New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-22
"AUT0ISTS" TINE HORSES.
Declare They, Too, Erceed Speed
Limit omplaint of Unfarness.

Winthrop E. Scarritt. the retiring president OF
the Automobile Club of America. in his annual
report, read last night at the clubhouse, No. T53
F1fth-ave.. declared that because of the many
unjust arrests of automobilists i'm Central Park
the governors had employed expert timers for
fourteen days at various hours of the day, to
time horse drawn vehicles. and that a result
of their Investigations it was found that every
one of the 43T vehicles timed was travelling in
excess of the legal speed limit.
The highest rate of speed was 22.5 miles an
hour, and the average 122S miles an hour. In
the same period 100 automobiles were timed.
and it found that their average speed was
1865 miles hour. The horse drawn vehicles
were exceeding the speed limit by more than
30 per cent No arrests of the drivers of the
latter were made. Arrests of automobilists were
OF daily occurrence.
Mr.. Scarritt held that no one would declare
that the horsemen were driving at a reckless
rate Therefore. when 1t was considered that
at this rate of speed a motor car was under
much more perfect control than team of
horses. and that it could be stopped in ne-third
the time, and in one-third the distance. it
seemed absurd to limit all motor cars to
speed less than was admittedly safe for
horse drawn vehicle
Mr.. Scarrtt said he purposed to draft an
equitable law, which after 1t had been sub
mtted 10 the club and to the New-York State
Association for criticism and amendment. he
would bring TO the attention of the legislature
and request its enactment for the puolic good
il being his firm conviction that automobilists
knowing the dangers incident to operating their
cars on the highway. are more competent TO
draft bill which will intelligently protect the
public than those who are not familiar with
motor cars.
He referred 10 the fact that by the taking in
of los new members the club richer by
$4,000, and that there were now $50 members
of which 461 were active. 127 associate and one
life menaber-William G. Temple. Santos
Dumont and John Brisben Walker are honorary
members. This year the Nederlandsche Auto
mobial Club of The Hague has been added to
the list of clubs with which the home club
bears reciprocal relations.
1t gratifying to state. Mr.. Scarritt said
that, encouraged by the support and sympathy
of the club, the Young Mems Christian Associa-
tion has established an automobile school. and
that about l59 young men were pursuing the
prescribed course. In few months they would
be competent operators Of motor cars.
Concerning the carrying of gasOlene vehicles
on ferrybOats he said that the club hoped to get
an early solution of this problem.
lie stated that the committee appointed on
November > TO consider the advisability Of
bundlng "A clubhouse ana we'll equipped gar
age reported favorable progress. The net re-
Ceipts from the annual exhibition were. in round
numbers. S13 900
AS final word to those present, President
SCarritt said:
Il wish that | might impress on you. and
through you upon automoblsts everywhere
that the perfect key 10 the solution of the diffi-
Cultes and differences which unhappiy exist
between us and the great public is 10 be found
in the apirit of the golden rule Do unto other
users of the highway as you would that they
should do unto you
The officers of the club elected last night for
1908 are:
President Dave Hennen Morris; first vice
president, Colgate Hoyt; second vice-presdent
William X. Vanderbilt. jr.; third vice president
Clarence Gray DnsmOre; treasurer. Samuel X
Valentine; three governors TO serve three years
class of 1907. James l. Breese, Melville d Chap
and Harlan W. Whipple