Evening star., 1924-12-15

fic lanes are inadequate. True 1t is
that but few people can visualize the
staggering sum Of two billions Of
dollars spent each year for passenger
cars alone. True 1t is that all this
has come about within the short
space OF 20 years and even more
largely in 10 years.
But all these truths do not alter
the fact that with all this admirable
development. with the fine service and
vision that the motor has brought to
the American people, we are facing a
crisis in our city streets and rural
highway traffic that must be met at
once and must be met in such a man
ner as to leave in no uncertainty the
permanent result Of such corrective
measures as We can suggest. - It
is impossible to put the whole blame
for the deplorable conditions upon
any particular individuals or any par
ticu'ar classes of traffic. II we were
to analyze the facts presented to the
conference as to the causes of this
enormous death roll and injury we
would find that Incompetence, care
lessness and reckIessness are the
largest OF the contributors to this
ghastly toll.
''The vast majority OF motorists are
petent. It is the fnconsiderate, the
careless. the incompetent who are
bringing these dangers-35 to so per
cent or all accidents are chargeable
to thent. The conscientious, careful
motorists are their victims as well as
the pedestrian"
Outlining the method Of organixa-
tton and the approach Of the con-
ference to the question at issue, Mr.
y
set up standards of thought and ac-
ton that would bring about reduc-
ton. In trafic accidents. 'It Is not
our intention" he said, ito devise
legislation, either State or local, be-
yond the recommendations OF our
committees
Rec0Mmendations Read.
At the close of Secretary Hoover's
speech the chairmen of the eight
committees. which have already re-
ported on the various phases of traffic
problems read the recomme ndat tions
made in their reports. which formed
the basis for discussion and action
later in the day.
william NJ. Steuart, director of the
Census Bureau and chairman of. the
committee on statistics. said traffic
congestion has developed so rapidly
in our cities that adequate legisla-
tion has been impossible.
The time has now come, he added.
when public thought must be and 10
centered on. the problem OF accident
reduction. Mr.. Steuart said that in
order that the relation Of accidents to
automobiles and pedestrians may be
added to the facts already obtained.
Eether with surrounding circum-
sfapcas wherever possible.
Reports were read by other COM
mittee chairmen or members, as fol-
lows: Trafic control, j. r. Barnes,
vice chairman; construction and en-
gineering, Frank Page. chairman:
city planning and zoning. F. A.
Delano. chairman; insurance, 6. 8.
Huebner, chairman; education, A. w.
whitney, chairman; the motor We
hicle, II. NJ. Crane, chairman, and
public relations, George NJ. Graham,
Mr.. Delano presided when
Mr.. Hoover left at the close OF his
address to attend the Wilson memo
rial services at the Capitol.
Urges Use OF Big Stick.
Use of the big stick in punishment
Of violators was urged by Col. s G.
MoLendon, secretary of state of
Georgia, before the conference this
afternoon. Secretary Hoover's call Of
the conference was wise, he said, be-
cause the point Is being reached
whore there is practically no safety
on our highways, 1t was timely. he
said, because regulation of such mat
ters is within the police power Of the
states. THE dangers on the high
way" he said. come from tho
drunken operator, the reckless opera
tor, the careless operator and from
children. All these can be remedted,
but only by the use OF the big stick.
III this conference will recommend
IL there can be no doubt that 20 legts-
latures will, within the next 80 days
pass laws that will punish any man
who operates car upon the high
ways In the least bit under the tnfiu-
ence Of Intoxicating liauor, The reck-
less driver. the speeder. should be
sent to the penitentiary. The man
who inficts Injury by disregarding-
the laws of the road should be pun
ished for the first offense by a good
stiff fne and for the second time he
should be sent to prison"