The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-10-16
ALLEGED DRASTIC
AUTOMOBILE LAWS
CITY COMMISSIONERS ENTER
TAIN IN DEBATE ON THE
SUBJECT.
PROTEST AGAINST FINES
DELEGATION OF CITIZENS AS
SERT ARBITRARY ENFORCE
MENT OF THE LAWS
WILL HURT TOWN.

AT their meeting last night in the
city hall the commissioners decided
that the automobilists' misfortune of
having his lights go out and be de
tected and fined was one of the ex-
penses of the luxury of having an au-
tomobile. A representation of auto
lists and merchants waited on the
commissioners at the hall, and pre-
scented arguments spiced with consid-
cradle ginger, urging less ardor in
The enforcement of the law.
The delegation present was made
up partly of merchants who foresaw
an u~nfavorable public opinion and
prejudice against the city for drastic
enforcement, autoists, who felt injury
at the action, and victims of the
dragnet, who, acting on a suggestion
of the police justice, were making ap-
plication to the commission for a re-
mission of the fines.
Those attending urged that il
would hurt the town, and that out
side persons would not come here.
That ii was offering men a bounty to
prey on the outsider. That it was
only on Saturday night. when the city
was full of country people, that the
police activity become so noxious.
That a car. crippled for want of light
at front or rear, must be left where
II is until repaired. That technical
tiles of the law were taken advantage
of TO give a bounty to officers for ar
resting men. That no warming of the
raids was given, and that some were
fipn1 e. nnI n4hr~- en- u-1-ls-
to the Justices humor.
The commissioners stood firmly on
the fact that there was a law specif-
ically prohibiting each cause for
which the men were arrested. That
the legislators failed to note excep-
tions in the law. providing that where
a light went out Unexpectedly or ac-
~cidentally the operator would be inn
mune from fine. or that they failed
to except those who were ignorant of
the law. They answered that about
all the officers did during the early
spring and summer was TO warn and
notify drivers OF the absence of lights
or numbers.
They have been petitioned and as
sailed from all sides to use more
~ AAN11hi1N III AiAE plOI1IllOu Vi
the public against the sins of speed
ing and running without lights. Both
are inimical TO life and limb in the
city, and especially with the added
temptation of smoothly paved streets
upon which TO run. The commission
ers fear that with a relaxation of the
i~nsistance on enforcement hat there
will be serious accidents or actual
casualties, and are of the inclination
TO maintain the rigor of the crusade
against this form OF violation. The
meeting was story for a time, and ae-
cusations flew freely between those
present in the audience and the COM
missioners.
The subject of the walks at the
Kennedy property at the intersection
of Third street n was brought up
again by the presence of Roy Ken
nedy. He stated that after making
the decision that the city could build
walks there only in a way to leave
the trees undisturbed, or at least re-
placed, and at the city expense, he ex-
pected to meet again with the com
mission at the following meeting.
But he did not know that the com
mission met each week, and missed
the neXt one. He announced himself
now ready to entertain a proposition
for a temporary walk, but to be guar
anteed immediate disturbance by a
resolution. The commissioners made
no decision, but showed a disposition
to look the matter over again, and, as
the season is getting late and ii is
desirable to have the work put into
safe shape for the winter, they would
probably accede to the request.
VIM. Rowland made a request for
right to bar the streets for the cele-
bration tomorrow. 1t is proposed to
bar Egan avenue at the north side of