South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-28
HOUSE PASSES
BILL CURLING
AUTO THIEVES
Believed to be Most Far
reaching Step in History of
Federal Legislation.


tory Of federal legislation in the d.
rection OF curbing automobile
thieves.
The house passed a BIZ which
Laws the stern hand OF federal au-
thority on motor car thievery, an
owl with which the state have been
unable &c cope successfully. The
Din has IT'S foundation in the power
given to congress by the constitu-
ton 70 regulate interstate COM
rnerce. The two essential provisions
of the bin passed by the house 10
punish the transportation Of stolen
motor vehicles I'm interstate or for
elgn commerce are as follows:
Fine OF $1,000.
Whoever shall transport or cause
20 be transported in interstate or
foreign commerce a motor vehicle
knowing the same 10 have been
stolen. shall be punished by a fine
Of not more than $1,000 or by i'm
prisonment OF not more than five
years. or both.
Whoever shall, with the intent
20 deprive the owner OF possession
thereof. receive, conceal. store, bar
ter. sell or dispose OF any motor
vehicle moving, as. or which is a
part OF. or which constitutes inter
state or foreign commerce, knowing
the same to have been stolen. shall
be punished by a fine OF not more
than $1,000 or by imprisonment of
not more than five years. or both.
Punished Anywhere.
The bill also provides that the
offender may be punished in any
district through which the motor
vehicle passes.
The extent TO which automobile
thievery has developed in the United
states is revealed IN the report OF
the house committee on judiciary.
recommending the passage Of this
federal measure. The total numbers
Of cars reported stolen In Is west
crn and mid-western cities during
1913 was 22.273, Detroit headed the
list with 2.637 stolen. Chicago came
second with 2.611 and St Louis
third with 2,241. Kansas City led
in the list of stolen cars not recov-
cred. IS percent, and St. Louis was
second with 40 percent of stolen
cars lost absolutely. Statistics for a
number OF other cities follow:
olumbus-Stolen. 451; recovered,
$50.
cincinnati-stolen. a4s; recover
ed. 2e1.
Denver-stoleD. sO1; recovered
627.
seattle-stolen. 1851; recovered
1875.
Portland-stoien. 1888; recover
cod. $50.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., 4O4; recov-
cred. not known
Cleveland-stolen. 2.O7s: recov-
cred. 1915.
Omaha-Stolen. 1899; recovered
s69.
The report OF the committee
makes the following interesting
comment on the necessity for this
federal legislation:
No Law More Needed.
The congress of the United
States can scarcely enact any law
at this session that is more needed
end that has for its purpose the pro
viding Of severe punishment OF those
guilty OF the stealing Of automobiles
IN interstate or foreign com.
merce. There has been and is now
q most widespread demand for such
a law. state laws upon the subject
have been Inadequate to meet the
evil Thieves steal automobiles and
take them from one state 10 an
ether and oft-times have associates
IN this crime who receive and sci
the stolen machines.
The losses 90 the people OF the
United States by reason Of this steal
ing amount 10 hundreds OF thou
sands OF dollars every year It Is
getting worse. It is getting so now
that it is difficult for the owners OF
the cheaper cars 70 obtain theft in
EuranCe, due 10 the great loss that
insurance companies have sustain
ed. During the past year automobile
theft insurance on this class Of cars
has increased 100 percent. 1t is au-
tomohiles or that type that are gen
orally stolen. Automobile thieves
who make a speciality Of this crime
do not steal many OF the high
priced cars. the reason being, OF
course. that they are not so easily
sold.
Thieves have found the autcmo-
bile field one in which they can
reap huge harvests. due 10 the fact
TO doubt there are so many auto
mobiles now IN use in the United
States on July 1. 1919. the mum
ho- or automobiles and trucks regis
tered IN the United States was 6.
e52.233. July and August are all
WAYS heavy selling months. II is
therefore quite certain that the
number OF automobiles now In use
has increased 90 approximately g.
100000 cars. with an average estf-
mated value OF $1,000 each, giving
total value for all ears now in use
az $500. 600. 600
Purpose OF Clause.
The purpose OF the commerce
clause OF the constitution was %
regulate and promote the freedom
r+ comm o~cfaT iuforcourso Hofvveor-