The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1913-11-25
new LAW PASSED
T0CURB RECKLESS
MAIL AUTODR|VERS
Aldermen by Unanimous Vote
Pass Ordinance Advocated
by Evening World.

The Board of Aldermen this afternoon
by unanimous vote passed the Ralph
Folks amendment to the speed ordi.
nance. Under It auto mail wagons will
no longer run Wild through the streets
Of the city killing and manning defense.
less mem women and children. This Il
another victory for The Evening World,
which started the agitation for reform.
The amendment takes the autos out
OF the privilesed clAss OF vehicles, such
as IRE engines and ambulances. The
amendment. under ordinary circum-
stances. would be signed by the Mayor
on the Thursday following the Tuesday
on which II was adopted. This Thurs.
day being a legal holiday. action will be
deferred until Friday. The amendment
must be on file thirty days in the ONCE
Of the Secretary Of State before II be-
comes effective.
But II the Postmaster-General should
issue an executive order to the mail
vehicle contractors telling them 10 keep
within the provisions Of the ordinance,
the effect would be the same a. II the
ordinance. amendment had become OPP
erative Immediately. 1t Is hoped that
the Postmaster General will issue such
an order.
COMMITTEE MAKES UNANIMOUS
REPORT FAvORIN0 NEW LAW.
The amendment was adopted after
tho special committee on speed regu-
lation-which heard testimony on Fri
day OF last week-had submitted a
unanimous report fsvorins the curtail-
ment of the auto mail speed.
The report OF the special committee
contains much Interesting information.
Referring to the investigation upon
which the report Is based. II says:
chief Magistrate McAdoo, Magis-
trate Frederick u. House, and First
Deputy Police Commissioner Doug
las I. Mckay all spoke strongly In
favor OF the restrictions. The Citi-
zens' Union. the City Club. the Ma
tional Highway Protective Society.
the Women's Committee on Public
Safety, the West End Association
and the Board OF Ambulance Sur
| geons. also favored the amendment"
The report says approximately two
hur ired and nifty motor driven vehicles
are transporting the mails throughout
the city OF New York. These vehicles
by custom or liberation. or color OF lega
right. have enjoyed the right OF way
In our public highways. and In addition
have been subject to no restriction ex,
cept the provision prohibiting reckless
driving. The report continues:
| ACTUAL statistics conclusivsly
show that United states mAil wSs-
ons have caused some aftssn
deaths this year, seven since Sept.
!. en- this basis 1t least one ".
hicls out Of every eighteen II de-
| stroytng q human HE svsly year.
The total number Of motor 70.
hicles In New York IL estimated ct
afty-hvs thousand, ana the number
| Of deaths for the year lsl3 10 $40.
| ThsrsfoFe, one vehicle out Of svsry
2ao kills . odtissA. - against enc
| out OF eighteen mail wagons"
HUiiAN LIFE MORE IMPORTANT
THAN MAIL SERVICE.
Tho committee says 1t believes tn,
safety of human life IL far moro I'm
poltant than the despatch OF the mails
and that vehicles carrying United
states mail must he subjected to rule,
and regulations commensurate with tn,
public safety.
The committee declares that vehicles
responding for emergency work in cas-,
of fire. accident, public disaster or i'm
pending danger should be- given wide
latitude In the restrictions unde
which they are compelled to trave
upon the public thoroughfares owing I,
the nature OF their business and IN,
conditions under which they respon,
to an alarm.