The Washington times., 1913-02-15

Two important mO0lncatlOnS OF tne
traffic regulations for the District are
announced today. They come as con-
cessions to the protests made by the
farmers in the counties Immediately ad-
jacent to the District. who haul hay,
straw and produce into the city.
The regulations which took effect
February / required that thirty-day
permit be procured from the superin-
tendent of police before hay and straw
might be brought into the city. This
requirement IS withdrawn. Permits will
not be required.
q. The regulations also decreed that no
load should extend over three feet out
side the line of the vehicles hubs. This
would have made it impossible to bring
IN most of the unbaled hay and straw
which finds market here. for wagons
are loaded to width frequently SIC;
feet outside the line of the hubs. To be
required to load only to a width of
three feet outside, would make 1t i'm
possible. in a large proportion of cases,
TO put on enough hay or straw to jus
tify the trip to the city.
This regulation likewise has been
withdrawn, and there will be no limita-
ton on the width of loads. The farmer
VIII take the chances of any trouble
that may arise in case his load is over
turned or scattered along the streets,
Just as he has done in the past.
Hardship On All.
These two Objectionable regulatio
have raised a storm Of protest in the
country, and the effort to enforce them
resulted in cutting down by more than
half the daily receipts of wagon hay
and straw in the city. City persons who
buy hay and straw were not slow to dis
cover that the regulations We're going
to impose hardship on them as well as
on the formers, for there was protest
of a sharp rise in prices If the wagon
hay were kept out.
Feeling was accentuated to the point
OF threatened retaliation against Wash
fngton. because the impression gained
ground among the farmers, especially in
Maryland. that these regulations were
imposed, in part, as a means of punish
ing Maryland persons for their States
unfriendly attitude toward District au-
tomobilists. At the District Building as
surance is given that there was never
a thought of such motive. AS matter
Of fact, General Johnston. who has
taken the chief part in making the new
traffic regulations, pointed out that the
three-foot rule has been a regulation in |
the District for fully thirty years: but !
having been enforced, had been forgot |
ten. 1t was included in the new regu- |
lations-, and when they were promul- |
gated the police assumed that they were |
expected TO enforce IT This caused !,
endless trouble. A great many loads |
Were turned hack at the District lines I
some because they We're too wide. some ,
because the drivers had no permits
Delegations Protested
Various delegations representing the /
farmers Of MARYLAND and Virginia have
laid their troubles before the District
authorities In connection with The traf-
fc regulations, with the result that \
some matters not directly reiaied TO q
traffic nsge-nent hare come under !
Investigation One of these has 10 90 |
with conditions at the hay market |,
square, and another with the manage
ment Of the city scales.
The city scales are suctioned off once |
a year. going to the highest bidder. |
The weighmaster at present pays $40 /
a year for the weighing privilege. He l
gets his morey back, and whatever pro-
fit goes with it. out Of the charges that |
he is permitted TO make for weighing
The charges are % cents for loads under
a ton, and 30 cents for loads above a |
ton. :
An investigation has been started by |
the District authorities, which is ex-
pected TO result in an order that after
July !, when the present annual scales
contract expires, the auction system will !
stop, and a public WeighmaEter Will he 1
designated who shall be paid directly /
from the fees. IL is believed that the |
city ought not to insist upon profit |
from the scales. because I'm the end IL |
must be paid by the consumers. and the |
plan causes diSaffeCtiOn on the part of |
both farmers and their patrons.
Reduction Is Expected
A considerable reduction in charges
for weighing is expected 10 be the re-
suit of this change in the system.
The management of the hay. straw
and produce brokerage business at the |
hay market square is being investigat-
ed. and more reforms may result For
a number Of years l.. Il. Laffcrty was
weighmaster When he lost control Of |
the scales, he set up as hay, straw |
and corn broker. Farmers brought I
their loads TO him, consumers placed |
their orders with him, and he became :
the exchange" II has been charged I
THAI in the course of many years !
operations Lafferty has become a mon
opOly. He charges the farmer 50 cents
for selling a load. and the buyer so
cents for furnishing ii. This, added to
the j0-Cent weighing charge, imposes
toll of 81. so on every load handled. /
1t has been charged that Lafferty. in I
order to force all the farmers TO do :
business through him. has been at
times dictatorial. One case. at least 4
has been made the subject of complaint /,
Ill