New-York tribune., 1906-09-05
AUTO LAW DISAPPOINTS
GEAR NAY BE RESTRICTED
Decision That Only Inspectors May
Stop Machines Weakens Statute.

Stop Machines Weakens Statute.
Trenton. Sept. CspeeiaIG-The Freinghuysen
sutomobile law. over which there was Sd much
fuss in the Legislature last winter has worked
the reformation in automobile driving in this state
that Il was asserted il would by its promoters
Mr.. Smith. Commissioner II Motor Vehicles. has
given oose attention 20 his duties and interpreted
she Law according 20 his Nights. lie is lawyer
and when he renders opinion ii is received Sc
rionsly.
When the Freinghuysea Law became operative
given out with great blare OF trumpets
thar the police departments in the various cities
and towns throughout the state would be asked 20
cooperate with the motor vehicle department at
Trenton in its effort 20 enforce the law against
the automobilist who deliberately violated the
speed lmi, provision OF the act.
There was quick and favorable response from the
chiefs OF police. and the state authorities settled
down 10 the conviction that the trouble with sixty
miles minute automobile drivers was over
On several occasions policemen stopped autono-
bilists who seemed 20 be exceeding the speed lnt
and asked that they show their license Protest
made 20 the authorities az Trenton that po-
ncemsn had right 70 stop the driver OF an
automobile under the Frelinghuysen law Law
yers employed 10y autonobilists alleged that under
the act. there only four men I'm the state who
had the authority 10 stop the operator OF a ma
chine on the highway and demand his certificate
OF right a machine. those four being the Il
oensed inspectors employed BY the state
The matter was taken Up by Comm issoner Smith
and his decision is that the lawyers are right
-Four men will hardly be able 20 cover the state of
New Jersey. and it is going 10 be an easy matter
for sutom0bilists who I'm the course OF their jour
news want the state to attach 10 their ma
chimes fictitious numbers and make the run with
hardly a possibility Of being apPrehended by any
OF the four inspectors IN the employ OF the
state The Freliaghuysen law rs looked upon by au-
tonobilists and some q the safe officials as a
good deal OF farce
Commissioner Smith is cudgelling his brains 20
devise some way that may be approved next winter
of Identification OF automobilists without arrest
The numbers that hung on the rear az tho
machines and painted on the globes Of the lamps
are often Obscurei by dust. and when machine
is running rapidly along a macadam road il whirls
much dust into the air that il is absolutely inn
possible 20 discern the figures dangling from the
rear OF the car In consequence Of these conditions
IL Is necessary for inspector who has car under
suspicion 20 stop IL FOR the purl Ose OF hndng OK
who is the owner and operator.
In trying and a method OF identification, Com
missioner Smith Is receiving cooperation from
automOhilisis who anxious 10 escape the
possibility Of the state officials are that
they should.
Commissioner smith viii recommend TO the Leg
islaSune next winter that that part Of the FreHS-
huysen law which requires personal examination OF
those who want 10 qualify as operators of auiomo-
biles be repealed Ills purpose is TO save autompbl-
lists, : much a possible from annoyance His
a
offce al Trenton iy mail on the strength Of an
affidavit made by the applicant. II il is proved
afterward that the affidavit IS not genuine the IL
cense may be revoked
Another suggestion made is that the corps
of inspectors he increased. ana hat they be
"a motor bicycles. This would enable them 10
capture, IN a good many instances, automobilists
who were deliberately violating the law. The ques-
prohibited by Law after automobile that was yto-
iating the speed limit provision Is himself Grim
anal Is puZZling the authorities
MAY TRY TO RESTRICT SIZE OF GEAR
II is admitted by the state authorities tha, the
farmers not satisfied with the Freiinghuysen
law and that they will make more strenuous
nght than ever next winter 20 have the act 50
changed tnat machine cannot possibly run faster
than twenty miles an hour. The only way this can
be accomplished : through the enactment OF law
governing he size OF the gear OF machine. This
suggested by Governor Murphy in his last mes
cage 20 the legislature but il fought vigOr-
ously by automobiles. II viii be next winter.
II Is understood that the state department OF mo-
vehicles is opposed 20 any regulation Of the
gear by The state. on the ground that in isoat "a
parts Of the state where there are few houses not
many pedestrians and only an occasional wagon on
the highway. sutomohilists ought 10 be permitted
20 drive their machines a higher rate than
twenty miles hour
II is not unlikely that the Law will be shaped
by the next Legislature that drivers Of automo-
biles will be required stop their machines before
crossing railroad al grade So many fatal acct
dents have occurred when automobiles have tried
pass ahead Of fast moving trains in crossing
tracks that the authorities feel that something
must be done TO keep machine drivers down 10 a
rational basis.
While the farmers preparing for hght on
the speed limit question the autOmO lilists pre-
pairing 20 give the farmers tussle on the PROPOSE
fiOn 20 whether not they should be required
carry lights their vehicles when travelling
the highways after dark. They say that many
accidents happen on the country roads because OF
the ina b.lity of the driver 81 automobile dis
tingCsh the driver Of team distance which
makes it possible for the chauffeur 10 and
pass the vehicle safely. The department of motor
vehicles Is In favor 81 this provision saying that
Il II only fair 10 automObilists that users Of the
highway do all IN their power 10 make that use
safe for everybody interested. The farmers will
probably fight the proposition but IL looks II IL
booked go through
IL expected when the Frellnghuysea law
went into effect. that the state would enjoy con-
siderable income from the fines collected from Nio-
lstors by justices % the peace but IA spite Of the
fact that there have hesn arrests and convictions
wholesale IN the southern part Of the state. the
has received only about 500 from the justices
This cum goes toward the repair OF the roads.
There are al present .G00 registered machines in
the state and ls0eo drivers licensed. The income
80 the state from this source has been upward OF
5000 The licenses Of seven drivers have been
revoked.
State Road Commissioner Hutchinson. WHO, when
a member Cf the Senate. opposed TO automobiles.
is now an advocate of the machine. and in the
performance OF his duties. travels from end OF
TIE state 20 the other IN a machine.