Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-23

its identity completely in a wealth Of warm
conccaling color.
LegisIation for the Auto.
rs the winter Of 1906-O7 TO witness am
other outpouring Of that stream Of legisla-
ton which rises to hoodtide annually and
is only damned by the adjournment OF the
various state legislatures In the spring.
asks the Motor World. "Thc most char
table thing that can be said Of It as a
whole is that it is misguided, and like
charity itself this term represents a veil
that covers a multitude Of sins. II covers
those backhanded attacks on one section
OF the community at the beck Of another
because that other was responsible for the
election to Office OF the attacking force;
It covers that blind prejudice that does not
want to see or deal fairly with both sides
Of case, and last, but not least, Il covers
the awful disregard OF tho interests OF a
growing industry to serve political ends.
ION top Of all this Is the petty spirit OF
biased prejudice with which the legislation
brought to light under such unfavorable
circumstances is enforced and interpreted.
Abolition of speed restrictions or a reason
able limit consistent with the circumstances
where one is imposed one state license
and number IL any, that shall be uni
NtlSttAlN lttObllhtu III AL olneE kkAleSt ana
the lighting Of every vehicle that uses the
road after nightfan constitute three essen
tial points that should be strenuously
fought for at every state legislature during
the approaching sessions 1t has been the
policy Of various organizations in years
past to lie low-to be content with what
they had rather than fly in the face OF
evils they rocked not Of in an attempt to
improve things.
But the decision to let well enough alone
did not serve to leave them I'm that OBJ
security that seemed so desirable. They
were dragged forth into the limeught any
way by being forced to fight pernicious
measures that might never have seen the
light had they been forestalled by a de-
termiued attempt to pass a reasonable bill
Undoubtedly the majority OF motorists
would be content TO let we'll enough alone
where legislation is concerned, but the leg
islatures will not permit them to do so.
Danger of the Law.
Experience has demonstrated that set
speed limit is but an opening to the cupid
ity of rural enforcers and interpreters OF
the law and experience has also shown that
until time has considerably softened this
bucolic prejudice the motorist will be re-
garded as legitimate prey. Hence there
should be either a total abolition Of speed
limits. with full power to arrest and fine
for driving to the common danger, which
exists outside of any legislation and al
ways has, or the limit imposed should be
consistent with the circumstances. not so
low that its proper observance is next to
impossible nor so high as to invite reckless
ness.
In accordance with the constitution
each state must give full force and effect
to the public acts OF all the others, and
comfy has extended this principle to acts
and regulations not technically included
within its provisions so there are two eX-
cellent reasons why every state should rec
ognize the licenses issued by others. Last,
but not least, there IS that bugaboo of
every rural legislator universal light
ing bill. An automobile is compelled to
carry three lights-a wagon none. Certainly
these are reasonable things to ask for, and
not alone reasonable, but a matter Of alb
solute right. 1t accordingly behooves every
organization not to await attack, but to
carry the fight into the enemys camp by
demanding those rights which shall place
the automobilist on the same plane of right
and privilege as other users Of the high
way"