Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-10-28
sG,No DRIVEN uNoERcRouNo'


This may seem a brutal sugges.
ton, but It II pertinent nevertheless:
are we to suffer the terrible economic
loss occasioncd by the automobile
kill!ngs? Before the war the value
Of q human life was estimated at
$4,000"
Che speaker had been reading the
reports In the Kennebec Journal OF
thu automobile accidents on Sunday.
Evidently the reading had made a
dsep impression upon him. We as
sumo II had made a like impression
upon others. And when out-of-ths-
state papers came In they served 70
deepen that impression and to sx-
cite wonderment that a sane, SEN
sibls people 90 tamely submit TO
such an ordeal.
The Boston Herald states that dur
ing the week Oct. Tito Oct. % In
Massachusetts, 90 persons. 3 more
than during the previous week. wsra
killed. OF these 10 we're children.
Those convicted OF operating motor
vehicles while under the influence OF
liquor were 1OA In number. But Ave
OF these were committed to jail, ~
appealed. On account Of liquor l16
licenses were suspended.
What do we think Of the 1874 rec
ord Of 2.,so0 people killed In this
<-,.,~t~A, G1N ONA Sv turad sod ale h,iv
drod millions OF property damage In.
hictsd? Secretary Hoover Of the DE-
partmsnt OF Commerce thinks
enough OF II to call n national con-
ference on street and highway acct
dents Tor December Is. Well he
might. considering that this record.
Of damage represents an increase Of
so per cent In the last seven years.
lie has appointed committees from
all parts Of tho country. members
representing officials Of tho law. In
surance companies. safety oodnciis.
chambers Of coumerce, labor unions,
automobile associations and 20 on.
Out Of this should come soma uni.
formity and stringency Of resula-
tion.
Maine better anticipate this move
ment BY setting her own house In
order or In formulating plans for
doing so at the earliest opportunity.
Judge Foster OF the winthrop court
made son,e pertinent suggestions
when binding over an alleged drunk
on driver last week. One was about
a law which practically permits any
one who has the price to obtain q
license without proof Of nualifica-
tons. While he thinks the punish
ments are probably adequatst II the
Judge be, might be a1ded) he 10 Of
the opinion there should be an in
veatiyation In the first instance;
that no license should be granted to
a person OF unsuitable character, Of
drinking habits; also that some way
should be found under which the
highway officers should have author
ity to prosecute for the infraction of
~VS law WusSu tuSy Htu Niot0tSus Ap
the case then before the Judge the
evidence indicated that the driver
was drunk. for which cffense he was
taken into custody, also that he was
carrying intoxicating liquor without
a federal permit, on account Of which
II does not appear that he 10 to be
arrested.
All the conditions call for uniform
and stringent regulation Of the motor
trafiic. The situation 10 such that
self defense requires 1t. II will be
a tremendous undertaking but this
must not delay It longer. We must
get about It without regard to whose
toes We tread upon provided we are
rive at some practical and equitable
arrangement for making life fairly
safe on the public highways. The
sooner We get our hands practiced
to regulating this sort OF traisie- the
better prepared we should be to reg
ulate the air traffic. which ts soon to
be upon US. Reputable authorities
say 1t will not be long before small
individual hying machines WIN be
prevalent. II that prediction proves
to BE- correct. and We have not clean
ID up opr motor trsflse on the nigh.
ways Ne win b In for . condition Ut
aatsira In which safety above ground
cannot Be found. The war drove
armies underground; 10 mo>pr trafYic
TO do li1Awisey