Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-03-01
AUTOMOBILE LEGISLATION.
Hearing before the Legislature.
Roth sides Heard.

the farmers OF the State were given an
opportunity of having their say before the
Senate committee charged with she duty Of
formulating just legislation on this COM
plexHsubject. The arguments of the various
parties, we believe, will be read with in
terest in this county, hence we give con-
siderable space to the discussion.
Former Senator Reed of Somerset county
spoke first.
RECKLESS DRIVERS CAUSED TROUBLE.
He said the automobilists regarded the
roads as public property and contended
that the cry against automObilists was caused
BY the actions of few reckless drivers.
He objected to both pending bills, because
the automobilists pay as much tax already
as any other class. The speaker said the
autoists objected to being arrested without
a warrant. as it placed them in the hands OF
their enemies.
Senator Reed contended that the law
Iassed last winter was good one He
admitted it was not enforced and thought
one reason was that cars were run so rapid
" that license numbers could not be readily
distinguished. He declared that the real
solution of the trouble lay in reyoking the
license of every reckless auto driver. Sena-
tor Reed said TO tax automobilists for road
repairs would be unconstitutional.
Senator Wakelee asked if the proposed
tax was not an occupation license. Former
Senator Reed replied that in his Judgment
it was not, for an occupation license was
one which under the broad power OF the
police, initiates against public health.
TRUE SOLUTION.
Senator Reed said that law which
would take hold Of reckless autoist good
and hard for misdeeds was what the people
wanted, and the taking away of the Incense
of a reckless driver was the true solution OF
the problem.
Prosecutor William Il. Speer, Of jersey
City, representing the Hudson County Au-
tam0bile club, attacked both bills.
1 Mr.. Speery took the stand that it was not
sy Of New Jersey to Kill autorno-
He declared that there was $50,
000cQ involved in automobiles IN New
Jersey.
Senator Frelinghuysen asked: What
vehicle goes faster than an automobile -
Trolley cars, was the reply. This was
greeted with loud applause on the part Of
ehe autoists. At the end Of the clamor,
Senator Frelinghuysen turned the applause
his way when he said, Mr.. Speer, | UNDER
stand that the cause Of great complaint IN
your city is that the trolley cars go hardly
block in four minutes"
PROPOSED Law VICIOUS.
winthrop E. Scarritt, vice president Of
the Automobile Association OF America,
who said he represented 1000 automobile
owners, made a rather vituperabive attack
on the Freliughuysen bill He character
lied it as vicious because it imposed condi-
tions on the users of automobiles which did
not apply to the users Of other vehicles.
He quoted Judge Cooley Of Michigan as
saving that the autoist had as much right
to the public thorofares as any other class.
He warned the committee that his asso-
citation would not tameIy submit to the
law
II warn you,n said he, that if you pass
this bill you will create Il, 900 lawbreakers
at once. . While no comment was made
on this threat, it was plain that it was not
we'll received, even among the lawmakers,
and the general opinion seemed to be that
the speaker had gone much TOO far in his
attack. Mr. Searritt closed by saying that
New Jersey was az the head OF the states
on the question OF auto laws, and it should
not 90 TO the bottom by passing this bill
Counselor Edwin Robert Walker Of
Trenton spoke for the Mercer County Au-
tomobile club. He gave the history of the
act of 1905. He said be was one OF COM
inittee Of three who drafted that measure.
He stated that the present law was the
result of a conference between the autoists
and those opposed to automobiles; that a
hearing was gwen on it and the matter was
thoroughly threshed out. Then that bill
was enacted. He insisted that the present
law was perfectly satisfactory to the auto
lists, aud should be tested longer before
another bill was passed.
Counselor Walker objected to what he
called the sweeping provisions Of the Fre-
linghuysen bill He principally condemned
the provision permitting arrest without a
warrant Mr. Walker declared the PRESENT
law was strong enough. He got so stren-
uous in his remarks that he addressed the
committee as gentlemen of the jury,
which caused laugh
Mr.. Walker said he was horseback
rider and had no occasion to find fault with
autoists in their use OF the roads. He
said he pleaded for justice and that the
invasion Of the rights of the automobilists
should not be invaded nor their liberty
eurtailed
FOUND FEW ABUSES
Richard v. Lindabury said he spoke as
representing large class Of citizens. He
claimed there was sentiment against au-
tomobilists that was unjust. He said be
had done much autoing and had watched
for abuses, but found them few indeed.