New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-24

except in cases Of criminal carelessness. wheth-
er imprisonment is not penalty so severe as
To defeat the object by which / mean that
most magistrates might excuse man rather
than visit upon him sentence which they felt
went little too far.
But the irritation Of the country is consid-
cradle and widespread. and IT is imperative to
the continuance Of automobile touring and 10
the existence Of citizen goodwill, which is de-
sirabe, that some permanent remedy be applied.
have been an advocate OF Imprisonment in
stead of fine for cases OF wanton recklessness.
and | am still an advocate of Imprisonment
where the Culprt is either criminally reckless
or repeated offender. AT the same time l be-
lleve that the suggestion of & revocable license,
put forth by the Automobile clubs committee
Of public safety is, as a general proposition,
the fairest all-around solution of the problem
\ BILE license law would work both
ways Il would stand as a menace TO the
chauffeur and II would safeguard the owner,
whether he he of the afra id-of- his-Chauffeur
less speed. The practical working Of such
plan would be to take his license from the
arrested chauffeur. which would deprive him
of professional standne-and employment
since it is to be supposed that no owner would
employ chauffeur under such conditions. IT
would also temporarily deprive the owner OF
a driver; sometimes this might work 10 the
owners discomfort, but most times 1t would
be probably a well deserved rebuke.
The public safety committee of the Automobile
club has announced control of the chauffeur as
the most importan. element to the prosperity or
automohiling in this country: ard any intelli-
gent citizen VIII agree with them and indorse
their common sense in thus taking the bull by
the horns. Two other excellent activities Of this
clubs committee are:
Participation to the paving BY manufsct-
urers and agents Of commissions 10 the chauf-
feur.
Second--An appeal 10 owners rot TO use the
binding acetylene lamps in cities or towns.
Paying commissions 10 the chauffeur, which
results in much scandal in the automobile
trade and increases so materially the owners
running expenses. is a matter which touches
automobile owners aud manufacturers only; II
is one In which the general public has no inter
est. But it doas touch manufacturers closely,
and always l am wondering why the manu-
facturers DO not get together on some kind of Il
combination for the purpose OF ending forever
and all time this species OF blackmai levied on
them by the chauffeur. II certainly would
lessen the owners running expenses. and also
increase the number of purchasers, since the
impression is abroad that the operating ex-
penses of a car, where chauffeur is employed,
are quite the forbdding element to automobile
owning by the man of modest income. To help
correct this impression would be. I should say
a profitable investment for the manufacturer.
The use of acetylene lamps and searchlights
in the city is an outrage which should be sub
ject to arrest. The wonder Is that city
ordinance prohibits this nuisance. which is re-
sponsible for many accidents The unnecessarily
brilliant light simply blinds the pedestrian or
approaching driver who falls within its bewilder-
ing glare, and must bear a very large share OF
responsibility for the general public feeling
against the automobile and Automobiles. The