The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1883-10-13
WHY is 1T THUS 2
Populous Has Something to Say About
Reckless Riding and Driving.


Reckless Riding and Driving.
As | have seen no mention OF any step
being taken by the municipal authorities to
'prevent, prohibit and suppress immoderate
riding or driving in the Streets" it seems to
me proper to call their attention to the danger
Gus consequences Of "immoderate riding and
driving in the streets, " and to suggest the pas
sage Of suitable ordinances to arrest the evil.
Article 39S, Revised Statutes, confers ample
authority on the Mayor and Council TO pass
such an ordinance, indeed, is mandatory upon
them to do so, as where the rights and safety
of the people are concerned or involved, the
word "may" is held TO mean must, in
grant Of power. II would be a most
excellent thing, were both officials and pn-
vate citizens to bear in mind and act upon the
concluding clause in the n tables Of the first
code Of Rome-salus populi est suprema
lex the safety Of the people is the supreme
law, at all times and under all circumstances.
At least iour.ffths Of the population of San
Antonio are compelled by stress Of circum-
stances to travel along the streets as foot pas
sengers many who are blessed with COM
potency, or even wealth, often travel along
the streets as foot passengers, and yet no
proper steps are used to protect this large ma
jority of the population against furious and
reckless riders and drivers 10 the
streets. Why is this thing "thusly ?"
Why do not the Mayor and the
Council proceed to exercise the salutary power
given to them by Article 1913, Revised Statutes?
What causes their legislative constipation and
naction There is no manner OF doubt as to
the absolute necessity of a law regulating the
speed of riding and driving in the streets
Persons are frequently run over by vehicles in
the streets, and the Mayor and the Council
cannot plead ignorance OF such notorious facts
as are the trials in the Recorders court for
driving over persons. The poor men and
working men constitute the majority
in the city; they cast majority
OF the votes in municipal elections;
they are all, by stress of circumstances, foot
passengers. So are their wives and children,
and regard for their own security Of limb
and life will force them to put in
office men who will both recognize
and protect their right to cross from one side
of the street To the other, without being run
over by reckless, brutal, or drunken drivers
OF vehicles. Self protection will compel them
to "sit down upon men who snub and ig-
more their right to equal protection under the
land, and to elect men who will execute the
laws firmly and "wthout fear, favor or affec-
ton"
There is no reason why wagons and vehicles
should be driven at top speed in the streets,
and especially at crossings; il they should
reach given point half a dozen minutes
later, no very dreadful consequences would
iollow-the sun would hardly refuse to shine,
.s,s,1l anA har fail
Such as drive vehicles have no
more right in and to the streets
than the humblest foot passenger. IN
questionably they have no shadow of a
right to endanger the limbs and lives of such
citizens as are forced to walk in the streets,
by reckless driving. A horse going at the
rate OF 10 miles an hour cannot be checked
up, stock still, within few feet.
A suit for damages would, nine times in TO-
result in a barren judgment; it would bear no
fruits, and even If it should do so money can
not compensate for killing, or crippling ones
husband, or wife, or child. Children are the
riches OF poor people, and are as dear to
them as are the children OF wealth to their
parents. Equal protection to all classes
is justice and democracy Aristocratic classes
are unknown TO our laws; arstocratc privi-
leges are at war with our theory Of govern
ment, and, consequently, each and every cit-
zen is entitled to be protected IN the streets IN
his limbs and life from "immoderate riding
and driving"
Let half the fine for ''immoderate riding
and driving 60 to the informer, and where
a licensed vehicle is reported the third time
for such driving, let the license be withdrawn.
Laws, which are not enforced, are worthless.
shall hammer at this matter until the evil OF
fast driving in the streets is checked by the
city authorities. PoPULoUs.