The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-02-21
AFTER
the AUTOS
xoited Hearing Yesterday
on the Frelinghuysen Bill
Before the Judiciary Com
mitte8
AauMENTs PRO AND CON
PROSECUTOR sPEER LEADS THE
DEFENSE, BALKED BY AUTO
MOBILE OWNERS FROM ALL
PARTS OF THE STATE.
fsnecial to ..The Jersey city News,

Special to 'The Jersey City News.'o
TRENTON, Feb. 81, 1906. in
many years was the Assembly Chamber
filed with such a vast throng as that
which gathered there yesterday afternoon
TO attend the hearing given by the SEN
ate judiciary Committee on the Freling-
huysen automobile regulation bill. Ev-
cry available inch Of seating and stand
ing room was occupied and those who
were unable to gain admission filed the
corridors of the State House and dis
cussed the much -taIked-about auto bill
among themselves.
Automobiles from all over the State
We're present and many from New York
and Philadelphia were also there to enter
their protests by their presence and
through speakers selected to represent
them against the passage of the Ere
linghuysen bill, which, they claimed, was
not only an unjust discrimination against
them, but was so drastic in its provisions
as to result in driving automobilists out
of the State.
Together with the automobilists came
farmers from all parts Of the S5a,e as
individuals and as Representatives of the
various oranges and agricultural ,organi-
cations, to urge the passage of the Ere
linghuysen bill, upon the ground that the
automobilists were destroying the States
good roads and by speeding and seorch-
ing placed the lives Of their families in
jeopardy. They demanded that restric-
tions be placed on the automobiles.
Fer nearly three hours the Judiciary
Committee, composed of Senators Hill
lery, Wakelee and Minturn. heard their
arguments. First the auto men were
given chance to talk and denounce the
provisions of the Frelinghuysen bill to
their hearts content, and then the far
mer and good roads men were heard. In
terruptions were of frequent occurrence,
each side charging the other with some
deception in making their argument, but
Chairman Hilery kept good order by
constantly reminding the spectators that
he would not permit of any interruption
of the speakers.
The farmers were hot under the collar.
so to speak, and showed their enmity
for automobiEsts in more ways than one.
They openly declared that unless the
Legislature gave them redress they
would follow the example of the boys OF
rs, as they expressed. and make their
own laws.
The automobilists realized that their
country friends were greatly agitated
and tried to smooth their wounded feel
ings, but all to no purpose. The farmers
insisted upon protection and demanded
the Frelnghuysen measure, or some 9TH
er measure containing equally drastic
provisions
Among those who spoke for the auto
mobiles against the FreIinghuysen bill
were ex-senator Charles A. Reed, of
Somerset County; Prosecutor William II.
Speer, representing the Hudson County
Automobile Club; Winthrop E. Scarrett,
first vice president Of the Associated
Automobile Clubs, of New Jersey; Coun-
sellor Robert Walker, Of Trenton; Coun-
sellor Richard Y. Lindabury, of Newark,
who spoke for himself individually as an
enthusiastic auto driver; Counsellor
Adrian C. Riker. who represented the
Essex County Automobile and Motor
Club, and Charles 7. Terry, of New
York, representing the National Associa-
ton of Automobile Manufacturers.
The formers and good roads men were
represented by State Roads Commits
sioner Elijah c. Hutchinson, who de-
clared that automobiles destroyed every
good road in the State, and for that
reason their owners should pay an IN
creased license to enable the State to re-
pair them. Counsellor Howard n Casa
of North Branch, Somerset County; Ed
win B. Kipp, Of the Morristown Civic
Federation; John H. Bailey, president
of the New Jersey State Highway Asse-
citation, and Counsellor John ]. Murray,
of North Branch.
James p. Everett, of Newark, contend
ed, on behalf Of the moter cyclists Of the
State, that they be exempted from the