The New York herald., 1922-02-11
Racing Carnival by Chauf-
feurs i'm First Avenue
Cited at Hearing.
FIFTH AVE. co. OBJECTS
Proposal to Include All Cars
Made-1rade Vehicles Are
Called Worst Offenders.

"If there is any mechanical device
that can successfully preven+ speed
ing, it ought to be adopted. We
heartily favor this ordinance
This was the word sent by Police
Commissioner Enright yesterday to an
Aldermanic hearing in TIE I.ty Hall
on n measure that would require the
eouipping of commercial motor cars
would limit their speed to fifteen miles
an hour.
After Deputy Commissioners John A.
Leach had quoted figures IN motor
accidents, Alderman James NJ Fitz
patrick suggested the ordinane G should
be extended TO include passenger cars,
1T seems to me- he said, that in
view of the large number of deaths
brought about by private vehicles their
speed should be regulated. If there IS
any need Of regulation, why should not
private vehicles come first? The greatest
utility is found In commercial vehicles
and / d. not see why they should be
Disseminated against"
No nesire to Discriminate.
Deputy Commissioner Leach said The
Police Department had no desire to dis
criminate against any particular class
of vehicles. He promised that the police
would enforce rigidly any ordinance
that might be passed.
II know the conditions as they exist.
declared William O'Shaughnessy, former
Assistant District Attorney, representing
the Inwood Civic Forum. women and
children are being slaughtered daily
Along First avenue between Forty
second street and 125th street the truck
drivers have a carnival. Their attitude
appears 20 be-: Let 'em look out. II ]
hit EN-, all right; if I miss 'em, all
right These men are speed mad and
absolutely disregard human life"
Deputy Leach said by far the greater
percentage of deaths by motor vehicles
was caused by commercial cars or s27
deaths in 1921 caused by motor cars 27s
were by commercial cars. There are
249,0T4 passenger cars registered in the
city and only 1887 commercial cars.
Mr.. O'Saaughnessy said he had known
truck drivers to lay off for an hour to
throw dice. and then to speed up to re-
gain the lost time.
Opposed by Truck Companies.
Opposition to the ordinance was made
by the big trucking companies and the
Fifth Avenue Coach Company. They
argued tina. governors would prevent the
making of speed properly in excess OF
fifteen miles an hour in the country.
Ai-o they would prevent hill climbing. as
ar initial speed of more than fifteen
fniles would have to be attained to get
tc the top of some rises.
r. ID. Pratt of the Motor Truck Asso-
c'ation said accidents We're caused not
so much by speed as by congestion, and
that limiting the speed of trucks would
increase congestion. In the last three
years. he declared. the number OF acci-
dents had not increased, although the
number OF trucks in operation had in
creased by so per cent.
ANY one who opposes this ordinance
ought to be ashamed OF himself" said
Alderman McGuinness. "Who knows but
when he gets home tonight there may
be a message that one of his loved ones
has been killed?'
Charles NJ. Hall Of the Monarch Gov
ornor Company said there were thirty
five concerns making governors. and
there could be no monopoly. II the driver
smashed the governor that would Le-
come apparent at once and he would b.
liable 10 immediato arrest