Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-03
THE AUTO PROBLEM.
Right Of Locomotive Owners to Mo-
nopolize the Streets.


Lambert Tree, in the Chicago News.
So many people derive pleasure from fha
use of the automobile, so many use II FOB
practical business purposes and so much
capital has come TO be invested in its man
ufacture and that Of the various appliances
which go with and form an essentiel part
of it, that It Is difficult at this time, wheh
the auto fever is at its height, to inquire
into its raison detre on the public streets
and highways without exciting resentment
in extended circles.
Some persons are unable to see why they
may not exercise the freedom of locomotioh
along the public thoroughfares In any kind
of conveyance which suits their inclination.
without stopping to consider that this is
only true provided their mode of locomo-
ton does not interfere with the safe use or
the thoroughfares by other persons having
an equal right to their freedom whether
they be on foot or riding in ordinary vehi-
Giles drawn by horses.
Liberty in state of society does not
mean the right to pursue ones sweet will
| without regard to whether it conflicts with
| the safety or general welfare of the re-
naming members of 1t having equal rights.
| If 1t did the laws preventing the storing of
| gunpowder in certain places. firing of guns,
the running at large of swine, the driving
of horned cattle, racing horses or passage
of railway trains through the public streets
and a hundred other wise laws and ordi-
nances in restraint of the citizens entire
liberty of action would have to be consign-
ed TO the waste basket.
There also persons who are such dew
otees at the shrine of progress that they
| tremble at the thought of questioning the
| fullest freedom to the of inventions
having for their purpose more speedy loco
! motion by those who have the means to
command them.
Serious differences of opinion exist, how
ever as to what constitutes progress and
1t is not always safe to jump at a conclu-
sion that every new invention, even in the
way of rapid locomotion, is the genuine
ticle and denotes a rise in the worlds
| methods OF doing things.
1t cannot be possible, however, that
either of these classes Is entirely blind 10
| the fact that conveyance as dangerous In
its destructive power the ordinary rail-
road locomotive has been introduced upon
crowded city streets and frequently travel
! ed country roads. in the hands. for the most
part of incompetent or ignorant persons, or
| Is able to disguise from itself that Their
Introduction has been followed by accidents
so frequent and so distressingly fatal as TO
make 1t apparent that the perils of street
! life have been increased more than 80 per
| cent since their appearance.
Indeed, IL Is perhaps not too much To say
| that some of the more conservative of the
| owners of machines and devotees of rapid
transit are beginning. in a half-hearted
| way to admit that the authorities do pos
sess the right to make laws and ordinances
| subjecting them to some sort of regula-
| ton.
Without reference to what is transpiring
daily In other cities in the way of auto
cidents, scarcely a day now passes in Chi
cago and it's vicinity on which citizens are
not killed or injured in the public streets.
either directly or indirectly by means Of
| these modern Juggernaut cars, which are
increasing in number every day.
Whether the running Of these locomotives
for that is what they are-along the pub
lie streets and roads is compatible with the
safe use of them by other citizens, either
er. for which uses-they were originally laid
] out and Intended, and IL not. whether the
use of them by these locomotives is fair or
legal, are questions which may have to be.
sooner or later, tried out. AT certain times
of the day and night 1t is as dangerous TO
drive along certain streets or cross them on
| foot as 1t would be TO drive or walk about
| any of the railroad switch yards surrounds
| ing the city
| It does not require any great discernment
to see that popular resentment Is steadliy
! increasing against this method of street To-
connection.
On the European continent autos and
! their occupants are frequently stoned and
sometimes fired upon. In Great Britain,
while the same thing Is being done to some
extent, the authorities are just now trying
the experiment of regulating them by the
infection OF severe penalties. Thus, man
caught exceeding the speed limit Is, on
conviction fined what would be equivalent
ta $50 here. aud the conviction Is Endorsed
on his license. For the seeosId o1ense he IS
sssess s hoo. and this cengietistn is also WRITE
81 aan. Fer the third 3fenSe. besides
t s - he Is deDriVed ol his NcGrne.