The Washington times., 1905-04-16
GOTHAM AUTO|STS
FEAR NEW RULES
Owners and Dealers Threat
ened by Restrictions.
NO GASOLINE IN GARAGES
Action of Explosives Commission Will,
it Is Feared, Hurt Pastime.
Will Fight Rule.
NO GASOLINE IN GARAGES

NEW YORK. April IA lot of
amendments to the municipal regula-
tions concerning the storage and han
ding of gasolene, which have been in
troduced by the explosives commission
and are now pending before that body
are causing. automoblists u lot of worry
because. il adopted, they will prevent
gasolene being kept i'll salesrooms and
small garages, and put users of motor
cars to much inconvenience to get sup
plies. incidentally, these same regula-
tions have produced lot of friction and
i'll will between the dealers of the city
and the Automobile Club of America,
or, at least. against former President
A r. Shattuck, for his acts as the rep
resentative of the club
The dealers have decided to oppose
the proposed amendments in toto while
Mr.. Shattuck, representing the club, has
proposed a compromise. asking for
changes favorable to the club. and for
the sake of getting these asserting to
other cilahges proposed which would
play havoc with salesrooms and small
garages.
Feeling Bitter.
The feeling of the members of the
New York Automobile Trade Associa-
tion,- which comprises most of the re-
tail dealers, is very bitter toward Mr..
Shattuck. because they say that in seek
ing to get his views carried out he in
duceG the secretary of the trade asso-
citation. 10 send to the explosives COM
mission q memorandum of set of regu
latiofs with the representation that
they were what would be acceptable TO
both the Automobile Club and the deal
ers. At its meeting on Wednesday night
the New York Automobile Trade Asso-
citation repudiated these suggestions
made by Mr.. Shattuck and its secretary,
W. z. Kennedy. and it was directed
that they should be returned because
they do not represent the attitude of
the, dealers.
The Automobile Club of America is in
terested in the new regulations for gar
ages. because it is preparing to build
new clubhouse. with a garage for
storing the members automobiles as
rart of 1t. 1t is desired TO have in this
garage u storage capacity for 1.S00 gal
Ions of gasolene, or about thirty barrels
of the fuel. for automobile engines. The
present law permits only Z75 gallons to
be kept in storage in one building 1t is
charged by the dealers that in order to
quantity to be stored Mr.. Shattuck has
been willing to assent to many of the
other changes proposed, which will not
affect the club, but would affect the
tradesmen seriously and also automobll-
lists who are not members of the club,
but they are most wrathy because of
the notifications agreed to by Mr.. Shat
tuck being flied as rules that are agree
able to the trade.
Want Storage Increased.
The dealers also would like to have the
quantity allowable to be kept on storage
increased They would Ike it very
much because now on a busy Sunday
the larger garages have to have their
gasoiene supply replenished two or three
times They are not willing. however. to
accept the other amendments proposed
in order to get this one.
One of the proposed changes that
would interfere seriously with the re-
tail automobile dealers and the accom-
rnodation of customers is that of COM
relljng everyone who keeps gasolene to
I,cen it in an underground tank from
which vent pipe six inches wide ex-
tends. upward and out into the air -four
feet abeve the adjoining buildings This
would prevent small garages and those
who have salesrooms only from supply
ing customers, because they have no Ia
ciIities for an underground tank ano
could not afford TO build ore II they
brd facilities, on account OF thetr deal
incs in. gasoiene being so small Under
tho prosent law these saiesrooms- ano
small dealers may keep small quantity
IN sealed tins on the floor one dealer
whose -place is next door TO church
sdvs that If he ran a vent pipe up fouI
fect above the steeple he would nave to
mt in a pump to force the Vapor up
ward as It is heavier than tfe atmos-
phere.
Deliver in Daylight.
Another stringent rule proposed is tina
10 e,eolene shall be delivered excep
In daylight for II may not be handed
u,bera there is any artificial light. In
,,rexert rules permit il to be handled II
tho nresencc of an electric light II tn
1iobt ie inclosed rule which does no
a0ect the dealers is that gasolsne Eo1!
moi be kept in any building where per
sons dwell. This Mr.. Shattuck. wh'
keeps his car in his stable where MI
codchman lives. has suggested changing
so that it may be kept in such build
ing. and this is another thing that ha'
aroused the ire of the dealers.
Last year the gasolene regulation
were revised in a way approved by th'
dealers and one of Mayor Lows las
official acts was to sign the regulation
now in force The New York Automo
bile Trade Association at its meeting
last Wednesday night went on recort
as declaring these regulations TO b'
good enough and as opposed TO any
changes It is their claim that the fir
in West Thirty-ninth street last De
ceD1ber was the only serious one tha
ever occurred in an automobile garage
and that it was due to carelessness.
STANDARD Oil Fight.
The opinion is freely expressed by tn.
members of the trade association tina
the present attempt to change the regu
latIons is part of fight being made b,
the Standard Oil against smaller con
Germ This smaller concern deliver!