Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-03-26

no years old; no skating to be permit
ted on streets where! there are electric
railways and other regulations for The
safety Of the children and public in
lciuded
Limiting the speed of automobiles,
motorcycles and other vehicles on the
streets of the city to IL miles an hour
and 10 miles at crossings and provid-
ing rules for the regulations of traf-
fc.
Prohibiting the showing of pictures
of crime on any slide or moving pic
ture film within the city limits OF
Alexandria.
All four of the ordinances had been
prepared by the general laws commit
tee and were passed by practically
unanimous votes. A slight hitcn took
place on the speed ordinance. The
original report of the committee called
for speed of miles on King street.
This was raised by Common Council to
10 miles but the Board of Aldermen
made further raise to II miles thus
placing King street on a par with
the other streets of the city. When
the paper was returned from the up
per board there was considerable OBJ
jection to the change and confer
ence committee was appointed but
they were unable to secure any con-
cession from the Aldermen and the
latter's figure of 12 miles was re-
luctantly agreed to by the lower
board.
The ordinances were not passed
without considerable debate and near
ly two hours was taken up IN the dis
cussion. The muzzling ordinance went
through with flying colors there being
no objection on the parG OF anyone,
although an amendment making the
police department the judge of the
to be used was introduced by
Mr.. Swan and passed.
The speed ordinance was also pass
ed by a unanimous vote, but arising
from it's consideration was q slight
controersy between Mr.. Brockett and
Mr.. Spinks as to the regulation Of the
speed of electric trains. Mr.. Brockett
contended that operation of electric
trains at a speed of II miles an hour
was safer to the pedestrians than
speed of miles an hour and he was
sustained in this view by MIR. Mar
shall who gave some experiences rela-
tive to accidents. Mr.. Brockett also
held that because the electric cars ran
in tracks in the center of the street /!
where everyone knew where they were
hey were not as dangerous as auto
mobiles were dashing up and down re-
gardless Of the people who were walk
ing on the streets.
Mr.. Swan favored an increase in the
rate of speed on King street and Sc
cured the passage of his amendment
on this subject.
The roller skating ordinance was
discussed at some length. Early in
it's consideration Mr.. Chuancey op-
posed its passage and said that he
would never vote for any measure to
deprive the children of their right to
use the streets and sidewalks until
Council had provided them with sui
table Fairgrounds. He said that if
Council would build a new school
house on the lot in the northwestern
section of the city where there would
be room for play grounds for the chill
Dire nhe would vote for the measure.
Mr.. Birrell favored the ordinance
but wanted the age limit of the child
rem who could use the sidewalks raised
to II or II years.
Mr.. Marshall favored the measure
and explained conditions on upper
King street which made its passage
Mr.. Spinks was in favor OF the gen.
eral provisions of the act but made
strenuous objection to the section pro-
hibiting children from skating on
streets where there are electric cars.
Mr.. Williams objected to the feature
forbidding two or more persons from
skating hand-in-hand and at his sug-
gestion the ordinance was slightly
changed.
On the final vote the ordinance was
passed by vote Of 10 to 2. Messrs.
Leadbeater and Chauncey voting in
the negative.
In order nhat the police department
may establish cases against violaterS
of the speed laws, Councilman Birrell
introduced a resolution appropriating
$500 for the purchase of motorcycle