New-York tribune., 1920-02-15
hugo Lays Auto
Deaths to Lack
OF Drastic Law.
Secretary of State Tells
Magistrates of Need for
Stcrncr Prosecution i'm
Reckless Driving Cases
Cobb Accuses Dealers
Charges Made of Legis.
laiion for Private In.
terest at Public's Risk

Francis NJ Hugo, Secretary Of State,
IN an address yesterday to- the State
Magistrates Association. meeting in
eleventh annual convention at the
Hotel Astor. told of the need for max
ing sterner provision for the prosecu-
ton Of reckless automobile drivers
snd thereby reducing inexcusable ac-
edents and fatalities.
Discussion of the subject. Needed
Changes in the Law to Reach Negli-
gent Drivers of Vehicles" brought
iorth q number of suggested reforms
from Secretary Hugo and City Magis-
trate ". Bruce Cobb, outstanding
smong them being the advocacy of
state law making it case of felonious
assault for the iniuring of any person
as result of negligent driving.
Under the present law many such
cases are tried as misdeameanors. Mr..
Hugo said, which should be tried as
the more serious offenses wherein rot
few persons lose their lives or are
nvalided for life through careless
operation of motor vehicles. Both
speakers agreed that this state was
:ar behind other states, specifically
New jersey, Massach lsetts and Con-
necticut, in the regulation of motor
traffic.
Court Office Assists Hugo
The power exercised by the Secre-
tary Of State as special judge in the
local court OF special sessions, which
IS that he may revoke drivers licenses
or suspend them for six months, Mr..
Hugo asserted, was proving of inesti-
mable benefit in reducing automobile
hazards. However, he said, law
making many so-called speeding cases
actions Of felionious assault is badly
needed before the reckless driver can
be fully convinced of the effectiveness
Of law enforcement. He asked for a
larger board of examiners (there are
row twenty-five on the local board) to
rass on e qualifications and test for
drivers, saying the present force was
highly inadequate.
in the examinations since the law
governing drivers in this city vent into
effect the Secretary of State asserted,
it mad been found that mental defec-
ives had been driving cars through
The crowded streets OF New York City
and that these cases. when referred to
physician, disclosed that to issue
licenses to such irresponsible persons
was 70 imperil hundreds of lives daily.
Magistrate Cobb called the motor
vehicle laws Of the state "hodge
podge' which was directly responsible
for many accidents in which lives are
lost He charged automobile manufac-
turing dealers with having induced
legislation in their own interests as
against those Of public safety.
Probation Needed for Justice
Probation as an instrument Of great
er social Justice was commended by
Judge Edwin l. Carvin. of the United
ats District Court for the Eastern
?, str.@ Of New York; City Magistrate
zlsx-..aer Brough and by Otis H.
Gardner, Recorder, Of Elmira.
Magistrate Brough explained the
work winch will be undertaken by the
new probation court here. This court,
he said. would exclude the morbidly
sentimental curiosity seeker and other
types Of Objectionable onlooker.
Forty one magistrates here, Mag
istrate Brough asserted, dispose Of
some $50 600 matters annually that
properly are within the functions of
The Probation Court, and will be 80
banded in future.
An informal round table discussion
Fas he'd ct The closing session on
Pres u- Problems of the Courts of In
sgipr iir .ction." presided over by
lty Magistrate Francis McCloskey, of
brooklyn, and committee reports were
read.
The following resolutions were
adopted:
lndorsing a bill prepared by Magis.
rate Cobb which makes carelessness
In operating vehicles an assault in the
third degree.
recommending passage Of . state
constitutional amendment granting
jurisdiction in equity cases to chill
dren's and domestic relations courts.
II so .ar as non-criminal actions In
Volving children and domestic relations
are concerned
Urging Congress to pass the Loner-
gan bla, providing for probation sys-
lem IN the Federal courts.
Approving the proposed enlargement
OF EXISTING state institutions, or their
Feclassifcation, to provide facilities for
ne custodal care of feeble minded and
mentally detective delinquents.
Ernrs~ L.. L