Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-04-11
/. IAN TO PENAIIzE THE REck-
LESS WHATEVER THEIR SPEED.
AN EXCELLENT PROPOSAL
NOW the Law Of Some New England
States-Legislators Presented With
Draft Of the Act Which Motor
lists Themselves Are Urging
Auto Has Come to Stay.

The Milwaukee Automobile club has
been busy during the ten days recess
Of the Legislature In drafting a pro-
posed measure for the consideration
OF the lawmakers upon their return 10
Madison. The autohmobilists fee: that
they are in for some restrictive legis-
lation and rather than run the risk
of having too drastic laws passed, are
going to submit measures which will
put them under stricter regulation
than heretofore but which they
regard as fair. A letter has been
prepared which will be sent to each
member of the legislature, setting
forth the ideas of the club and en-,
closing copies of their proposed law.
At recent meeting of the club the
proposition was made and considered
to suggest to the legislature that all
chauffeurs employed for wages by
automobile owners shall be licensed
and in penalty for violating the speed
and care regulations shall lose their
licenses and in consequence be de-
prived of operating machines for a
livelihood in the future. 1t was
pointed out that the reckless driving
of autos is not done by the owners
of machines as rule, but by men
engaged to operate them when the
owners themselves are not driving. 1t
is this class of men who, lacking the
financial responsibility and the desire
to observe all fair regulations and Of
ten inspired by desire to show Off
their cleverness, or their recslessness
make automobiling ,nsafe for pedes-
trians and horsemen. The suggestion
was well received, but no definite ac.
ton was taken upon that proposition
Auto Has Come to Stay.
The letter to the members of the
Legislature states the great truth that
the automobile when safely handled
is the safest vehicle in the world
the horse having a will of its OWL
which sometimes is pitted against the
will of the driver while the machine
is always wholly governed by the will
of the operator. Most automobilists
are careful If all were, there would
be no need for restricting legislation
The automobile has come to stay
$50 100000 worth of them were sold
in the United States last year.-and
the courts have decided that II has
equal rights to the road with teams.
The history of other self-propelling
vehicles is being repeated in the op-
poaition to the automobile which viii
in time disappear when the people az
just themselves to the new conditions
The present law regulating automo-
biles is sufficient The letter con.
tinues in part:
When properly diagnosed, the only
actual need and demand for addition
al legislation is such legislation as
will hit the real culprit-the reckless
and inconsiderate driver, who rushes
through city streets congested with
traffic. teams and pedestrians aad
who flies along the country highways
without regard to whether the farm
ers team is timid or not. We are a
unit with you in attempting to provide
this unnecessary evil. We are more
than willing to offer what is believed
by those who have given the subject
most careful thought and study. the
best method of putting the reckless
automobile driver where he belongs.
mo speed limitation of any sort
viii make reckless driver careful.
Where the road is clear. straight-away
and with nothing in sight. it matters
little to any one else how fast an
automobile travels. The ideal auto
mobile law is one which contains alb
soldtely no speed limitations. but
which make every driver responsible
for all damages occasioned due to his
negligence or recklessness, whether
he is going three miles an hour or 90.
and which contains severe penalty
for its violation.
We submit herewith enclosed a
bill which we believe will best supply
any deficiencies in the present law
| This bin contains several provisions
OF the new uniform state automobile
4 f-NFNNNN ~ NhG <tAhGAAtdH AUTO
mobile association to the legislatures
of the several states, and under ii the
reckless driver can be arrested, fined
and imprisoned. although he be driv-
ing within the speed limits.
Rer,Nve all Speed Limits.
We ask that no further limitations
OF speeds be made. Any reduction
from the present limit would destroy
the usefulness OF the automobile and
would put upon the statute books a
law which no one. rot even the police
authorities would respect. IT .Sould
also change the entire sentiment OF
that large proportion OF the automo-
bile public which now tries to live
within the spirit as well as the letter
az Wisconsin's present liberal law. III
any change is to be made in the
speed laws, II ought to remove al
speed limitations Of every sort. Then
with the enactment OF our proposed