New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-19
HONE RULE on HIGHWAYS.

The latest amendment to the Callan
automobile bill at Albany is doubtless
welcome to the majority of users Of
motor cars, though we doubt its accept
ability to the advocates of municipal
home rule. 1t deprives all municipali-
ties excepting large cities of the power
to prescribe traffic regulations for their
highways and puts them under gen
eraI state law. We cannot say that we
were much impressed by some of the
arguments put forward pro and contra,
especially by the plea that it might take
two weeks TO run from New York to
Buffalo if local rules were in force. The
level of Lake Erie would not be per-
ceptibly raised by the tears of the
myriads who were denied the indis-
pensable privilege of running cars from
New York to Buffalo in record breaking
time. But there is undoubtedly good
question, and perhaps most Of it is on
the side of the amendment denying
home rule.
We have pointed out that system Of
separate and different rules for indi
yidual municipalities would make it
necessary for the automobiliSt to carry
and frequently consult a guideboOk or
n gazetteer if he was TO avoid trouble.
and also for every boundary line be-
tween towns and villages to he conspic
uously marked. 1t seems doubtful If
the good TO be attained, if any, would
repay this trouble Indeed, it is not
easy to see why there should be any
differences in speed and other rules IN
places of similar character We may
grant that traffic rules on Broadway.
New York, must differ from those on
turnpike between Squedunk and Po-
dunk. but why should the eighty-two
inhabitants Of Squedunk be permitted
to enforce eleven and half miles an
hour as the maximum speed permitted
on their end Of the turnpike while the
eighty-seven citizens of Podunk permit
nineteen and three-quarters on their part
of the same highway?
1nasmuch also as a large and increas-
ing mileage of roads, and particularly
roads frequented by automobiles, has
been built or improved at general state
expense in recent years, it seems appro-
pirate that such roads should be under
a certain measure of general rather
than of purely local control. Of course
the establishment of general highway
law for the regulation of automobiles
will impose a responsibility upon the
state, both in the framing and in the
enforcement of such a law. which other
wise would be RENTED to the local mI-
inequalities: but it may we'll be held that
such responsibility and its accompany
ing authority should properly be vested
in the state. Nor will if escape notice
that the state system, with a provision
that fees and penalties are I'll TO be
turned in to the general state fund, viii
tend pretty effectually to do away with
certain local abuses. such as the setting
of automobile traps" and the exaction
of extortionate fines
On the other hand, local municipal
ties will have right to demand from
the state larger measure Of protection
from abuses Of the highways than is
now always afforded under some state
systems. There is great deal too
much reckless and dangerous speeding
Of machines and il the prohibition Of
home rule should result. as some fear.
in an increase of that evil, there would
be much just dissatisfaction. State
regulation will be acceptable only on
condition that il is effective