The Washington times., 1916-10-13
Death Of Girl Cited by Major
Pullman as Evidence Of
! Danger.
MANY ACCIDENTS on RECORD
Parents Appealed to by Officials
to Break Up Dangerous
Mode Of Play.

Cognizant OF the dangers which beset
children who catch hold Of or ride on
skates on the rear of automobiles and
other vehicles. emphasized yesterday BY
the crushing to death of little Alice
Heizer In Blair road, Major Pullman
Chief Of Police. today declared that all
minors violating the law in this respect
will be liable henceforth to prosecution
in the Juvenile Court.
I'VE must protect children from
Themselves" declared Major Pullman
today. There IL a police ordinance
against this dangerous practice, and the
practice must be broken up.
Many Accidents Caused.
I'VE do not intend to arrest all little
ones We catch violating the ordinance
right now. We first want to seek the
cooperation of parents and adults TO
ad US In the breaking UP Of the practice.
and then II we become convinced that
this cooperation cannot bring about ITS
abolition we will have to make examples
of some children for the benefit of the
entire juvenile contingent of the city.
Numerous accidents and near-acci.
children catching on to motors AMI,
street cars and other vehicles during The
past few years. Most OF the time one
hnds that the child Is on skates or on a
bicycle. Parents never seem to realize
the dangers which confront their little
ones who do these things.
They realize too late. the perils of
"oniy recently two policemen in civil
Ian clothes took a small boy from the
rear Of wagon in Southeast Washing
ton and warned him not play in such
a manner again. The child was on roll
err skates. In less than an hour after
he had been warned the little fellow
was subsequently amputated. Now the
child will go through life minus
limb"
Regulation Forbids Practice.
The police regulation against the prac-
tice of children playing around moving
vehicles reads as follows: "A minor
shall not jump, climb, or hang upon or
take hold Of vehicles or street rail-
way or steam railroad car Or iocomo-
Major Pullman explained that the
penalty for violation of the ordinance
was from 81 to $40 fine.
THE police do not want to urge the
imposition OF such penalties said Mr.:
Pullman. eve want the co-opefation OF
parents and guardians of children, but
II such cooperation proves to be power,
less TO BtOD the pTdCtlCe tnen bOIfle Will
have to suffer FOR the safety OF the
Inspectator Cnffird Grant, chief of
detectives, also was emphatic in his
declarations that something must be
done to bring up the practice.
'T hardly ever go into a residential
neighborhood but what I am con-
fronted with the chances children
take while skating or riding bicycles"
declared Inspectator Grant. Fear of
being arrested or of being punished
in some way must be put in the
hearts Of children for their own good
to keep them off the backs of auto
mobiles, street cars and wagons l
heartily agree with Major Pullman
that prosecution under Police regula-
ton against the practice Ia the only
thing left for us to do IL cooperation
with the parents does not bring re-
suits in abolishing this method of
play"
Officials Of the Washington Railway
and Electric Company and the Capital
Traction Company today expressed sat
isfaction over the activity proposed by
Major Pullman. The companies are
now cooperating in a campaign of edu-
cation In the public schools. In an at
tempt to reduce the accidents on the
streets.
Blotters have been distributed to the
children. bearing several different pic
lures of the ways in which accidents oc-
cur.