The sun., 1900-12-02
MOTOR VEHICLES on FERRYBOATS.
The United States Treasury Department Makes
an Interesting Decision.

Tho Automobile Club OF America has under
taken 10 contest the decision OF the Secretary
OF the Treasury. under which about all the fer
ries are now excluding from their boats auto
mobiles that carry gaSol ne According TO a
decision from the Treasury Department now
at hand the Automobiles appear to have but
a small chance Of wnniig their point
The law in question Is n United States re-
vised statute under the head OF section 4472
Broadly il provides against the carrying Of ex-
plosivcs on passenger boats Some Of the ferry
companies that have always been particular
in relation TO this Law began last spring TO dis
criminate against automobiles propelled by
gasolene and the men al the gates were in
structed to compel every motor vehicle carry
ing gasolcne to disgorge It's explosive LIQUID
before boarding the ferry craft This was done
by several ferries Other ferries winked at
thelaw.
The trouble caused was sufficient to lead
the ferry companies Ia ask for a ruling on
the section Of the law under which they thought
It proper to act as they were doing. The de-
cision was rendered by acting Secretary Of
the Treasury .srauifing on July 30. Of this
year. The Automob,le Club Of America was
not satisfied with the ruling and made a new
appeal, the answer 70 which il now at hand
IL cones me onivinn nIu Of Sncer Peeye sond
For a complete understanding of tho situation
the report IL admirably succinct. In full l. ia
Us follows.
GASOLINE AUTOMOBILES on STEAM rFRrYBoArs
Relative to carnage OF gesolene automobiles on
steam passenger and teriybo-IN
TREASURY pEPARrNRNr. Nov. "a. 1900
SIR. The petition Of your clAb aSkin. ioI 4 recon
sderstlon OF the DrpartmcntS d,cislon u July 80.
Of Steam W | oaS " va % dH G'sio saS
mittcd to the solicitor OF IN" trrasu'y as per The
Tie Solicitor having consider d IL" same, as wei
as the oral argument Of VI. Swe'l.y las rendered
dcc,si"n referred TO. q copy q Tie solicitors opn,
ION ls enelos'd herein 70 for your n on n'lor Re
FL fopowins IS the fa text Of SOLICITOR aS6ioh i; re
'e'''u W a'''' DEPARTMENT or rvs.rIrr.
opFICE or TuE Sotiorr, It o. 1rf r.. .hruRY
sin. Assistant Secretary Spaulting, b. isfercn',e
Of the 22d inst, iodors,d on all al g.caton u the
upon the oucstI whether gasolHne may D.. !aSfuIy
carried in thc ,anks of automgs upon team pas
senser ieTreS' unoer se'"oH @@- o' 'ne F'''d Stat
Tina, section provides tha, no h,ninc or cal oil
''or other ike explosiy e-hurnn. uIds, or Ike dan
gerous articles, shall be carried as r"ishi ot used
frs S on any made saaTEf pT c RSsiS"cG c m
gas enr u napht IA carried In n tanh Il an auto
ana ,nat tucr,iore Tie law is rot yu,ated By cary
Ing tnose vehicles Win TANKS containing sasoeae
or narntda al achrd ten.
technical sense. the words carried as frcgh emliace
gsscnr in tank. attached 70 ,,nues when aIe cat
ned o. ,lgAt OF oii whIch the OF 'rcigi"
is paid am Of the oiln'n, move, En- hat whair'er
doubt exists upon the subject Should be solved favor
Of tie Government N" interest, Of public safety
II tae ferry con'au! rci'ais dissatisfied with the
ruling Of ihc Deperluth', II may make a test case
tof tie decision OI the courts
have. therefore 10 advise you that in my opinion
The ruling otthe Dern,tU,u; O: July 30 1900 as con-
taincd IL department Citcular ~. It5. forbidGing
the carriage oi "gasDiene auOuoU,les"on steam ferry
boats should not he a a'-Isa Hrryr hRiS'9y Rss Solicitor
III. SECRETARY oF THE 1REAaUIN.
For those who manipulate automobiles Of