The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-01-12
OFFICIOUS OFFICERS
ARE REPUDIATED
Hyattsville Citizens Remove the Stain
of Holding Up Automobiles.

Mr.. H. Ralph Burton. a Washington
attorney, appeared Friday night before
the town Council of Hyattsville to pro-
test against the action of a justice OF
the peace of that town who fined Mr..
Burton SIS on January for alleged vio-
lation of the speed limit for automo-
biles in the Maryland suburb.
Mr. Burton read extracts from the
sworn testimony OF the two witnesses
who appeared for the prosecution at the
time of the trial, said witnesses being
Charles A. Barr. the town baliff. and
Thomas H. Garrison, his assistant, who
is also an officer OF the State Of Mary
land The vacillating and contradictinS
nature of this testimony, as SO clearly
pointed out by Mr.. Burton, evidently
had very deep impression on the men,
bers Of the town Council, for they
wound up the meeting with some very
radical action which will bring Joy 10
the hearts of the Washington automo-
bilists. The ubiquitous bailiff has lost
his job. to all intents and purposes. for
the Council directed him to suspend fur
ther arrests until appropriate action had
been taken by the city fathers, with q
view TO the adoption Of an entirely new
system OF protecting the citizens of the
town from those afflicted with the speed
mania.
NIL Ol"dS z>dHlLIl6CAr q VI
Hyattsville, who had voluntarily ap-
reared as witness for Mr.. Burton at the
time of his trial on January 2. addressed
the Council in a most vigorous man
ner, condemning the recent activities OF
the baliff, Barr, and his assistant, Gar
rison, who, he Claimed, had been unrea-
sonable and indicative in their methods
of enforcing the town ordinance against
speeding; Mr.. Zantzinger deplored the
~, Fnr,- hA rnu Of
vile was getting as a result of this
unwarrantable persecution of motorists.
and strongly advocated a change in
methods.
Mr.. G. A. Greager. a member of the
Council, also made an address repudiat-
ing the action Of the bailiff and his as
sistant, and suggested the appointment
Of a bicycle policeman to act as the Off
cial speed trapper. This suggestion was
adopted by the Council, and the city at
torney was directed to draw up an Ordi-
nance outlining the duties Of such Off
Ger and fixing the penalties for viola
tons. Mr.. Greager also moved that the
Council return to Mr.. Burton the SIS he
was required to pay as a fire, which
motion was unanimously adopted.
One of the essential features OF the
enactment of a new ordinance will be the
elimination of the fee system. as 1t
seemed to be the general impression that
this would at least prevent arrests being
made with the expectation of compensa-
ton in the event of conviction.
Mr.. Buttons address of more than an
hour was listened to by the members
of the Council with close attention. and
in the discussion following, it was made
manifest that they desired to see him
receive fair and impartial treatment.
In adVnFa ting method in the
premises and making his motion for the
remission of the fine, Mr.. Greager said:
Mr.. Mayor, in view of the entire evil
dence which has been submitted here
tonight, and in view OF the conditions as
they exist, I will make a motion that
the fine be RENTED. and that Bailiff
Barr be directed to suspend arrests until
further action has been taken by the
Council with a view to the adoption Of
an entirely new system for UNFOLDING
our speed laws