Imperial Valley press., 1936-12-01
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
BEFORE JANUARY

BEfOkE JANUARY
Ralph H. Taylor, executive secretary
of the agricultural council OF Calltor-
MIA. in his column, 1.-THE Farmers Cor
ner." points out something of interest
to every Californian. Although these
columns do not necessarily subscribe to
Mr. Taylor's belief, we believe it wise to
present his arguments in behalf OF the
public interest. He says:
"A compulsory automobile insurance
act-requiring every California motor
list to carry public liability and property
damage insurance-is scheduled for in
PRODUCTION when the State Legislature
convenes in January and promises to
become one of the most hotly contested
issues of the 1887 session.
Sponsors of the measure, probably
with the best of intentions, but perhaps
without proper consideration OF Its ultl-
mate effect, are apparently determined
to Jam the bill through at all costs, if
pressure and political influence can
make it law.
ITO California farmers, the compul-
sorry insurance act is OF vital concern,
for the automobile has become an essen
tial part of modern-day farm equipment,
just as indispensable as the plow or cui-
tivator.
tory farm workers, dependent on the
automobile for transportation TO and
from their places of employment, the
possible adoption of the compulsory in
surance proposal-topping an already
top-heavy load of taxes on the motorlSt
is even more serious.
with average payments OF at least
$25 per year for compulsory insurance
added to auto plate taxes, in lieu tax
es, gas taxes, fees and transfer costs,
thousands of farm workers, whose an
nual income is necessarily low because
of the seasonal nature OF their employ
ment, would undoubtedly be unable to
paw their insurance premiums and would
face loss of their livelihood due to ma
bility to get to their jobs.
MANY thousands of other motorists
to whom the automobile is a necessary
part of their job-equipment would be
similarly penalized, but farm workers
would probably be harder hit than any
other group.
There has been an unfortunate ten
dency in past years to consider the auto
mobile owner fair prey for new taxes
and new fees, in season and out OF sea-
son-apparently on the theory that any
one who could afford to own car could
afford to pay the overhead!
when automobiles were luxurles,
there may have been some justification
for such an attitude, but California leg
islators need to recognize that the auto
mobile today is an everyday necessity
of business, trade, industry, labor ana
many of the professions.
Sponsors of compulsory automobile
insurance invariably cite the appalling
and constantly increasing toll of auto
.,,i,
favor of their proposal, but it would be
far wiser policy to turn public atten-
ton toward the removal of causes OF
such tragedies than to treat the effect.
This is particularly true when many
thousands of persons who depend on
the automobile to earn their livelihood,
who drive carefully and figure in an
exceedingly small percentage of acci-
dents, would be penalized because of
the criminal carelessness of, drunken
drivers, reckless drivers and speeders.
Mixing liquor and gasoline is one OF
the primary causes of California's dis
graceful highway death toll = and no
amount of compulsory insurance can
solve the problem Nor will compulsory
insurance deter the reckless driver. In
fact, in many cases it would undoubted-
ly lead to greater carelessness and reck-
lessness.
Strict enforcement of the avs
against drunk driving, recklessness and
speeding-with jail penalties to teach
respect for the sanctity of life and pre-
vent unnecessary tragedies-would be a
far more intelligent approach to the
problem than penalizing all of the
states motorists to provide dole for
the widows and orphans of the needless
ly killed and MANNED
"The Legislature, at its forthcoming
session, should treat the cause, rather
than the effect.
-O