Evening star., 1946-05-08
Safety
Continued From First Page)

draft plans for unified action
throughout the country to curb the
steadily increasing number of traffic
accidents that took 8,120 lives dur
ing the first three months of this
year.
The main share of responsibility
for safe driving rules and facilities
rests with State and local govern
ment agencies, he pointed out, but
asserted that lat the same time We
cannot expect the Congress and the
Federal Government to stand idly
by if the toll of disaster continues
unchecked"
Mr.. Truman departed from his
prepared text to add vehemently
that nevertheless they have been
standing idly by for the last 25
years and will continue standing
by unless the people force them to
do something about the situation.
Recalls Fight for Legislation.
At another point he reviewed
eXtemporaneously his efforts as a
Senator to get legislation through
Congress setting up certain qualif-
cations for automobile drivers to be
permitted to drive across State
lines and to urge in vigorous Ian
guage that the States and local
governments exercise more control
over drivers.
ut makes no sense" he declared,
that a moron, nut" or other person
who knows nothing about running
an automobile can buy a car and
then drive out and kill somebody"
in States without effective license
requirements.
He said that in his own State of
Missouri one could buy a drivers
license "at the corner drugstore for
25 cents" because the issuance of
auto operators licenses was purely
a revenue measure there.
The bill he sponsored while a
Senator for Federal regulation OF
interstate drivers, Mr.. Truman re-
called, passed the Senate twice, but
failed in the House, where it wa;
held to be interference with State
rights.
Studied Problem While in Senate.
"Of course, we don't want to take
State rights away from the States
the President declared, but some
thing must be done" to prevent
people being literally murdered
every day. by unqualified drivers.
During his service in the Senate
Mr.. Truman said, he made a study
of the automobile accident problem
and found at that time that more
people had been killed in automobile
accidents than were killed in all the
wars we ever fought" and that more
were injured than we're wounded ir
both World Wars.
He added that, if injuries ane
property damage resulting from
automobile accidents were paid fol
at the rate railroads settle acciden
claims, the cost would amount tt
half of the national debt.
Mr.. Truman then returned to hi
prepared text to declare that 'th'
challenge must and will be met,
asserting that "the Nation canno
afford and will not tolerate thi
tragic waste of human resources.
Gen. Fleming Speaks.
Mr.. Truman's address followed al
invocation by DR.. Frederick E. Refs
sig, executive secretary of the Wash
ington Federation of Churches: vel
coming remarks by COMMISSIONS
John Russell Young, and an open
ing speech by Maj. Gen. Philip E
Fleming, Federal Works administra
tor and chairman of the confer
ence
The Marine Band, directed b.
Capt. William F. Santelmanr
played at the opening of the meet
ing
Gen. Fleming told the conferenc
delegates that "the Federal Gov
eminent has no ready made pro
gram that will usher in a Utopia O
highway safety tomorrow morning
no pleasant panacea to lift all haz
ards from city Streets
AAIo CoilleIcIlCe REPRESENTS,
Gen. Fleming said, "the creates
and potentially most far-reachin
attempt so far made in the Unite,
States to eliminate traffic fa.alitie
on our streets and highways"
Eight Groups Prepare Reports.
AS the result of two months stud
of specific causes and possible cures
eight committees have prepared de
tailed reports and recommendation
for conference action before it ad
journs Friday. Included in the pro
Circulation, March, 1916