New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-03
CLUB WON'T FIGHT BILL.
W. c. Whitney Says 1t Makes
Drivers Criminals.

The Automobile Club of America will rot oppose
the signing by Governor Oden Of the Doughty
Bailey bill. 1t unanimously decided 10 pursue
this course at a special meeting OF the members
last night at the clubhouse in Fifth-ave and Fifty
elghth-st. President Shattuck called the meeting
to order. which attended by a large number
OF the members.
1t announced that the object of the meeting
discuss the merits of the proposed bill. II
universally condemned even by the president
and members Of the la " committee to whom the
club had designated the power represent the
ganizatOn. Judge Church and other members OF
the committee explained their position and
for the acceptance of the bill. II gener-
ally admitted by all the speakers that the commit
tee had done the best possible under the circum-
stances and a vote OF thanks given to the
president and committee for the work
Among those who took part in the discussion
William c. Whitney. who spoke against the meas
ure and declared that the operation of the bill
would make all drivers of automobiles criminals.
and he for said he would not own one Percy
owen offered resolution TO have committee at
tend the public hearing May g. which
amended by W. G. Whitney. and was finally adopt
ed without dissenting voice 1t read as follows:
Whereas. The sentiment Of the members Of the
70 the Bailey bill awaiting Governor OdelIs sigma
ture; and
prejudicla to the interests the automobilists
Of the Stale OF New-York;
resolved, That, IN view o. the atutude OF IIe
club on the subject the club do not have any rep
reSentatlve at the hearing before tne Governor on
May s the reason tor this being that the puolIc
prejudice against automobiles being 50 apparent
Club would insure its positive passage
The New-Jersey law which is considered favor
able to cars. was treated in the same way
The meeting brought out the best attendance the
club ever had Although President Shattuck had
engaged passage for Europe yesterday, ne
postponed his trip to attend this meeting. While
the members say they feel the injustice of the
DoughtyBailey bill. the expression seemed 10 De
that, the public became accustomed to the motor
cars, the drastic restrictions would be re-
moved, and the espionage of spOtters who detected
speed violations only tor revenue would De aooi-
ished
Judge J. c. Church. of the Law Committee in
explanation Of the part his committee took In
the framing of the obnoxious measure, SAID;
Last autumn joint COMMITTEES Of the club anu
the National Association OF Automobile Manu-
facturers decided that license for the drivers OF
automobiles undesirable and should oe OPP
posed, because If this State required a l9ense'
der passing from one State into another with an
automobile exceedingly difficult -
formed an association in which there were a mum
her of wealthy and influential men, the avowed
purpose OF which was to secure drastic legislation
against automobiles In view OF this fact ana the
committee that unless some reasona compromise
were agreed upon that those opposed 70 the auto
mobile would secure legislation which would De
far Objectionable than the bin under cOnsid-
Grafton, a conference was held in January with the
officers Of the Long Island Highway Protective As
ISOLATION TO see if a compromise law would not be
termination because the Highway Protective As
ISOLATION insisted that all drivers of automobiles
should be licensed and had introduced. in March,
a Albany. q bill into which they Incorporated all
that we were willing to cOncede and which also
contained a provision that every driver Of an
automobile should procure license from state
examiner
A meeting of the Law Committee of the club was
called to consider this bill which there were
present Judge Church. Mr.. Niles and Mr.. Shattuck.
They decided that. there was to be hearing
within two days at Albany the bill above re-
ferred to- Messrs Church and Shattuck should see
Mr.. Scudder and try to effect compromise An
Y-ta z-fax- u-aG had wit Mr
committee agreed by II O'Clock that night on the
present compromise bill which was substituted Tor
the one then pending IN the legislature. Your COM
mttee strenuously opposed every objectionable
feature in the proposed bill and conceded only such
points as were absolutely necessary TO prevent an
abrupt termination Of the conference and return
of the Protective Association to its original bill
While this bill preserved many rights and privi-
1eges il also contained some Objectionable provi-
sions to WINCH In the opinion of the committee, IL
was necessary to consent.