Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-07

TINE question of compulsory
i. automobile insurance again
is presented to the readers
- of The Star. From dis
patches from Boston, the home of
this law, a complete unbiased
study can be made by the motor
lists of the National Capital.
Because of the agitation that
arose in the Bay State a short
time ago, when the question of
fixing new rates came up, many
interested here were inclined to
believe that the law was a failure.
It was hailed as such by many Of
those opposed to the law. Others
believed it was entirely a fight for
or against higher rates, waged
against the State by various in
Surance companies.
But such is seen now not to be
the case. 1t is a presidential year,
and the State of Massachusetts is
regarded to be politically very
doubtful. Therefore. the party
leaders in control are fearful that
a raise in rates might change its
destinieS for the next four years.
The compulsory automobile insur-
ance has suffered because of poll
tics, but this has been true OF
other laws in other States. The
law itself has not failed, and while
there may be more buSineSSlike
methods needed to make the law
more successful. no sincere person
can deny the fairness of such
regulation, which was framed to
protect the victims and families
of victims in motor accidents from
greater distress.
Fraud Indications Found.
Indications are that much fraud
has been practiced by alleged mo-
tor accident victims, but similar
frauds have been practiced against
insurance companies since their
origin. The law is just one, and
will stand the acid test of time.
Traffic Director William H. Har-
land was absent from the city a
part of last week attending the
National Safety Council meeting
in New York. The new traffic
light signals have been installed
at the intersections of Mckinley
and Morrison streets and Con-
necticut avenue. 1t is expected
that the director will turn these
lights on tomorrow. Lights at
this intersection have been urged
for some time by the Chevy Chase
Citizens Association, who deem
them necessary there to protect
the school children.
Faulty Headlights.
The increasing number of faulty
headlights is noticed upon the
streets of the city. Many of these
are caused by ruSted or corroded
refiectors. If not in too bad shape
these can be corrected by the use
Of alcohol, lampblack and cotton
waste. If round refiectorS are
used they should be rubbed from
the center out. If the reflectorS
are ribbed they should be rubbed
with the ribs. Few drivers are
aware of how much candlepower
their lights loose by fouled reflec-
tors.
For some time there has been
complaint made to the Police De-
partment concerning the vendors
of flowers, popcorn, peanuts and
other similar wares around Du-
pont Circle. There is no obiec-
ton to the vendors plying their
trade there and other kindred
places, except that it is constant
cause of congestion and a likeli-
hood of resulting accidents. The
vendors, with their carts. are
parked on the inner side of the
circle, which the homeward trav-
cling motorists in the late after
noon are wont to hug. The idea
has arisen among many motorists
that IL these vendors would park
on the outer part of the circle Jess
difficulty would be encountered.
Vendors and HuckterS.
INSPECTOR Brown was acquainted
with the complaint the latter part
of lest week. He was well aware
Of the daily event, and stated
that, in his opinion, the vendors