Evening star., 1928-04-30
Enact an Auto Insurance Law .

Enact an Auto Insurance Law.
Compulsory automobile insurance will
be discussed from every angle at meet
ing Of a subcommittee of the House
District committee 10 be held next
Thursday morning. Patterned after the
successful statute now in force in
Massachusetts,, Representative Allen I.
Treadway has introduced bill for COM
ruiSory insurance for District motorists
and the subcommittee will hear argu-
ments on both sides before reporting
TO the full committee. Representative
TTeadway and many Of his colleagues
IN the House are exceedingly anxious
that the bill be enacted into law at this
session in order that local motorists
may enjoy the BENEFITS which the
measure is certain to bring about.
There will naturally be opposition to
compulsory liability insurance for Ma
tional Capital motorists, Insurance
interests do not want 1t because they
believe that eventually it will be turned
into State insurance. automobile inter-
ests do not want it because they think
that it win cause sales resistance, and
certain motorists do not want 1t because
they are either unwilling or unable TO
pay the small yearly premium to protect
others in case of accident through their
own negligence. All Of the opponents,
however. it wiIl be noted. are against
compulsory insurance for selfish rea-
eons.
Tne Iaw has met with amazing sue
cess in Massachusetts,, which is the only
state in the Union progressive enough
70 sweep ali obstacles aside to enact
statute that is individually for the pub
lie welfare and for the protection of
the innocent victim Of reckless
drivers careleSSness Once convinced
that It was right. on the principle that
there was no fairness or justice in
equipping any man with an "instru-
mentality SO potentially dangerous as
an automobile without placing behind
that individual full financial response
bslsty," Massachusetts,. sixteen months
ago. placed on the statute books the
compulsory automobile insurance Law
and since then 1t has been called the
greatest piece Of motor legislation ever
enacted
Designed solely 20 provide financial
relief for the dependents Of those killed
IN highway mishaps and compensation
for those who are injured. compulsory
insurance In Massachusetts, has unex-
pectedly proved a most effective check
On the reckless driver and an instrl-
merit for safety on the roads OF the
Commonwealth. While the drunken
and crininslly careless driver may
escape justice In the courts. there is
no conceivable way for him 10 wr1ggie
out Of the keen vision Of the State
agencies and insurance companies,
which. under the new Law. tabulate his
driving record When a scrutiny of his
highway activities demonstrates reck-
iessness or csrelessness he win be re-
fused further insurance and another
Haenscing automobile operator wiii be
automs ticslly barred from the roads.
So, besides any number Of minor
benefits. compulsory insurance accom-
piiki1es two major bettermen8 It does
away with the driver who Sneeeringly
remarks 10 his helpless victim. TRY
20 get anything out Of me" and 1t pro-
notes caution and safety in automobile
operation The cost Of 1t 10 the indi-
vidual is trivial. probably around thirty
dollars year. and any one unwilling
10 pay two and one-haIf dollars a month
ss badge Of responsibility 70 the thou
sands Of pedestrians and motorists with
whom he Is daily In contact is indeed
q poor citizen.
The law Is not an experiment. 1t
has been in operation for nearly year
and . half IN Massachusetts. II has
the support Of the keen. unselAsh think
efs IN every community. who realize
knas the huge increase in the number
81 motor cars in the United States
presents an entirely new problem in
tfsfsc 70 b. solved For this reason II
k 70 b hoped that Congress will enact
this progressive and desirable legislation
fo9 the Ests@nsi CxDitaI at this sessfen