The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-09-28

e%cutiye, a hobby that be can ride with
the assurance that both theory and
practice are based on solid fact.
The American people have been
slow to realize that the automobile
Is too ambulatory and too numerous
to be regulated entirely by local gov
eminent. There should be state uni
formity Of regulation. Some central
authority should have power TO reach
across several countries. to reach into
or outside Of any city and compel
obedience to traffic laws. As long
as enforcement Of these laws is left
to local police, the degree Of enforce
ment will vary according to the vary
ing efficiency or whims Of the officials.
Eighty-three per cent Of the auto
mobiles in use in the world are in the
United States. There is me automo-
bile to every IL persons in the entire
country, or a total of 1~0,44S,633. In
Illinois we have 10000 automobiles,
or one to every 9.S7 persons. In some
other states the percentage is higher.
Last year 1850 persons were killed
in automobile accidents. This was an
average of .O0119 per car. How many
more were injured and how much
property was damaged through reek-
less driving and lack of observance
Of traffic laws cannot be stated acc
urately, but the figures are enormous.
Obviously there is a crying need
for better regulation Of the operation
Of automobiles in a country where
they are so numerous.
The Illinois Law.
In most states the administration
Of automobile laws has been placed
in the hands Of the Secretary OF State
but he has been given no power to en-
force observance. This is left entirely
to local police and sheriffs.
In Illinois we have just concluded
very successfully an experiment
which seems to prove beyond ques-
ton that the State official who licens-
es automobiles and administers auto
mobile laws should have police power
so far as automobile laws are concer-
ned.
For some five or six years we exper-
imented with volunteer automobile
Investigators. These were responsible
citizens in each community who, be-
ing drivers of automobiles them
selves, were interested in seeing auto
mobile laws obeyed. A badge to be
worn on the radiator of the car and
a certificate Of appointment were CIV
en- those who would accept voluntar-
lily this responsibility, and some good
was accomplished in this way. The
volunteer inspectors, however, had no
police power. They could only report
violations to local authorities and in
the ,end the degree of enforcement
Of automobile laws depended entire
ly upon the attitude of the sheriff,
chief Of police, or mayor.
States Inspectors.
Investigation showed that thous-
ands of dollars which should have
come into the State Treasury in the
form of automobile and chauffeurs'
license fees was not being collected
and that traffic laws frequently were
ignored. While in some communities
there was scarcely any violation OF
the law, in other communities there
was the grossest laxness.
In view of this situation, the last
legislature passed a law permitting
the Secretary of State to appoint
State automobile inspectors invested
with power to make arrests for traffic
laws Of the state. Under this law, %
inspectors were appointed.
These inspectors are costing the
state for salary and expenses less
than $50, 900 per annum and by their
efforts they have increased the re-
turns from automobile license fees
by at least a quarter Of a million a
year. In other words, they have paid
for themselves five times over merely
in the collection of fees.
But the efforts of the inspectors
are not confined to this one activity.
They have aided very materially in in
creasing the safety of travel on the
highways of the state by enforcing
traffic laws and headlight laws.
%Illionis has 1902 counties. so that 1t
has been necessary to give each of
the rs inspectors four or FIVE counties
to look after. The inspector cannot
hope to cover this large territory ad-
~euuately by individual effort. He gets
in touch with the sheriffs, chiefs OF
police and mayors Of the territory
under his jurisdiction and secures
their cooperation. In this way unifor.
nifty of regulation is maintained and
few v~iolators escape punishment.
: To Increase Fees.
Where there are State Police this
work perhaps could be left to them
but the experiment in Illinois has
proved very conclusively that there
should be some state authority to Sc
cure uniform enforcemnt of automo'
bile laws throughout the entire state
: The first result of the regulation IL
to increase automobile fees, which II
. Illinois and in practically every othei
state are used in the building of more
hard roads or the maintenance Of
roads already built. Chauffeurs' fees
= in Illinois have increased from $63,
: 900 in 1920, the year before the crea
! ton of the position of Automobile
Inspector to approximately $4,000
: this year. In 1920,a total of 56S,73s
automobile licenses were issued fol
$ all classes Of cars and this year thu
total will reach 100000. A great dea
Of this, of course, is due to the natur
al growth of the automobile business
. but a large percentage also is due t.
= the fact that the activity Of automo
y bile inspectors has resulted in almos
Y a 100 per cent registration of cars.
Another experiment in centraliza
q ton tried during the past year and
q half by the Secretary of State of Ill
inois is the compiling every week O
) the numbers and descriptions O
automobiles which have been stole
anywhere in the state. These are mi
m%eographed and mailed to ever
sheriff and police chief to aid him
detecting stolen automobiles. The So
stem is proving very successful an