Evening star., 1923-03-13
MAYOR IS BACKED
IN TRAFFIC FIGHT
Falls Church Council Stands
by Present Enforcement
of Speed Laws.
svecisI Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
FALLS CHURCH. Va. March 15.-
there will be no relaxation in enforce
ment of traffic regulations in Falls
church and especially in the arrest
and punishment OF speeders. This was
the announcement made last night by
Mayor Fellows to delegation of cit
izens who had presented a petition
asking for a more liberal and pop
ular" policy. and by unanimous vote
he council declared it's intention to
uphold the mayor and traffic officers
Text of Petition.
The petition, which was signed by
forty-four citizens. including most OF
The business men Of the town, was
as follows:
we. the undersigned residents OF
Falls Church. believing that the safe
ty of pedestrians does not in anywise
warrant or demand SO strict and in
discriminate traffic regulations as are
now being enforced against so-called
speed violators within the corporate
limits, and believing further that a
continuance of such a policy will
greatly injure the interests of our
town and its citizens by causing traf-
fic to be diverted to other highways,
we most respectfully and urgently
ask that you take such steps as will
insure more liberal and popular
policy in the enforcement of the traf-
tic regulations ~ithin our village"
Criticism Disclaimed.
Several signers of the petition who
spoke disclaimed any desire to criti-
cize the traffic officers or mayor. but
there was a generally expressed opin-
ion that the speed limit should be
ay-n las
hour ard that drivers be not molested
even when exceeding that limit on
streets not thickly built up. Other
citizens were present and spoke in
favor of the present policy of en-
forcement, including a committee
from the Woman's Club headed by
Mrs. Robert J. Formal, its president
At the conclusion of the discussion
which at times was heated and not a
little acrimonious, Mayor Fellows de-
olared it his intention to continue en-
forcement of the regulations along
the lines he has been pursuing, but
with the possibility of more severe
penalties If the milder methods are
rot effective in breaking up speeding
The traffic officers, he said. are under
instructions not to make arrests for
speeding unless the offender is ex-
ceeding twenty miles an hour, and he
asserted that these instructions Will
not be changed. In proof that the
regulations are not being enforced In
A spirit of persecution, he cited tfat
during the last five months twenty
FIVE cases had been brought to trial
with twenty-four convictions, while
during the same period sixty-hve
offenders had been permitted to GO
with warnings. The records showed
he said. that considerable number
Of those eventually convicted and
lined had previously been warned one
or more times.
Petition Rejected.
Upon motion of Mrs. Smythe, by a
rising vote council declared it's support
If the mayor, and later the petition OF
the forty-four citizens was unanimously
rejected.
c. e. Rullman. chief of the fire de-
partment- asked approval of plan tc
raise $500 by popular subscription fol
reconditioning fire apparatus now prac.
tically useless. Approval was voted and
ahead with the plan. Approval of the
plan had previously been voted by the
iitiZensf association, and the mayor
members Of council and citizens attend.
ing last nights meeting signed up fol
about 800 of the needed amount.
Chief Fowler Of the Ballston fire de.
partment was present and asked a con.
fribution from Falls Church toward sup
port of the three fire departments In
Arlington county, which have severa
times RESPONDED 10 IfTeS HcTe anu uOIts
Effectfye work No definite action was
taken, but members Of the council as
sured MIR. Fowler that contribution
would be made.
Monday, April 80, and Tuesday, Ma,
1, wcre designated as cleanup days
Citizens are to get their non-combusti
bic refuse ready on those two days ane
during tho remaining days Of the weei
&c Will be hauled away and dumped a.
fhe towns expense. 1t was emphasized
shat property owners must burn al
Eomhustible materials themselves ant
mot put 1t out to be hauled away.
A special meeting of council wa.
called for next Saturday night, at which
time action is to be taken on an agree
ment proposed by the state highwa.
commission for the maintenance O.
Washington street. which is part o.
fhe Lee highway.