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The Times from San Mateo, California • Page 62

Publication:
The Timesi
Location:
San Mateo, California
Issue Date:
Page:
62
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

Safe Driver Plan Winning Public Favor By JOHN MORGANTHALER A A 0 A saf driver insurance plan, tested i Califortia for four and a ha months by the stock insuranc companies, seems to have wo public acceptance. "I can say without qualificatio that the plan as now constitute has achieved excellent acceptanc from the public, the press and th agents," said John Savage of th National Bureau of Casualty In surance The plan was put into operatic May 1 by about 200 companie write about half of the aut insurance in California. Drivers are rated according records kept by the State Depart ment of Motor Vehicles, which i notified of every traffic conviction and accident. Such records ar available to anyone for a 25 ceri lee. If, in the past three years, th driver has no black marks, gets a 20 per cent reduction fronr the "regular" premium.

One demerit qualifies him for.a 10 per cent reduction. With tw he gets the "regular" Thre- means a 20 per cent increase, four 40 per cent, five 70 per cent, and six 100 per cent. The companies have eliminated two features of the plan as orig inally announced which arouset strong protest. One gave a de merit for any accident--no matter was at fault. The other gave a new driver an automatic de marit on grounds he hadn't provec himself.

Now a driver can elim inate an accident demerit by proving he was not at fault, and a new driver starts with a clean slate. Remaining criticism of the plan is that a driver is chargec with the same penalty for a drunk driving conviction as for easin; fhrough a boulevard stop sign. However, a driver with ajserie: of boulevard conviction; would probably stand a much bet ter chance of getting insurance from a non-participating company than would one with severa drunk driving convictions; Under California law, insurance companies do not need state approval to put the plan in operation. The basic law, passed in 1947, does not require the filing and approval of rating plans by the state insurance commissioner. His only power is to prevent exorbitant rates, or rates so low they endanger a company's solvency.

current commissioner, F. Britton McConnell, said he the. principle of merit rating is good. "While it can't work in absolute justice in every case," he said, "it is in general aimed at encouraging public safety. I hope to see it better understood by the public." He compared the merit "insurance to workmen's compensation which has worked in California LAW IN ACTION SPEAKING AGAINST THE DEAD The law won't allow you to present certain testimony in a law suit against' a deceased person's estate.

If you make a claim for money against it, you can't testify about what happened before the man died: He can't i own -claim. In old Engl a the rule started, it was used to stop lying or perjury where one of the parties to a business deal was dead and could not, therefore, answer complaints against himself. England abolished the rule many years ago. But not California. The rule applies not only to contract claims but to personal injury claims against the estate and other sorts of suits for money.

Suppose you are in" a car njishap; and you and the other driver, are the sole witnesses. Then he dies. In your suit "against his estate, you cannot bring out facts against him, even if he is at fault. You might have to rely solely on circumstantial facts. The rule doesn't apply in trying to prove that a trust exists, to redeem a mortgage, or to get back real property: These are not money claims.

The Head, person's executor may waive the rule. He can, for example, call the claimant to the stand and ask him questions. Or if the testimony comes in and the executor, does not object, the court regard the rule as waived. Thus, one sued a and her husband's estate. He said they had promised to pay for some home furnishings.

Since the widow was alive, she could testify, which helped to prove the couple's indebtedness. The dead man's evidence rule did not apply, Note: California lawyers offer this column so you may know about our lawi. for 50 years and has helped to promote safety. Employers are given lower insurance rates for accident records. McConnell also noted that the plan is not compulsory.

"People who get debits will seek another insurance, company, and he competitive situation in Cali- 'ornia is such that they can find he said. An agent of a private automo- )ile club, which does not subscribe to the plan, said if has increased his business. However, he added, the club never has written nsurance on drivers it considered unsafe. He noted the merit system be "pretty rugged" on a man 'whose wife and children Iriye the family An agent for Allstate Insurance which also does not subscribe the plan, said it had no effect the volume of his business. However, Allstate decreased ctes in California in ap- arently to meet the- competition the stock companies.

