Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-08
UnfavorabIe Report on Three
Measures Is Sent to
Congress.
ONE PROVIDES INJURY
FUND RAISED BY DRIVERS
Other Two Bills Involve Loss Of
Operators Permits Under
Specified Conditions.

The District Commissioners yesterday
sent to Congress unfavorable reports
on three bills calling for various
schemes on compulsory automobile in
surance.
According to the first, all persons
owning or operating automobiles would
subscribe to a fund and all persons
injured through the operation of motor
vehicles would be compensated from
this fund. The injured party would be
given the option of availing himself of
the provisions of the proposed law or
of pursuing his remedy at common law.
The Commissioners said they do not
believe owners of vehicles should be
required to bear the cost of compen-
Sating persons for injuries occaSioned
through no wrongful act or negligence
of their own.
According to the second bill, a plain
tiff in an action for damages resulting
from the operation of a motor vehicle
owned or operated by defendant may
petition the court to make preliminary
inquiry into the liability of defendant
and if the court finds that the acct
dent was probably due" to the negli-
gence of defendant or his agent it shall
require defendant to give security to
satisfy, within 80 days after the rendi-
ton OF final judgment, such portion
OF the judgment as shall not be in ex-
cess OF $4,000 for personal injuries OF
death and $1,000 for property damage
No Merit Found in Bill.
If the defendant fails to give such
security, his operators permits and the
Nf - ~. LII
name shall be suspended and the court
shall enter an order prohibiting the op-
Grafton in the District of any automo-
biles owned by the defendant. The
Commissioners said they found no merit
whatever in this proposed bill
The third bill provides for the sus-
pension OF the operators permit for vio-
lation of certain provisions of the traf-
nc act and also for the suspension of
such license of one convicted in any
State of an offense, which, if occurring
in the District, would authorize such
suspension. The license shall remain
suspended until the operator shall give
to the traffic director proof as to his
ability to respond in damages to the ex-
tent of $4,000 for injury to or death
of one person and $4,000 for injury to
or death of two or more persons in any
one accident and 81 900 for damage to
property. The bill further provides that
the license shall be suspended should
the operator fail to satisfy Judgment
for damages in excess of 500 or any
Judgment against him for damages on
account of personal injuries.
Penalty Meets Opposition.
As to this bill the Commissioners said
that under the proposed law failure to
satisfy judgment requires the Suspen-
sion of the permit of the judgment
debtor and in addition the suspension
of the registration of all cars owned by
him. Such judgment does not result
necessarily, however, from any wrongful
act or conduct on the part Of the owner
of the vehicle, but may result from the
negligence of one for whose acts the
owner is responsible. The commissioners
do not believe this penalty should be i'm
posed on any one for failure to pay a
debt.
Replying TO, the argument that the
drivers could protect themselves by TAX
ing out insurance the Commissioners
remarked that it frequently happens
that one who has taken out insurance
is unable to realize on it due to the in
solvency of the company or the unin-
t~ntional breach of some obligation set
forth in the policy