The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-04-05
Definite and Substantial Ad-
vancemcnt Shown in Ma
ti0nal Traffic Field, Says
Commerce Head - Educa-
tiOnal Campaign Is Aid, He
Declares

Wash ington, d. G., April 5.The
outstanding development at the re-
cent Conference Of Secretaries and
Managers Of Sl2 motor clubs affi!iat-
ed with the American Automobile As
ISOLATION was the declaration Of Sec
rotary of Commerce Hoover that the
country is making Substantial pro-
grcss' in the handling Of the serious
problem of street and highway safety.
Mr. Hoover, the principal guest at
the A. A. A. Motor Congress, took
occasion TO praise organized motor
dom for the part it had played and
continues to play in forwarding cs-
scntial safety measures. particularly
the Uniform Motor Vehicle Code,
throughout the country.
Progress Made
although the total fatality roll
still continues to be high said MIR.
Hoover, there is no doubt ut all that
definite and substantial progress has
been registered and that the result
Of the national campaign of educa-
ton, together with definite pro-
gram to shoot at and to work for
has resulted in very concrete pro-
grcss in the field Of national traffic
safety Our toll Of fatalities still
continues around 10000. with ac
cdcnts around 100000 year. But
the fact that these figures have been
held down while the mileage travel
cd BY automobiles and the number
Of automobiles has greatly increased,
indicates some measure Of success.
"Onc Of the most hopeful features
Of the situation is the extent to
which the motoring world has taken
an intimate interest in the solution
Of the problem. In this connection,
the constructive value Of organiza-
tions such as yours is Of tremendous
consequence 1t gives IA type Of direc-
ton that assures Il large measure
of sclf-governmcnt and sclf-regula-
ton on the part of the motorists and
we know that this type Of self-goy-
eminent and regulation is vital
contribution. not only in the prob
lem of traffic safety, but in the
scores Of other problems that cur.
rcntly arise"
The conference Of A. A. A. Sec
retarics and Managers dealt pri-
marily with practical problems Of
motor club operation. such as MEM
bership building, legal service of
motor clubs, emergency road service
now established on national, re-
ciprocal basis from Maine to Cali
fornia. the extension of the School
Boy Patrol sponsored by A. A. A.
clubs, greater cooperation between
automobile dealers and motor clubs
to enable the car owner to get more
pleasure and service out of his in
vcstment.
Mapping Service Discussed
In considering the Importance Of
the routing and mapping service Of
4. A. A. clubs, it was developed that
forty million people in ten million
automobiles would 20 on tours this
year and that this gigantic army of
nomads would spend approximately
three and a third billion dollars dur
ing the touring season Of 1927.
| One of the most important sub
! of the conference was the enormous
amount Of money--S50,O 100000 to
! S15,O0O.000 year-that owners pay
in fines and assessments for alleged
violations of traffic laws. In dis
GUESSING these fines, the attorneys of
more than score of the largest
motor clubs in the country estimated
| that large part Of the levy is direct
! ~ attributable to the operation Of
! the so-called free system" 1t was
! unanimously decided that all in
| stances of trial under the fee system
and which involved motorists would
/ be challenged everywhere and if nee
essary, more test cases would be
pushed in order that the 'gyp" road
side court may be permanently
4 banned from the highways.
Resolution Adopted
Following is the text of the reso-
luton adopted:
Resolved by the attorneys of auto
mobile clubs in special session, that
we recognize the recent decision by
the United States Supreme Court in
the Tumey case as Of vital import
ancc 20 motorists in doing away with
/ the iniguitous fee system Of paying
inferior judicial officers, and that
we pledge that we will take every
possible step TO break up roadside
and J. r. courts with the aid of
this decision
As evidence of the abuse Of the
arrest and filming of motorists by the
types of courts condemned by the
national motoring organization, it
was brought out that in cities where
the fee system is not practiccd there
were in the course of last year, for
instance, 5 arrests and 2 convictions
on account of traffic violations for
every 100 Of the population, as com
pared with II arrests and Is convic-
tions for every 100 Of the population
in adjacent rural districts, where the
fee system of compensation to just.
ices is practiced. In one instance in
town of 500 population Il justice OF
the peace paid on the fee system
averaged $1,000 month in personal
profits from convictions.