A stock company agent said ight out of 10 applicants for-in- urance have two or less demerits their driving records. He said driver with five or six demerits ould be lucky to get insurance S400 a year, if he could get it a The 'Motor- Vehicle Department generally in sympathy with the merit rating, insurance plan. Fred Williams, chief of the di- ision of driver's licenses, found 'a irect correlation between Hie umber of 'traffic convictions and he number ol accidents. The department is using its own demerit system in- suspending or revoking licenses frequent law violators. B.

Meredith, V. Lindf ors In Premiere With Burgess Meredith and Viveca Lindfors in starring roles, Sidney Michael's bright new comedy, "The Plaster Bambino," will open at the Marines theatre Tuesday evening, September 22, as an Actor's Workshop production. A Ford winner, the showimay move to Broadway later after its local tryout run is completed. Meredith, last seen here in of the August Moon," plays a shabby theatrical producer who sets out to "miracle play" on Christmas Boston. Miss Lindfors, whose most recent San Francisco appearances were in "Anastasia" and, with the Workshop, in "Miss Julie," portrays a nutty Continental actress who fancies herself a Madonna.

Alan Brodie is cast in. the third key role, an apprentice- of-all-trades. Others in the cast are Robert Symonds, Maurice Argent, Alan Mandell, -Bert--Brauer, Witt, R. Jonason arid Dwight Frye. Jules Irving is the director and Robin-Wagner the scenic designer.

Tickets are'now available at the Encore theatre box office, 430 Mason, street. DEL CITY, Okla. A recount of votes left Hubert Russell and Gene Anthony tied in their race for a city council post. They decided the issue with a flip of the coin and Hussell won. 'Principal Is Human, Too'--Matean "Your Principal Is Human, Too an article in the September issu of the California Parent-Teache magazine, was written by Eri Gattmann, principal of the Nort Shorevicw school and- deals wit many questions now facing parent of children in school.

Who is the principal of today' school? What are his responsibil itics? The principal of today's school ii usually a warm and understand ing ex-teacher who is deeply con cerned'with the welfare of each child entrusted to his care. His responsibilities are to guide the education and social developmen of the child, to provide for their safety while in school and to de velop and keep a spirit of liar mony between the school am icme. When parents and teachers can together in a friendly manner, the most vital step in he education of the child has Deen taken. When there is lack understanding or ill-will, the loser s.the child. in his article, Eric Gattmann gives a few suggestions which may ave-the way for a closer understanding between home and school: 1) If your child has a school problem, see the teacher first, be ore discussing it with friends or even the principal.

Sometimes eachers feel left out or threatened you go directly to the principal. 2) Do not jump to conclusions vhen your child reports an inci- lent at school, get the facts be- ore you judgment. There are always two sides to every story, 'he school is staffed by human seings who make mistakes, too. 3) Do not assume that the princi- jal is too busy to talk over any iroblem concerning your child, le may suggest consultation with our family physician, a hearing eye test, less TV or more homework. Whatever he suggests, will je to the best interest of the child nd for his happiness at school.

The "happy" child learns and re- ains far more than an unhappy hild. (4) If you wish help en- ich your child's school program irough your interests or hobbies, not hesitate to discuss -it with principal. In our school, moth- rs donate their time five days week in the library. There are mothers and fathers who come to chool as resource people to give, essons or demonstrations in art, cience, music, mathematics and stronomy. Get to know the principal' of our school.

You will find' he is human, too" with his responsi- iJities and pleasures just like verydne else. NO, THANKS! TOWSON, Md. --Linda Johni! on got a real eyeful in the mail le other four frog eyes, hey sent as souvenirs rom her brother, Roger, a stu- ent at MacMurray college in acksonville, 111. He suggested lat the eye, dried and wired, would dandy earrings for his sister. Sept.

16. 1959 San Mateo Times Report on Activities The first quarter of fiscal 1959-60 shows a continuation of the planned growth of 1369 Industrial, road, San Carlos. Gross sales were $566,590.12, 'representing an increase of 41 per cent over quarterly averages for the fiscal 1958-59, Tirey L. Ford, president, announced today. continued the policies, approved by the stockbrokers at the last annual meeting in May of 1959, and applied a substantial portion of the company's net earnings to improvement of existing products, creation of new products, and the acquisition of additional related lines of business.

