Evening star., 1934-12-27
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Two Important Bills.


Legislation aimed at reckless, ir-
responsible automobile drivers and a
bill providing the police with more
effective legal weapons in their drive
against gamblers appropriately be-
long at the top of the Commissioners
legislative program and should be
given early consideration by Congress.
For both of these proposals have been
designed to deal with conditions de-
manding immediate correction.
The increasing number of deaths
and accidents from automobiles rem
ders more necessary than ever the
safeguards that are suggested in the
so-called "safety-responsibili law,
the principles of which have already
been adopted by many of the States.
The bill does not attempt arbitrarily
to impose liability insurance on all
automobile drivers. But drivers con-
victed of certain serious traffic Of
fenses, such as driving while intoXi-
Gated and leaving the scene of an
accident, are denied the right to drive
again until they have demonstrated
financial responsibility through as
sumption of liability insurance. In
addition to protecting the victims of
traffic accidents against inability to
recover damages awarded in the
courts, the bill is designed to single
out the reckless, irresponsible drivers
who should be kept off the streets.
In the past Congress the bill was
accompanied by companion meas
ure which would have required liza
bility insurance for taXicab drivers.
The latter measure met defeat on the
strength of the argument that it might
prove a hardship on taXicab drivers
the argument not taking into account
the even more important fact that
financially irresponsible taxicab drivers
are permitted to operate common car
riers on the streets. The safety
responsibility law would of course
apply to taXicab drivers, along with
all drivers. Its provisions are by
no means harsh or drastic and should
be viewed by Congress as providing
the minimum public protection neces-
sary on Washington's crowded, dan
Rerous streets.
The frightened gambling laws have
become necessary because the gam
blers, especially the operators of the
notorious numbers game, are escaping
conviction and punishment through
loopholes in the old statutes. These
should be plugged. In the case of
the numbers game, its operation on
a large scale in Washington, with
consequent enrichment of the rack
eteers and their 'mobS," is possible
largely because of the inability of
the police to sustain with acceptable
evidence their arrest of the run
ners"-the men who take the bets
and who figure largely as agents in
the "payoffs.' The police and the
United States attorney have claimed
that with proper laws they could
accomplish much in stamping out
the numbers racket in Washington.
They should be given the oppor-
tunity Immediately.
1t is to be trusted that the legis-
lators will not be confused, in their
study of this proposed law, by the
occasional proponents of legalized
gambling in the District. Should
there be sufficient sentiment for
legalized gambling in the District
and The Star does not believe there
t-it does not affect the necessity
for enforcement of the laws as they
are. Legalized, regulated gambling
would not permit the operation of
the insidious numbers game, with its
underworld ramifcations which fos-
ter the growth of gangs and rackets,