Perth Amboy evening news., 1907-01-22

Annual Report Of The State CON-
missioner Submitted to Gov
eFnOr Stokes.

TRENTON, Jan. 22:-J. b. r.
Smith, commissioner of motor We
hicles, has submitted to Governor
Stokes for transmission to the legis-
lature report showing the workings
of his department since it was created
April IL to the close of the year 1906.
In a general discussion of the act,
Commissioner Smith says:
while it cannot be said that the
Frelinghuysen law is by any means
the last legislative word to be spoken
on the subject-nor did it's trainers
have any idea that it would bet is
probably true that the law has more
nearly fulfilled the expectations of
those who have desired a measure
which would secure an adequate en-
forcement of the provisions against
abuses of the motor vehicle traffic
than any law yet enacted. =
The most important features of the
act, however, were those providing
for the enforcement of the provisions
against violations of the law and the
rights of others.
1T is not claimed that the law has
given absolute security to the rights
and privileges of motorists, or that it
tending the use of motor vehicles, but
the best information at our hands
leads to the conclusion that there is
undoubtedly much clearer and more
charitable understanding of the prop
er place and functions of the motor
vehicle, while the reports from the
different localities of this state war
rant us in believing that the abuses
have been reduced in some places as
much as rs per cent"
After discussing the matter of rev.
enue, the report deals with indentifi
cation.
Those who have in mind the
abuses after nightfall insist that
something in the nature either of a
transparency or of an other illumin
ated number is necessary The ideal
identification would consist of some
device that can be plainly seen under
any conditions of light or darkness by
the observer viewing the car from
any reasonable distance and angle,
and on moving vehicles, for a suffi-
cient space of time to afford the or
dinary unframed person an opportun-
| ity to distinctly observe and fix in his
mind the particular mark or number.
| ~ 10 QullS CSl lttlll lidO lhC PiOOAOlll
is capable of solution.
The report expresses without hesi-
fancy the opinion that the average
| Justices court is not the proper one
| for the trial of motor vehicle actions.
| 1t suggests that justice could better
be dispensed by the court of common
| pleas or some special court. 1t is also
suggested, under the head of court
procedure, that some method be pro-
vided whereby appeals may be taken
| from the decision of the commissioners
of motor vehicles in the matter of re-
vocation of licenses and registration
certificates.
He pays the following tribute to
the selfish motorists: This report
should not be closed without express
ing vigorous word of condemnation
of those motorists who seem to be of
| the opinion that the roads were made
for them and that any restraint in
their use of their vehicles or of the
roads is an infringement of their
rights. Their vulgarity and selfish
ness is abominable. 1t should matter
not what his station in life may be,
he should be severely dealt with NOR
ally as well as legally, and 1t is a
great source of satisfaction that the
! leading motor clubs of the country
are taking up this subject in a vigor-
Gus way. The law can do much to re-
move him, but active, healthy, public
| opinion can do more"