Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-29

roads largely used by the automo-
bilists.
The idea mas grown and the sugges-
ton has been offered that state con-
stabuarly with motor bicycle equip
ment be established to preserve law
and order, bat primarily to curb the
speed of motor vehicles on the main
highways of the state.
But before the project is fairly
launched it has raised a storm of pro-
tests from automobilists of the law
abiding class. tThey again raise the
cry of unjufE discrimination. They
recall the overzealousness of some p9-
trolmen in the city and ask why they
should be subjected to similar indig-
mites in the open country.
There would not be the same re-
straining influence over police em-
ployed by the state as over those VINO
hold favor from local municipalities
Might not the innocent be made to
suffer for the guilty, and a state con-
stabulary yield to the temptation 10
regard all automobile owners as their
natural prey? Similar deductions and
questions occur to automobilists who
have given the subject consideration.
An alternative proposition is offered
by Winthrop E. Scarritt, chairman Of
the law committee of the Automobile
Club of America. He has studied the
problem at home and abroad in all
it's phases and his solution is simple
one.
'Revoke the licenses of offending
drivers" says Mr.. Scarritt. "What
does the average automobile owner
care for a fine of $5 or $40 or $40 so
long as he is enabled to go OH imme-
diately after paying it and continue
his speeding? But take away his
license to use or drive a car and the
punishment will be felt.
"AIl magistrates should have power
to revoke state licenses. For first
offense for speeding l would suggest
that an owner or driver of an auto
mobile have his license taken away
for ten days. He would not be IN
clined to lay himself open to punish
ment a second time, but if he did and
were convicted his car should be laid
off for thirty days. That surely would
be a discourager of speed in the flu
ture, particularly if the period were
during the touring season. Should
there be third offense six months,
or even longer, of enforced abstention
from his favorite pastime would be
calculated to effect permanent cure
'I seriously question the wisdom of
establishing a special automobile po-
lice" continued Mr. SCafflll. am
personally opposed to it for several
reasons. A patrolman on special duty
Immediately thinks he must make a
record for himself and show that he
earns his salary. AS a consequence
he becomes overzealous, if not over
officious.
what should first he done is to edu-
cate the automobilist himself so that
he will obey the law. If we could I'M
press upon the $4,000 automobile own
ers of this state the fact that they
can either advance or retard the au-
tomobile movement by their behavior
on the highways much would be ac-
complished. 1t is comparatively only
a very small number of automobilists
who bring the great army of users
into disrepute 1t would be unfair TO
place the whole army under the sur
veilance intended only for the few
Apart from the question of speed
regulation, the automobile is rapidly
becoming a serious problem 10 the po-
lice authorities In the near future,
it il believed, a considerable force OF
automobile police will be demanded.
Tha automobile nolice. mounted on