The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-08-22
The Moors don't stay suppressed any better than the Trusts do.
THE AUTOMOBILE PR0B1EM.

The summer season mas demon- strated the fact that the State of Con- necticut in common with all of the principal States of the Union is con- fronted with a large sized problem growing out of the multiplication of the impossibiHty of the State legislating effectively for their control and the increasing reckless ness of drivers. It is a problem all by itself, in class by itself, and needs the finest judgment and the most resolute discrimination to make its solution proper.
 The early months of the auto were easy for the autoist who proflted at once by the experience of the bicycle. Appeals to reason on the part of those who had need to use the streets and highways were listened to impatiently. They were told to recall the hysteria which followed the introduction of the bicycle and were informed that the horses became accustomed to it. They were told in addition that the wheel had become the convenience of the poor, etc, etc. More than this the freedom of the Kings Highway was set forth in the most alluring lan- guage the advertising agents of the auto makers could extract from the dictionaries. Society must aeeommo- date itself to an innovation which was to revoIutionize the art of trans portation. As we recall that discus Ision we remember the hopefulness which overlook the public and the calmness with which the autos came and went among us. The Kings High way became free as air even though later the legislature restricted the use to which it could be put only to learn that the law cannot meet and con-
 troI the exhilaration of man with a steam engine under him and a smooth Iroad ahead.
 We find to-day that familiarity with the auto has bred a contempt for life. Not week passes. scarcely a day, but that the news of some new acci- dent flashes over the wire, shocking in- expressibly the better Judgment of men. The indifference of the autoists to the fate of their fellows is per- lhaps the most shocking phase of the whole problem. Whole families ride merrily over the spot which but few hours ago marked the delivery of the death sentence and at like rate of speed. It is impossible to overstate the dangers which are now known to
 be the inevitable accompaniment of
 reckless driving, not alone to the oc-
 cupants of the reckless car but to all lusers of the streets and the highways. The point has been reached where
 patience has ceased to be a virtue.
 Drivers of cars must be licensed en-
 gineers, not licensed as they are now lafter a brief lesson taken in the car
 shops, but licensed as engineers who lare members of a responsible craft The streets and highways can no longer be turned over to anybody who can afford by hook or by crook to buy Ia machine,
 l It may become necessary for the IState to forbid the use of the streets land highways by machines built tc lspeed faster than twenty miles ar hour. It may become necessary fol the State to forbid the use of the
 streets and highways altogether bA machines propelled by steam, gasolin
 or electricity. It ought to be appar
 ent to every thinking man that civil Iized State cannot let each man be come his own agent in settling th'
 rights of others even though common
 consent may be given him to kill him
 self on private grounds. The problem
 has got to be met and solved, and n
 lone is quite so much interested in see
 ling this done as the manufacturers o
 automobiles and automobile supple
 who have millions invested in thei