Norwich bulletin., 1913-03-20
No Change in
 The Speed Law
HOUSE SUSTAINS REPORT Or
 THE COMMITTEE.
BY VOTE OF s2 TO es
Representative Thoms Declares 5o Per. sons Were Killed by Autos in This State Last Yesr-Breezy Debate.
Especial to The Bulletin.)

Hartford March 19.-There was taken from the house calendar, We'd public highways on which unfavor- able report had been made by the committee on roads, bridges and rfv
 CTS. Bhe act provides that no per car, wagon automobile or any other vehicle upon any public highway at a greater speed than thirty miles an hour, nor within the limits of any city or borough at a rate of speed greater than twelve miles an hour. Penalty for violation Is a fine of not more than $500, imprisonment of not more than six months or both.
 Present Law Is Faulty.
 After explanation by MT. Pierson in defense of the committee, MT. Thoms of Waterbury spoke in favor of the adoption of the act. He be lieved thirty miles an hour fast enough for safety and the only op- ponents were automobilists, who claimed the present law prev ented a speed of twenty-five miles must must carry with it recklessness for successful prosecution. He sald the present statute is faulty, and Is hicles to decide what is recklessness He said that while 90 per cent. of the automobilists were careful drivers, that we must get after the irrespon- S1DIe Chduneur, the man who takes 1n the highballs and goes joy riding.
 5e Persons Killed Last Year.
 He said that in 1911 there were killed 28 persons and this number in creased to 59 in 1912 and of this num- Der only eleven persons were able to take care of themselves. He urged adoption of the measure as a matter of real public safety. MT. Kirch- berger spokewfn favor of the adoption nF ha ct faT~ N$ the automobtists have no regard for God, man or the devil, and instead of driving through city streets they should be in Wethersf1e1d driving shoe nails, where he said they belonged.
 Auto Owner Favors Bill.
 Mfr. Wilson said he was an automo- bile owner and driver and he was in if ever he drove an automobile fast enough to kill that a constable would come along and say Come along old man and see a justice of the peace.''
 MT. Doane of Essex favored the op- position and said 1t was just as easy to kill 8 man at speed of thirty as well as forty miles an hour. Wants Law for Drunken Chauffeurs.
 MT. McGee, of Watertown, argued that the present law was adequate and that therefore the bill presented by MT. Thoms was not necessary.
 MT. Hall of Wilmington said he did not believe in a change of the pres 1 ent law, but if MT. Thoms would frame ] B law directed at drunken chauffeurs l It would have his hearty support. The l fact that ninety per cent. of the au- 1 tomobilistS were careful drivers, ac- | cording to MT. Thoms, demonstrated l that there was no need for change in l the present law. but need for ad- l 1itional law that was applicable to 1 he other ten per cent.
 Encourages Trap Service.
 MT. Lockwood of Stamford was op- l posed to the Thoms bill because of the 1 specification of twelve miles an hour Is the limit of speed in cities and ooroughs. This feature encouraged | he trap service of the country con- 'tab1e who enforced the law for the ;oin there was in 1t. rather than for
 Mir King of Fairfield, as a prose ,uting officer, said he had prosecuted many automobilists and said 1t was ,asier to get evidence against reck- essness than for speed.
 Present Laws Not Enforced.
 Mir Bugbee of Windham declared hat the present law covered all the nd read from the statutes on sub tantiation. He said the state had 'ood automobile laws, but there was ack of enforcement
 MT. ThOmS recalled the somewhat amiliar term of by their acts ye shall now them. He said MT. King spoke -s prosecutor while he CThoms) poke partially as a coroner and had iewed many eases. In reply to an ther speaker who objected to the bill ecause the owner of the automobile yas liable to prosecution, said that he owner of the machine sat on he rear seat and ordered the poor evil to drive above speed.
 The Bill Defeated. He warned the members that if they cad of any human beings killed with l the next thirty days by automobiles riven in excess of thirty miles an our, that not he, but the men who pposed the bill would in a way be The bill was defeated by
 vote of 92 to 69.