Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-11
BURTON FINE RENTED
Result of Meeting of Common Coun-
Gil at Hyattsville.
NEW PLAN TO BE ADOPTED
Special Patrolman Probably Will Be
Detailed to Guard the Washing
ton-Baltimore Boulevard.
Special Correspondence OF The Star.

! HYATTSV1LLE. Md, January IL, 1913.
| Town Bailiff Charles w. Barr of Hyatts
vile and his assistant, Thomas II. Garri-
son. last night We're virtually relieved of
duty and the power to harass Washing
ton automobilists, and at the same time
the fine of SIS levied on II. Ralph Burton
of Washington January > last was or
dered repaid.
! These actions were taken at a special
meeting of the mayor and common coun-
ell of Hyattsville, at which Mr.. Burton.
as welh as several residents OF Hyatts-
vile. appeared for the purpose of pro-
| testing against the activities Of Bailif
Barr and Deputy Garrison. At the con-
clusion of the hearing the council. by
unanimous vote. ordered the repayment
of the fine assessed against Mr.. Burton
and directed the bailiff and his deputy
to cease at once making arrests for al
legged violation of automobile speed laws
until the council can formulate a method
by which to protect the citizens of Hyatts-
vile from speed maniacs.
At last nights hearing Mr.. Burton
read extracts from the sworn testimony
of the bailiff and his assistant, who ap-
peared for the prosecution at the time or
| the trial before Justice of the Peace Her
| D.
ture of the evidence made such an i'm
preston on the minds of the members OF
| the council that the action suspending
| the two officials and returning the amount
of Mr.. Burton's fine was taken without
an opposing vote
! Activity Is Condemned.
Otway B. Zantzinger a citizen of
Hyattsville, who voluntarily appeared as
l a witness for Mr. RurfOp at the time
of his trial, January 2, addressed the
council. condemning the recent ac-
tivties of Bailiff Barr and his assist
ant. who. he claimed had been unreason-
able and vindictive in their methods
of enforcing the town ordinance against
speeding. Mr.. ZantZinger deplored the
unsavory notoriety Hyattsville was get
ting as a result of this, and strongly
advocated a change.
| o. A. .Greager. a member of the coun-
ell, also made an address, repudiatine
the action of the bailiff and his assist
ant, and suggested the appointment OF
a bicycle policeman to act as the ofhcia
speed trapper. This suggestion wal
adopted by council. and the city at
torney was directed to draw up ar
officer and fixing the penalties fol
violation.
The council will, it is believed, adop
an order to employ patrolman to watci
the Washington Baltimore boulevard
within the corporal limits, and also vii
order the eXrection of more CONSPICUOUS
. placards at either end of the town t
warn drivers An order was passed al
lowing physicians to exceed the speed
limit in cases of emergency. The limit
of speed is twelve miles an hour Within
the corporate limits, this being the state
law which the local authorities canno
annul
Arrests Under State Law.
There is nothing in the action of the
council to prevent the county officers
from making arrests under the state law
and this is what probably will be done to.
morrow should any drivers attempt to
exceed the state speed regulation OF
twelve miles an hour in thickly settled
communities The only consideration
that will tend to cool the ardor of the
county constabulary is the fact that fines
collected for violating the state law &c
to the state authorities, the only COM
pensation allowed the officer making the
arrest being 10 cents, with like amount
to the justice imposing the fine.
| 1t is pretty safe bet that, there be.
ing practically nothing in it for the Of
ficers. automobilists will not be molested
in speeding through Hyattsville tomor-
row. Drivers are advised. however not
to get too gay. as they may be arrested
out of pure spite by the officers whose
/ fees have been taken from them.
| Justice of the Peace l.. o. Wissman has
| received word from the state automo-
bile authorities directing him to turn
over all fines collected in the town for
speeding to the automobile commission
er.
He is considerably worried over the
communication, and should he be forced
to carry out the request his bank roll
| will receive a severe jolt. ii is said. He
has collected several hundred dollars
from alleged fast drivers. half of which
has been turned into the Golfers of the
town. The automobile commissioner, il
is stated. claims that he makes the re-
quest under authority of an opinion of
the attorney general of the state, that all
these fines collected for speeding on the
Washington-Ba Baltimore boulevard. built
and maintained by the state. belong to
the state.
Justice Wissman is in no hurry to com
ply with the request of the automobile
authorities and will not do SO until the
mayor and common council, under whose
ordinance the fines were imposed directs
him to do so. He also believes, it is
stated, that the town should reimburse
him for his share of the fines, IL he is
compelled to give up