The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-02
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsKIN. Director.
washington, d. G.
Furnishing THE SPEEDY.


one of the richest courts of its kind in
the world.
Thousands of fines, at s25 or more
apiece, are collected here every day
from automobile operators who can or
cannot explain why they were rushing
thru the city streets at the rate of
over thirty miles an hour. About 5000
such cases are tried every week, and
last year over $4,000 was collected
by the court from speed violations
alone.
In the same year. 746 persons, or
day. were killed by automobiles in New
York, in addition to thousands who
were knocked down and injured. This
year. it is predicted, the number will
be considerably increased.
In other words, it is a foregone con-
clusion that about 500 individuals who
now walk the streets, presumably in
good health and with no thought of
suicide, will be hurried off to the
morgues before this year is ended. 1t
is equally certain that hundreds OF
children will be crippled during this
period, and that the city hospitals will
be kept busy attending to motor cas-
ualty eases.
With the tremendous increase in the
use of motor-driven vehicles. certain
inevitable. New York City alone now
has over 100000 automobiles. with, ex-
trefnely little space in the downtown
section in which to accommodate them.
Its traffic system, while unusually eff
ficient for some thorofares, is hope
lessly inadequate in others, so that in
many congested places cars are wholly
unsupervised, and pedestrians are left
to cross the streets as best they may,
lodging machines, street cars and ele-
waited posts. +
The pedestrians, moreover, are woe
fully careless. Exceeding lodging has
made the New Yorker over bold at
street crossings, while many persons,
unacduainted with the limitations of
motor mechanism. calmly place all or
the responsibility of risk on the auto
mobile drivers. 1t is not uncommon
to see man or woman step heedlessly
in front of moving automobile, with
the airy remark, 'Well, if ne hits me,
he'll get sued" or something of the
sort.
Speeding Greatest Cause of Accidents.
Nevertheless, while traffic conges-
ton and the heedlessness of pedestri-
ans are important contributing causes,
the greatest cause for motor accidents
Is unquestionably speeding.
According to Magistrate Frederick
B. House of the Traffic court. the rate
of speed at which automobiles are
driven has increased dangerously in
the past few years. Four years ago.
the record of speeders hailed into court
was seldom over 80 miles an hour,
while today it is frequently so and SIS
miles.
The Traffic court is the only exist
ing check spn this popular form OF
sport. At least, its aim is to inspire
in the metropolitan automobilist
healthy respect for the speed laws by
filming him literally every time he is
caught breaking them. If filming fails
to make the desired impression, it can
not be said that the court does not
rise nobly to its duty.
All day long, with the exception of
a couple of hours recess at noon, its
small, cramped quarters are filled
with disgruntled motor car drivers, In
the process of forking over their fines,
or waiting patiently for the gallant
opportunity to do so. 1t is interesting
to see the different ways in which the
guilty take their punishment. Some
are trembling with rage at what they
obviously consider an outrage; others
are sullen with resignation, and few
exhibit exaggerated nonchalance De-
fore the bar.
One OF these was being heard the
other afternoon when the reporter
visited court.
You are charged" said the judge
plea sanity, with running at a speed
of thirty miles an hour. Is that true?"
NO SIR" replied the Immediately
dressed offender, swinging his cane
carelessly back and forth "The in
formation of your officer is quite
wrong. My eyes were on the
speedometer at the time he came
abreast of the running board, and it
clearly recorded forty-two and one
half miles,
"Have you any legitimate excuse?"
inquired the judge, unnoved by this
remarkable frankness.
NO" said the young man. at was
a pleasant morning; no one was in
sight, and I wanted to see how much
the old\ boat could make down the
drive
Twenty-Five dollars or ten days in
the city prison. ;nurmured- the Judge
imperturbab!y.
The next case, trim, young. blond
matron, also pleaded guilty to the
charge of thirty-five miles an hour,
but raised a pair of large, pleading
brown eyes OF the judge.
Il was hurrying home to my baby"
she explained gently. HE has err
whooping cough"
Speeding k1ate afternoon
many people serious
offense $25 fine - again
came the indistinct boom of the voice
OF the judge.
obviously perturbed by this decision.
The young woman was SO attractive,
SO gentle, and she had a sick baby
Gee, the cid crab might have let
her Off" he declared to his compan-
ion on the right. 'fShe had a good ex-
cuse. What's motor car for if you
can't use it in an emergency? The
law says solnethin' about extenuating
circumstances. but this judge never
heard of it."
oh. they all have good excuses
said the other. The judge can't
listen to all of them. Probably, if
you Knew the truth. this woman hasn't
any baby at all, but a Pekingese with
bad temper. 1t amt no use to argue
about this speed question anyway
When they got you, they got you-and
you've got to pay up."L
The next case, tail. gaunt man,
with a square chin, had been haled
l nta Court bar the sacond firraa r-I,ich