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Show THE CITIZEN 4 m or five years, there is no reason to believe that history would not repeat itself and the same thing happen again. When all the great highway building states of the nation are cerusing concrete to the extent that they are, it seems strange that. tain of our street and road officials insist on continuing to expend the hard earned money of the people for types of asphaltic construction that are fast becoming obsolete. The people are commencing to awaken to the fact that there is something wrong somewhere and will be taking it upon themselves to correct it if our officials don t soon realize that the world is moving and that they must get in line. It is the opinion of The Citizen, and we believe all sound thinkit ing people as well, that while this improvement is being made, should be done properly. It is a foregone conclusion that if this road would not stand up under past and present traffic, it will not, unless thickened and widened, he able to contend with the ever increasing weight and volume of future traffic. In all our road building we should build for the future, emphafew dollars sizing permanency and economic maintenance, and the the peoexpended necessarily to that end will not be begrudged by the ple. A careful study of road economics as given us today by road greatest authorities on that subject in the world, shows that a carrying the traffic of 33d South street, in order to become economic from every point of view, should be built of Portland cement concrete of suitable width and thickness. It is our hope that in the preparation of whatever specifications are used, it will be seen to that the people get as nearly full value for their money as is possible. It is the sworn duty of our road officials to see that this is done and in this case in particular they may be sure that the eyes of the public are upon them. FANATICS Has the New York law prohibiting the owning of pistols lessened crime in that state? We say it has not. A certain William McAdoo of New York City has a wild fang-le- d idea that if a national law was passed where the purchaser of a pistol would have to pay $100 for the weapon and $1 a bullet,, that pistols would become very scarce. This fanatic is right in one part of his argument. No law abiding citizen would pay the price and all the homes in America would be unarmed and easy prey for the criminal. The yeggman would gladly see such a law passed, and there is no doubt but that the criminal element of the United States will gladly put up a million dollars, if necessary to see such a law passed. One hundred dollars to a criminal is nothing to pay for a pistol, especially when that criminal could make the rounds and feel perfectly safe that all homes he would enter were absolutely without protection. The criminal would not wait for darkness to set in to commit his crimes; he would ply his trade in. broad daylight.' The people would be absolutely at his mercy, and if such a law is ever passed, The Citizen is of the opinion that robberies would more than double after the first year of its passage. There are those now who cite facts and figures, just as prohibitionists did, that crime will decrease, and an unsuspecting public falls into the snare and into the hands of the unscrupulous persons. What harm is there in a law abiding citizen in owning a gun? Are we to pass legislation, more legislation if you please, to make that law abiding citizen a criminal because he happens to own a gun? Have we not enough criminals without turning out the decent people into the courts? Who are these people who advocate such fanatical laws and what is behind their schemes? Is some one furnishing them money to spread this unjust propaganda? Is the criminal ring willing to put up money to a favored few to see that the people of this nation are unarmed? Cannot the people see that to disarm themselves they place themselves at the mercy of the robbers? A bill is already in preparation to come up before the next congress and every red blooded American should go to bat with these reformers and the agitators who advocate to reform the nation by laws. Does hot the intelligent person understand that not reform any lay man? If such a law as contemplated is ever passed in this the people will rue that day. To disarm yourself is like the fanatical idea advanced fy that this nation ought to disarm. What do you think would become of the United States if no army or navy? No one but a crazy person believes that wey be allowed to live in peace. What then is the remedy to stop murder and robberies wiA pistol? Just common sense and a law made against the criminal the protection of the law abiding citizen. Let it be death to any person who carries a gun to commiti oac crime, and you will see how quickly the robber gets rid of hu No one courts death, no, not even the most hardened criminal the laxity of the law, which in late years has greatly favored criminal, has quite naturally induced many idlers into crime, otherwise would have become good citizens. The people as a whole favor such legislation and why they get what they want? Let us kick out of office every judge, attorney justx the peace, etc., who encourages crime because of light senk passed upon hardened criminals, many of whom would kill in price of a meal. The automobile has already killed more people than allthe tols have in the history of their manufacture, yet are we to legi the automobile out of use? If Utah would pass a law at the meeting of the next legist making it a death penalty for any robber carrying a pistol, cent of our crimes would imediately be eliminated. A nahon; would bring the fame results. MORE AUTO TAX. We read in the Tribune that a certain salesman advocatesBi ing all drivers as a traffic solution. If this salesman held a job there would be some excuse for his delirious dream. Lav not correct. We have too many laws now, and taxes, heaven that the automobile is over burdened with them and the people not stand for an extra tax on an automobile. There is too mucli the auto at present and the people should demand that it be down on a par with other property. There are some people who labor under the hallucination tax will correct evils. The morale of a community cannot k rected by laws; regulations can and may be provided, but it is tk forcement of the law that counts. There are sufficient laws governing our traffic if properb forced. A reckless driver should not be allowed to drive an ad bile upon our public highways. When such driver is arrested ilege of driving a car was taken from him, it would not be longk the ordinary driver would become cautious and protect bis rights. There is absolutely no excuse for any driver to hog d and make all others get out of his way. Many smash ups are an because the cautious driver relinquishes his right of vay tc poK tl Di ai , hog Then again our courts are continually showing i ercy totnf offender. TTie violator should be punished for his negligent it is shown that he used undue caution his right to drive a carj tnc public streets should be relinquished until such tim that thinks a reform has been made. If our judges refuse to protect public life by st ict enfo of the law, let us get new judges. 8 Why do judges cater to criminals? Have the d cent abiding people lost all their rights? Do the criminal njjj6?. : and are judges afraid to take action against offenders The come to a show down and if our courts cannot hand c ourc let us organize the old vigilance committee and it will not ta' bring about reforms. Cb & |
