only zoo street
railway cars in daily operation in the
greater city. There are, AT the same
time. ~ excess Of 80. 900 passenger and
5000 commercial automobiles licensed in
this city alone. to which must be added
the thousands from outside the city which
use our streets every day. With these
additional facts, IN" figures as to arci-
dents caused by motor vehicles arc any.
thing hut appalling
Tn" tallan law, II properly enforced
Is in our opinion a most satisfactory Ia "
from every point Of view and no, really
subject - tho many criticisms recently
love'l"d at Il in the press Its defects
n any. ar" in the penalties provided. and
suCh defects are about 30 bc rcmedieJ
ny an amendment recently introduced in
the Legislature by Senator FitzScraId and
ordered 70 third reading
senator Ftagerald's hill was signed
by the Governor Yesterday.