Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-11
SENATOR TO FRAME
BILL TO |MPR|SON
RECKLESS DRIVERS
Sherman Scores Motorists
Causing Many Accidents to
D. C.. Pedestrians.

Aroused over the many injuries
which have recently been sustained
by pedestrians struck by automobiles
in the streets of Washington. Sem
ator Sherman of Illinois gave notice
in the Senate today that he planned,
With the District committee, of which
he is Chairman, to frame . bill which
will put into Jail reckless drivers of
automobtlcS Where reckless driving
result. in death the punishment VIII
be III, same ;.s fOF n@nSiauShtsr OF
murder.
The Evening star Of Yesterday
showed that there had been i've cases
of injuries due TO colliGing with auto
mobiles within twcnty-four hours.
said Senator Sherman. and one Woin-
an died the day before az the result
of being struck by an automobile
Unless something is done to stop
take matters into their own HANDS
and arm themselves with brick bats
and billies, and one of the reckless
drivers will be smashed up himself
ugly feeling developing among the
men in the section of the town IN
which | live. Such action by the pri-
vate citizen would be lawIessness, and
l would be sorry to see it,
Critic Of License Issuing.
Senator FreIinghuysen of New Jer-
sey Interrupted to suggest that much
of The trouble lay in the fact that
automobile licenses were issued here
too freely and without proper eN-
animation OF the applicants
That is true" replied Senator Sher-
man. There should be q rigid exam;-
Mellon OF applicants and the officials
sheuid be very careful to whom they
issue licenses to drive cars.
There is 4 traffic regulation pro-
vidiEg that automobiles must stop
when q street car stops. But l have
twice recently seen an automobile rush
along on its way, the driver merely
honking his horn. scattering the peo-
pie who were attempting to get on
a car and also those who were getting
of the same car.
Introduces Resolution.
Senator Sherman introduced a reso-
luton expressing il as the sense of
the Senate steps should be taken
TO put an end to this reckless driv-
ing. II follows:
THAT the frequent personal injuries
and deaths of pedestrians on the
streets of Washington by being struck
by automobiles is d grave menace to
The safety of the people OF Washing
ion- The frequent occurrence of such
deaths and injuries indicate n reck
less violation of speed regulations
and of the crowded streets and d dis
regard for the safety of the general
public. Life is of more Importance to
the many than mere speed to the few
careless, indifferent drivers of such
vehicles. .ss5. ....s- (
st is declared TO be the sense of the
Senate that the regulation governing
such forms of transportation be
strengthened and enforced by thor-
ough observation and that the police
department of the District of Column
bia be supported in such enforcement
in all ways at the command of the
Senate.
1T is further declared to be the
sense of the Senate that the District
of Columbia committee thereof shall
consider and report a proper bill pro-
vfding for additional restrictions upon
speed at places dangerous to the gen.
erai public and for more rigorous
penalties. declaring, in case of negIi-
gent driving OF such vehicles, punish
Inent as for manslaughter or murder.
to the end that the streets of WASH
1ngton may not be the most danger
Gus places in the country"
Will Call Committee.
Senator Sherman said later that he
would call his committee together
Monday to draft. measure which
viii. he believes. have an effect upon
the reckless driving. Out in Chicago.
he said. where 351 persons had been
killed in automobile accidents in q
single year, the authorities we've jail
ing the reckless drivers. with good
effect
Senator Capper of Kansas, another
member Of the District committee.
two days ago introduced a bill which
would impose 4 fine of not more than
1000 and Imprisonment for not more
than q year on any driver of an au-
tomobile who ran into any one and
failed to stop to render assistance to
the injured party