After applying some $30,000 to activities, consolidated net earnings for the quarter being 125 per cent over quarterly average for 1958-59. New Products Additional initial shipments of 'Hevi-Bar" were made and -the market for this new product appears to be in line with estimates. "Aerowire" underwent a ma- ior improvement revision, with the substitution of aluminum for copier and steel wiring. This im)roved version is now completing est at Underwriter's Laboratories and is expected to be ready for nitial test sales by the end of, this year. "Insul-8-ReeI," a completely integrated new line of cord reel electrification, will-be released for national sales on October 1 of this year.

Engineering work has been re- "Crane-Trol." Crane- troF is a method devised by Insul- electronic engineers for the remote control and automation of cranes, monorails'and conveyor systems. Control: is accomplished by the transmission of electronic messages over the existing Insul- 8-Car conductors and requires no additional wiring or radio transmissions. i Products Standardization of Vicpn's basic closed circuit television systems and their auxiliary components is substantially complete and the system has now been released for national sales. Initial sales results appear to justify the company's television investment and a substantial backlog of orders' is already on the company's books, involving sales such discriminating buyers as Lockheed's United Air Lines, University of California Radiation Laboratories at Livermore and Los Alamos, National Aviation and Space Administration at Moffett Field, Naval Air Sta- tion at Alameda, United States Naval Ordnance Test Station, China Lake, Radiation Florida and Pan American Airways in Florida. The Lockheed installation comprises a 27-camera system for the collection, integration and display of information required at their missile control center.

The United Air Lines, equipment consists of initial installations of a new concept in flight information display for their passenger terminals at New York, Chicago and San Francisco. Negotiations were cqmnleted in August for acquisition of a complete line of electric cord reels (mentioned New Products) which rounds out line of mobile electrification On August 31, Vicon as a member of a team consisting of Cook. Electric company of Chicago; Lenkurt Electric company, Inc. of San Carlos. a Instruments, Inc.

and Gilfillian Bros, of Los Angeles, submitted proposals to" the United. States Army Signal Corps for the management the new Electronic Environmental Test F'a i 1 i (EETF) which will be set up at Fort Huachuca in Southern Arizona later this year. This project, which for the Signal Corps be similar in size and scope to the operations at Cape Canaveral (which are managed by Pan American and RCA), contemplates a 10- year research and development program- covering the rapidly expanding and diversified field of television, radar, radio and other electronic devices and computers as they apply to military operations. Vicon's place in this proposal is the of television equipment and an engineering staff for creative planning and operational Personnel rounded out management team with the inclusion in its staff of George Sleeper as vice president engineering and Winston Boone as vice presfdent- electronic sales. Sleeper, who.

has made many basic contributions in the field of television, and particularly color television, has assumed charge of the company's research, development and engineering activities, and Boone, who was formerly contract administration of- ticer with Varian Associates, has charge of the newly organized sales program for the company's circuit television systems. WORLD'S PROBLEMS IN BURLINGAME BOOKS With vacations about over, the rend is more to serious reading, and consideration of the world's M-oblems. Books on the New Titles acks in. the Burlingame library along these lines include: "Diplomacy in the Nuclear Age" Lester B. Pearson, winner of 1957 Nobel Peace Prize lecture The Four Faces of Peace" which is included in this volume) Pearson, the Liberal arty of and president of seventh session the United Vatiohs of the ew difficulties that, face the diplomat and the new, hazards that beet diplomacy tcWay, He discusses a modern world in rhich the time available for corn- lex decisions may be measured hours or less in which heads states can, and do, confront ach other with- "alarming fre- uency," and in which the price mistake or' failure can be de- truction for everyone, since, ac- ording to Pearson "all the formal argins of safety-have been cut the vanishing point." From a professional diplomatic of more, than thirty ears, Pearson urges that heads state and foreign ministers re- uce their peripatetic individual plomacy asking that the am- assador be accorded once" more status of responsibility and au- iority.

Pearson points out that in cen- uries past a sovereign wishing to laintain friendly relations with nother sovereign would be at real pains to appoint an emissary ability and skill that the iendship never be endangered by ersonal meetings, with the ever- present threat of potential undiplomatic "regrettable "Tide of Nationalism" by Abba Eban. In this discussion of tensions in'the Near East the author focuses on the growth of nationalism in the Arab and non-Arab states, including Israel, 'and the relations of all these states with each other and with the West. He believes the Middle East can never be totally Arab. "Decade in Europe" by Barrett McGurn. The Moroccan riots, the' political turmoil in postwar Italy and France, Egypt under Nasser, the crises in Communist-controlled Yugoslavia and Poland, the 1956 Hungarian rebellion McGurn has been an eyewitness to these and many other dramatic events that have shaped our world during recent years.

