The Detroit times., 1914-09-24
Officials Declare There is at
Present No Protection For
Human Life
DECLARE COMMISSION
OF SAFETY is NEEDED
Children at Auto Wheels Com
mon Occurrence in City's
Streets

Ten persons have been killed by
automobiles In Detroit since Sept. /,
according to records in the coroners
Office. Police reports show that no
less than 70 have been injured by
motor cars In the same space OF time
In only one case where q life has
been crushed out has the driver been
held Responsible. In this case, a cor
oner's jury held the man at the wheel
guilty OF criminal negligence. The
matter was referred 70 the prosecut-
ing attorney, but thus far nothing
more has been done about II.
Coroners ]. r. Burgess and j. W.
Rothacher, alarmed at the record OF
killing and manning on the streets OF
Detroit. agree that drastic measures
must be adopted If the lives OF pedes.
trians are to be protected They do
not hesitate to state that instances OF
carelessness and negligence on the
part OF automobile drivers are numer-
Gus, but they say that little can be
done to remedy the situation under
present conditions.
We must have q public safety
commission that can make new laws
governing traffic-particularly auto.
mobile traffic-and this commission
should have full power to enforce
these laws said DR.. Burgess. As
things stand today, an automobile
driver may be grossly negligent. and
at the same time he cannot even be
held for violating an ordinance or a
law, because we haven't enough ordi-
nances and laws"
DR.. Burgess, Wednesday afternoon,
instructed jury In his court room.
sitting In the inquest into the death
OF Lawrence Barnett. an 11-year-old
automobile victim, to recommend In
It's verdict that q public safety com
mission OF two or more members be
appointed. The clause urging the ere
alton OF this commission was drafted
into the verdict by Emil A. Mistersky
an attorney, who was foreman OF the
jury. Ray Wolfslayer, rs years old
driver Of the auto which struck the
boy, was exonerated.
While the inquest In the Barnett
case was being held, Coroner Roth
acher, In an adjoining room, wrote a
letter to Superintendent of Schools
Chadsey, impressing upon him the ne
cessity OF having teachers In public
schools warn their pupils each day, O,
several times a week. at least. of the
dangers encountered In crossing the
streets. DR.. Rothacher believes thai
campaign OF education among chill
dren will greatly reduce the number
OF Youngsters who are killed or In
jured by automobiles.
with the number Of automobiles
Detroit has, this city cannot AFFORD e
continue without some Official body
which can regulate trafic. investigate
all accidents on the streets. and take
action for the punishment OF those
whose carelessness cause injury OF
DEATH" said Dr. Burgess. 'T have
studied the problem from all angles
and know that the laws and ordi
nances we have now are utterly in-
adequate. There have been many
times in the last year when | have
been satisfied that a life has been
lost through the negligence OF an
automobile or wagon driver But
have been powerless to act L can
make my recommendations. but that's
usually the last I hear OF II.
1--WE need more strict regulation.
Automobile drivers can get away
with almost anything short OF speed
(Contfnued On Page Two.)