Evening journal., 1914-12-16
HEAR NEW TRAFFIC
Law Suggestions
Philadelphian Tells How
Streets Are Kept Safe For
Pedestrians There
AUTO OPERATORS
MAKE SUGGESTIONS

were brought out at a meeting held /
in the Rose Room Of the Hotel Du- J
Pont last night which was held under I
the auspices OF the Delaware Associa-
tion of Licensed Automobile Opera
tors and was attended by Mayor Har-
rison W. Howell and other city Of |
icials, several COuncilmen. Street ana
Sewer Commissioners. W. II. Bowers,
president of the Board of Police Com
missioners, auto operators and own
ers, Chief of Police Black. Captain
Kane and Evans. the members of the
new traffic squad and numerous po-
licemen. The feature Of the meeting
was an address by Lieutenant W. b.
Mills. In charge of Philadelphia's
traffic squad.
G.. J. Bacher. president Of the Della
ware Association of Licensed Auto
mobile Operators, called the meeting
to order and introduced City Solicitor
Hastings as the presiding officer. Mr..
Hastings said tho purpose Of the or
ganization was TO secure complete
understanding between the auto opcr-
ator and others and a friendly CO.
operation with other organizations In
the interest of automobile affairs.
/ There was no way. he said. of getting
rid Of the automobile, as Il has come
/ to stay, but IL was possible TO make II
a less dangerous thing. He said IL
was not an easy matter to operate an
automobile through a crowded street,
and the danger to pedestrians was de-
creased as the auto operators became
more skillful
He introduced Lieutenant Mills as
the man who had organized the traffic
squad in Philadelphia seven years
| ago. and still had charge Of II. Lieu
tenant Mills said that 10 per cent Of
the auto operators and owners seemed
to think the highways were made for
the autos and pedestrians had no
rights there. This small per cent, he
asserted, was responsible for the
drastic police regulations and the
strong sentiment against auto own
ers and drivers all over the country.
AS a result. auto owners and opera
tors have been compelled in different
sections of the country TO form asso-
Citations to combat legislation.
Many auto owners, he said, thought
only OF starting their engines and get
ting 10 their destinations and not OF the
pedestrians they were liable To hit cn
! route. lie said that it was not the man
who was struck who caused the most
trouble, but the fifteen OF twenty who
, are nearly hit in a day. Some of these
wcro liable to be a jury in a case grow
ing ont OF an auto accident.
Lieutenant Mills told the operator
p that they should not drive IN a zig-zal
] course on the streets and should follow
D tho uniform way OF turning corners a
9 all times. He said that in Philadelphi
>. they secured the cooperation betwee
/. the police. auto drivers association an
: the business houses and by this mean
had reduced the number Of arrests 10
violation OF traffic regulations in tn
congested districts TO two a day. III
:. said in case OF the first ofcnsc no ar
]. rest is made, the name and number o.
I the man being merely taken and tn
I matter reported TO the mans employer
Where the employer does not cooperate
with the police, every police regulation
is then put in force against him.
Lieutenant Mills stated that in Phil
, adelphia there were no special ordi
e nances covering traffic regulations, bu
that these were enforced under the com
lmon law. but the police were compcllc'
tion was necessary 10 prevent an acci
dent or for the safety of pedestrians
= lie said that IN Philadelphia the rule ha'
. been adopted abolishing lcft-hand turn
e in going into streets running at righ
e angles.
Lieutenant Mills address brough
o out many questions from his audi
ence and much valuable information
Hfrtr rsnI .
= the case of Robert McKelyey, the bo
: killed last week. who had been ridini
= on the back Of a wagon and drOppe
y In front of an automobile. and aske
D. what was done in Philadelphia In suol
Il cases. Lieutenant Mills said Phila
}; delphia drivers who allowed boys q
II ride or hang on the back Of thei
is wagons are arrested and IL was up I
them to know whether boys were ol
: their vehicles. He said twenty-fv
boys we're killed in Philadelphia 4
=, this way last year.
y Col. George w. Sparks, Of the Stree
% and Sewer Department. asked ques
tions as TO the way traffic was cope
with at Broad and Arch streets, Phila
delphia. and Lieutenant Mills, wit
: the aid OF blackboard and crayonl
showed how it was done.
Chief Black said the greatest trou
BILE here was experienced with inea
perienced men, who are hired by own
ers of autos because they could b
gotten cheaply. He thought that
an examination was required Of th
chauffeurs before license was grant
ed this trouble would be largely elm
mated Lieutenant Mills said the
- had the same trouble in Philadelphia
as anybody could get license VIII
sent $3.50 to Harrisburg.
In answer to question
Colonel w. f. Stover, Lieutenant Mil
told in detail how the traffic squad
Philadelphia was organized. He sal
as long as driver kept under spec
Of % miles an hour he was not m'
Tested. He stated that rights theI
were equal, between the pedestria
and the automobile in the middle I
a block. accoroiGg to the latest d.
cislon by the Philadelphia courts.
Clarence Betelle. a chauffeu
thought that a man should not
made to go around the centre stoI
his in making a turn on a narrow stree
Police Captain Kane explained that
recent amendment to the resolutiC
passed by the Street and Sewer ID
'o0 partment remedied this.
President C. j. Bacher. of the Del
ware Association OF Licensed Aut
mobile Operators. thought all hea'
traffic on French street should ke'
to the right; that danger sigma