The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-12-25
Auto Troubles

/ AAAAO n AOaOA(O
, Coroner Knight continues to de
claim against the police force for moi
enforcing the automobile laws, but
nothing is done. The list OF dead in.
creases and Of late has been at the rate
of three per day for this city alone
Most of these accidents are due to
criminal carelessness. Many of them
bark back to the fundamental wrong
by the State in permitting anyone to
get drivers license simply by paying
the money.
Recent estimates are to the effect
that the death roll in Pennsylvania
will exceed six hundred for this year,
while many more have been seriously
injured. In the cities most of the
deaths were caused by violation of the
law which demands very low rate OF
speed, which is constantly exceeded,
and perfect control which is seldom
achieved.
Our policemen make little or no ef-
fort to enforce the laws, and their supe-
riors even less. The time ought to be
here when no person will be permitted
to drive car unless the license is the
result of searching examination as to
ability, and under bond for good be-
havior. Few things have added more
to public convenience, comfort and
profit than the automobile, but it needs
real control.
Our laws are not self-executing, often
no one seems to care to execute them.
A locomotive engineer must work for
years to get permission to run an en-
CINE on a steel track. Any boy of
eighteen can get a license to run an
n ~ lNfio ok n
crowded street. This must be stopped.
something to conserve the lives OF our
citizens?- Philadelphia Bulletin.
From the above it appears that Bur
lington county is not the only section
where laws are ignored and human life
is held so cheaply. The Bulletin
wants to know "why doesn't the
Mayor try to do something to conserve
the lives of our citizens?' That is
practically the same question THE
News has asked more than once, only
in different form as we do not have a
Mayor. The main argument for good
roads has been that traffic demands
them. And the automobiles are the
vehicles which use the roads more
than any others. The Bulletin shows
that the Pennsylvania machines break
the laws and it is noticeable that when
a machine from that state goes through
this section under the reciprocity"
law everything else must get out of
the way and the driver of New Jer-
sey auto is fortunate if he gets his half
of the road. If we are to go to the ex-
pense Of building and maintaining
roads we ought to have some way of
controlling travelsover them. The pa
troll system is good thing but road
police system might be effective. Right
in Mount Holly there is frequent dis
regard of speed and other regulations.
If one would take the trouble to watch
the cars as they come up from the
railroad station after the arrival Of the
evening trains it would not require
much thought to see that the desire to
get to the destination is of more i'm
portance than the law. Two incidents
occurred within two weeks. In each
case a passenger was waiting to board
trolley car at regular stop on High
street and on each occasion an auto
mobile sped up the street, never stop
ping until the trolley had resumed its
trip and the passengers were compelled
to step lively to keep out of the way of
the autos. OF course these cases came
under the observation of those who
might have taken the numbers of the
machines and made complaint. But
if the passengers had been hit, manned
or killed, jury would probably rem
der verdict of IAN accident"
In the trials here for manslaughter
the defendants were acquitted and so
far as we know are still permitted to
drive automobiles. Bostwick, the Vim
centown man whose accident" killed
a baby, was taken before the Commits
sioner of Motor Vehicles, at Trenton,
for driving without license, and he
was fined $25.75. The Commissioner
writes that ut is true that Mr.. Bost-
wick did not obtain his license until
after the accident. His examination
was taken many weeks before the ac-
cident occurred, and it seems he pro-
crastinated in the matter Of securing
his license card until called upon to
answer the charge Of manslaughter.
Unfortunately l have no jurisdiction
in criminal matters and with the know
ledge that he had been indicted and
was about to be tried by the county Of
Burlington, 1 felt that all the circum-
stances in connection with his failure
to have license at the time of the &C
cident would be brought out at the
trial, and due consideration given by
the jury. 1 know nothing about the
Coate case aside from a preliminary re-
port which was made to this depart
ment and which was referred to deputy
chief inspector Shinn, Of Burlington,
TO be followed up after the trial.