South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-09-06
DINNER LAW IS
VETOED BY MAYOR
Keller Holds Ordinance Does
Not Include All Light
NuiSanCeS.

Mayor Keller has vetoed for the
first time any ordinance passed by
the common council. He has refused
to approve the DINNER ordinance
passed by the council on Aug. IS.
and Wednesday morning filed with
City Clerk Harvey Rostiser list OF
reasons why he will not give his
sanction 20 the city statute. The
ordinance was discussed for several
weeks before its passage by the
council Councilman Hagey was
one Of the principal promoters of
the ordinance, which passed by
vote Of 10 .. Councilmen VOTERS
and Lang opposing the bill.
Mayor Keller points out several
reasons why the ordinance should
not become a law az il stands. He
makes several suggestions and
promises to approve the ordinance
if these suggestions are acted upon.
the reasons given for vetoing the
ordinance follow:
Law Not Satisfactory.
First: IL does not cover all of the
bright and powerful lights used on
automobiles. IL does not cover the
presto-lite or acetylene lights. Some
of these headlights have round glass
rehectors and some have bullseyes.
These are almost as powerful as
electric lights. These doubtless could
be dimmed continuously by a
method described in the ordinance
10y transparent covering on one-half
of the headlight.
Secondly: The ordinance applies
only TO vehicles approaching each
other. 1t would seem that the power
full lights should be dimmed cOntin-
uousIy in the down town district.
Automobiles with strong headlights
approaching each other at right
angles at one OF our busy street
corners is likely 10 confuse a pedes-
trian or traffic officer. A traffic officer
temporarily blinded by such head
lights might give signals which
would cause an accident to another
automobile or pedestrian.
Thirdly: 1t would seem unjust for
use 10 put this ordinance into effect
just at this time when there will be
SO many visitors in the city who
would be unfamiliar with the ordin-
ance. During fair week and centen-
NAL week there will be numerous
out-of-town automobiles in addition
TO heavy tourist travel. There are
very few cities in this locality which
enforce a DINNER ordinance.
There is no question but dim
I mer ordinance would be advisa BILE
and with these slight changes
would be willing TO approve it. 1t
is also important that an effort
should be made to secure the pas
sage of "A state law covering the
dimming of lights in the country
when automobiles approach each
other.
Legislature May Act.
That some action will be taken at
the next session Of the legislature
4 regarding the question appears Ger
| tain. Several weeks ago City Clerk
Rostiser suggested TO the council
that the problem could be solved by
| a state law and il appears that
/ Mayor Keller and others viii take
/ the question before the legislature.
Whether the council Will pass the
/ ordinance over the mayors head has
not been definitely learned. but il is
| believed that the city fathers will
| reconsider the ordinance or reject IL
| altogether. The substance of the
/ mayors objections do not appear to
/ be against what the ordinance con-
| tains. but provisions that it does not
/ contain. Therefore it probably will
/ be necessary 10 reconstruct the ord
/ nance before it can be passed.
The DINNER ordinance has been
/ the first vetoed by Mayor Keller
since he has been in office. while but
/ two ordinances were vetoed during
/ the two administrations preceding.