In this book he combines an analysis of the conflicts affecting Europe today with a personal account of his own experiences as a correspondent. "We Come From the Sea" by Hans Hass. The author presents a photographic arid text study of marine life as he observed it on his deeprsea diving expeditions to the Red Sea, "the Great Barrier Reef, Cocos Island, and'the Galapagos Islands. Lists of fishes arid birds given. (Translated from the German) "Grassblade Jungle" by Nesta Pain.

Describes the life-cycles-, activities and achievements of cicadas, the praying mantis, honey bees, termites, and scorpions. She' also tells of the struggles of these insects above and ground, their hunt for food and capture of prey, varying taskSj and strange ability to com- municate information to one another. "Give Us the Tools" by Henry Viscardi. Introduction by Eleanor Roosevelt. This is, the true story of the rehabilitation of disabled people by their-placement in useful, normal jobs.

The author heads "Abilities, a Long Island factory that began with a crew of four men in a garage, making electronic parts. The four men had, among them, only five good arms and only one good Jeg. Now, seven years later, "Abilities, Inc." has a with more than 300 employees and a institute on problems of the disabled. With "Workshops for the Handicapped" springing up in.many sections of Northern California and the handicapped including those mentally retarded as well as, physically disabled, a study of this kind is sure to he most helpful. Such workshops exist in San Francisco, as well as in Menlo Park at the Veterans' hospital, under the director of a former Burlingame man, Randell E.

Free. "Days With Albert: 'Schweitzer" by Frederick Franck. The author, who is a dentist-artist, visited Dr. Schweitzer at Lambarene in the spring of 1958 and established the hospital's present dental clinic. Dr.

Franck here attempts to make a distinction between. Dr. the myth, and Albert Schweitzer, the man. He records carefully, to this end, the words and sketches the world and the people of Lam- barne. "Day Before Yesterday." These are the reminscences of Eleanor Butler (Alexander) Roosevelt Mrs.

Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. The 'widow of President Theodore Roosevelt's eldest son tells the story of an unusual and eventful marriage and provides, at the same time, a portrait of early twentieth-century America. She recalls about New York City's horse- and carriage days, of Europe during two World Wars, of big-game hunting, of politics and prohibition, and of "high society." "Frozen Revolution; This "Study in Communist Decay" by, Frank Gibey, is a survey of the half-freedom achieved by the Poles in October, 1956, and the way the weaknesses ef the Communist system have been revealed in Poland. There are chapters on intellectual trends, the state of agriculture, the status ofreligion, especially Catholicism, and relics of the Nazi concentration camps. The author was an observer of the situation of which he writes a staff writer-for "Life." "Brides' School Complete Book of Engagement and Wedding Etiquette" by Barbara Wilson.

The author, with the aid of the Women's feature staff of the 'New York Herald Tribune' here gives, in question and answer form, practical advice to the bride and groom, then- parents, friends and guests in every wedding situation. "Choice to Love" by Robert Raynolds. This book bears witness to the meaning' of man's life lived in communion with earth, people, and God considers; common sense of love; wisdom of love; enemies of love; choice to love; small parish of love; divine wonder of love. "Complete Book of Hot Rodding" by Robert Petersen. White King Liquid with "Heart of Lanolin" Protection White King Great for even the greasiest gentler to your bands.

That's new White King Liquid! Now, even in the hottest water, your hands get White King Liquid's exclusive "Heart of Lanolin" protection to give them that wonderful, lotion-smooth feel. You'll like White King Liquid's lively suds, too. They last and last, keep water grease-free until every pot and pan is done. Right now you can try White King Liquid Detergent and get a handy kitchen scraper free. No coupons involved.

Same sensible low price. Simply look for the tin with the scraper attached on your grocer's shelf. But hurry! Supply is limited. easier IREE! Another Product of the King Soap Company In thoWoit for 99 Yoars".

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About The Times Archive

Pages Available:
435,324
Years Available:
1925-1977