The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-04-24
CROUL'S TRAFFIC
MEASURE STIRS
UP OPPOSITION
Many Objections Are Urged Be-
fore Council Committee to
Stringent Provisions
GILLESPIE LEADS IN
ASSAULT ON MEASURE
Protests Against Plan to Pro-
hibit Autos Without Drivers
from Standing at Curb

John Gillespie. who Will succeed
Frank n. Croul as police commission
er. July l. attended a meeting OF the
ordinance committee. wednesday,
morning. 10 protest against provision
in Commissioner Crouls new traffic
ordinance Commissioner Croul and
Gillespie met IN the committee room
and had friendly chat, reference 10
the impending change In the admins
tration of the police department being
carefully avoided
| A hundred men. mostly interested in
taxtcab. sightseeing and carriage com
panies. were present To hear the pro-
visions OF the proposed ordinance dis
cussed. Considerable opposition was
voiced against the provision compell
ing all horse-drawn vehicles TO be
equipped with lights after dark. The
carriage men protested that il would
be impossible to keep lighted lanterns
on their trucks and wagons because
OF the rough pavements In the city.
They also declared that drivers were
scarce, and that they would kick on
the added responsibility OF caring for
the lights.
George Gilbert, OF the Gilbert Cart
age Co, said his trucks were used 70
haul infiammable chemicals and that
lights would be exceedingly danger
Gus.
John Gillespie led the discussion in
the protest against the provision which
would prohibit automobiles from
standing at the curbs In the down
town streets longer than 10 minutes.
unless in charge Of drivers. Commits
sioner Croul said this particular pro-
vision was to prohibit the parking OF
automobiles In congested streets, es-
pecially In front Of the big stores and
ONCE buildings. and to prevent women
from allowing their electric cars to
remain at the curb In front OF store
for hours at stretch, while shopping.
II represent a company that makes
electrics and that provision will put
us out OF business" said Gillespie.
That's the biggest asset in selling an
electric-a woman can use the car 70
\ do her downtown shopping. In Chi
cago. where they have from 1900 to
IL 900 cars the police allow them TO
park two and three deep In front OF
Tue Olk sIOiCS- bSSAOAs A0Co 49, ASS~
such a regulation as Is proposed"
william G. Bryant. representing the
automobile clubs and local dealers
suggested that II might be we'll for
| the commissioner Of police to desig
nate the numerous side streets and
avenues that are congested, 80 that
automobilists could allow their cars
| to stand around the corner.
A. c. Dfetsche told the aldermen
that the section prohibiting sight-see
ing cars from standing on Woodward
ave. would ruin the business, as De
troit il q "onestreet" town and visit
ors would not know where to find the
cars II they did not see them on the
avenue.
The committee will go over the or
dinance again and some of the
changes suggested may be made. Fred
Postal, proprietor Of the 0riswold
also protested against some OF the
provisions OF the ordinance.
Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock, the
committee will begin the task OF re-
vising the building code. Numerous
features In the new code are objected
to by the builders.