The evening world., 1902-11-08
Aldermen Considering an 0rdi-
nance Requiring Every One
Who Operates a Machine to
Pass an Examination.
FEE FOR RICH TO BE $40.
A Commission viii Pass on the APP
pllcant's "Fitness," but What
"Fltness" lie Even Aldermen Have
Not Yet Decided.

Automobiles present and prospective
without regard to position. wealth or
birth. may have to undergo examina-
ton before a Municipal Examining
Board as to their fitness to operate an
auto-that is. II the present intention
of the Aldermen Is carried out. The
board has already caused the matter to
be brought up before the Aldermanic
Committee on avs and Legislation. and
the committee mas given one public
hearing.
The paramount question Is the licens-
ing OF all automobilists-the millionaire
who runs his machine for pleasure. as
well as the automobilist for pay.
But the granting of a license entails
q question Of qualification. Before an
auto driver will be permitted to operate
O self-propelled machine, he must be
examined as to his fitness. What that
fitness" is has not been as yet de-
termined by the committee. In fact
the whole project itself is in an unde-
cided statc. the first hearing on the mat
ter having been had only yesterday at
the City Hall. where little progress was
made in the brief session held,
Aldermen Interested.
However. the Aldermen are interested.
They declare that 1t is high time that
persons who operate autos should be
shown qualified to 90 the duties of a
chauffeur, both for his W and the
safety OF the public and those who may
temporarily be in his company.
It is proposed to establish a board of
Automobiles who shall act under NUM-
cipal direction. The examining board
will be provided with an office in one of
the city buildings. 1t Will examine all
applicants for n license to run an auto
mobile. Tho character of the examiua-
ton has not been deter mined upon. but
It was suggested that 1t embody physi-
cal as well as mental requirements.
Applicants will be put through a
course of questioning calculated to es-
tablish his or her capability to operate
q machine. 1t has also been proposed
that a school for the instruction Of in
tending autoists Re established to be
conducted at the expense of the pupils.
This consideration OF the subject is OPP
posed by several members Of the COM
mlttee.
Zach licensed automobil!st will be en-
rolled on the books or the Bureau with
an official number. This number Will
have to be placed at all times across
the face of each lamp carried on the
licensed auto. 1t is proposed that the
numbers be punched through the metal
sheet which shall be permanently liked
on the lamps so that 1t Is always In
view and readable at night as well as
day. Under the present system of iden-
tIfying autos 1t is impossible Mt nigga
to see the usually intricately woven
monogram which are shown usually on
b rear of the machines.
Speed Checking Device.
It has also been suggested that some
automatic speed checking device be
placed on autos running through the
city which can be removed when the
machine once gets beyond the city limits
or places where the speed restrictions
are not supposed to be enforced.
Licenses for pleasure autos will prob
ably be $40. Professional men, such as
physicians who employ autos in their
daily ]avocations, will be required to
pay SIS a year for their license, while
the operator of the machines used in
business, delivery vehicles and such like
self-propelled, will pay 50 a year for
license. .
Another hearing will take place next
week when, many Of the best known
autoists in the country will be heard.
There Is much interest manifested in
the proposed regulation.