The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-01
.AUTOISIS LAUGH
At SOME QUERIES
EXAMINATION AT CITY HALL
SAID TO BE ABSURD.
DIR. P. M. Hall Says a Few Smart
Chauffeurs Have Tried TO Tangle
Board Auto Club Will Defend First
Member Arrested for Violating Pro-
visions of Westphal Ordinance.

Upon request the Minneapolis Auto
mobile club will undertake the defense
Of the first member arrested for violat-
ing provisions of the Westphal Or
drivers. This determination is not a
"defi,' says a prominent member of
the organization, but because the law
is believed to be foolish and unconsti-
tutional. There is a desire to see it
tested to the limit
The main basis for q fight will be be
club say they pay three taxes on one
article, the state tax, city personal
property tax and the tax provided by
the new ordinance. This is declared to
be unjust and illegal. The club seems
to have no objection to the age mini
mum, but otherwise they believe the
tions.
In case the law is held good the club
will desire to see all buggies and SINH
lar vehicles fitted out with lanterns
and the drivers examined as to their
| fitness to direct these vehicles thru the
public streets. Some of the AUTOMOBILE
lists who have taken the examination
fun ee of it. dl'y NAH arc n''neo % mass
81 was asked,' said one, whether,
if I were wiring battery, | should
| wire it in series or multiples. Another
question was hypothetical as to the
| tensile strength of certain pipe, under
certain pressure. What has that to to
Go with the safety Of pedestriansY IT
seems all foolishness to me. What has
the health department to do with the
running of automobiles. .anyway?''
| DR.. P. M. Hall, one of the examiners
| under the ordinance, laughed at. the
! idea Of such ponderous interrogations.
IT have attended all the, examinations
sud S,,aI rY,1nc
| said he. 'sOf course a few smart ones
| have come in here evidently with the
idea of tangling up the board: Now
Mr.. Dustin is an expert electrician anu
Mr.. futile master mechanic OF the hire
department, has built automobiles and
can tell you that if anyone attempts
to get them in a corner on the subject
tripped up themselves.
| According to DR.. Hall the automobile
examination is sensible one, designed
to show whether drivers of automobiles
are capable of handling the machines
with safety to the public: AS far as
the physical examination, the condition
can be determined almost at a glance
is whether"the mans limbs are. sound.
good, as we'll as his mental caliber.
! evil you furnish T h e j Q u r n
a copy Of the list Of the questions used
in the examinations?'' was asked:
II can do that,'' said Dr.. Hall,
"because we adapt the questions to the
machine the man handles. On some ma.
chimes the emergency brake throws off
the power and stops the machine, in
other makes it only slows up the ma
chine, so that we can't ask the same
questions of all drivers and thus learn
whether they are capable of receiving
a license. &
,"Some one asked me why didn t
ask him how to start his machine. !
replied that If he. couldn It start his
machine he would not harm anyone we
have been asked why we don It give a
! button as Identification Of the licensed
Edriver. The ordinance does not provide
for that. The clerk issues a license
upon payment of a fee and [ don It see
why drivers can't frame them as ele
vator operators do, and hang them on
their machines,' continued the doctor
. with twinkle in his eyes, zs
"The board is asked also why it does
not make trials Of all the drivers Yor
can see where we'd be if we did that
The members have other duties besides
| those of automobiles examiners. W.
had man here who was found to b!
| stone deaf. He is building an auto
mobile, but has never started it. W.
told. him to come around when he wa!
!, ready and one Of us would go out will
) him. w..
: The board reports that machine own
! Eers are coming in fairly we'll. Wh1l
the board started with daily hours TO
! examination they were not requireF
! and the time has been cut down t,
/, lfTuesdays and Thursdays from 4 t.