Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1905 — ABOUT AUTOMOBILE LAWS [ARTICLE]

ABOUT AUTOMOBILE LAWS

In dealing with a new and perplexing problem like that of the automobile, there is danger that restrictive legislation m. y be carried too far. Tbe motor car is not a nuisance, but an article of commerce and an instrument of industrial progress and social advancement as permanent and real as the telegraph and the trolley. It represents millions invested in many of oar States and in every civilized country; the employment of thousands of laborers; utility and reoreation for large numbers of our citizens and a tremendous impulse to the go3pel of good road 3. The speed limits of the bill agreed on in the House on Thursday seem to us in the main satisfactory; but fines should be moderate or they will be set aside in operation through their very injustice; and the legal speed for cities suburbs and county districts should be uniform throughout the State. Tne desire that cities may be aphorized to prey separately upon the automobile and levy ex orbitant tribute from its owner is misguided. Tourists hurrying through the State should not be obliged to 6top at every little town and spend half a day locking up the established rate of speed, prescribed form of lights, signals, etc. We ought to have a uniform and enlightened oqde on th's subject which should b 9 a model for other States, We onght to be wise and firm erough to punish the reckless driver and durnken or irrespon. sible scorcher without subjecting the decent and orderly citizen to unecessary pnd burdensome interference delay or expense. Experinoe has shown that oppressive laws on this eubject Bre nullified in praotioe. Either the courts declared them invalid outright, or else by reason of their obvious injustice they beceme a dead letter —lndianapolis Star.