New-York tribune., 1907-05-13
REPORT ON MOTOR BILLS.
Description of Legislature Work an
Interest of Drivers.

Charles T Terry. chairman. has made public
the report of the legislative board of the American
Automobile Association. The report deals with the
federal motor vehicle law and state legislation
Regarding the first subject the report says:
The chairman of the legislative board has had
man NAM enc9uraging communications not oniy y rom rom
1ther members of the board put rom other iaMI s
located IN various parts or the country ana Vtrsu
In automobile legal matters, commencing both the
tion is waging to secure the enactment OF such
statute but also approving in detail the specific
already had introduced in Congress 1t is a note
worthy fact that. notw!l lhstandinG the wide dis
tributon of copies of the statute not single
serious objection has been made 10 any Of its pro
before the Judiciary Committee, of the House, of
Representatives and be favorably reported before
the House itself without dissenting voice as Tar
sent forth from the headquarters Of this aSsoclt-
ton, forthwith to each of the state associatlons
them to ses to il Immediately that the Congress-
men of each state are made familiar with the pur
pose and the provisions of this bin, their approval
aroused as make il certain that such Congress
viii mot ont Sny vote &r bS II Tnfn T is st be}aT h P
committee. urge favorable reports upon II by such
T9s of the ada b Il r6ngh oR 9f Houses IL f
and its speedy signing by the President?
The association is we'll pleased with the present
state legislation affecting the automobile world.
The report reads:
At the outset of the discussion of this branch OF
our report let rs say that the American Automo-
bile Association has great cause for rejoicing
the present situation of state legislation but more
particularly over the general atmosphere and sen
/ ument regarding such legislation throughout the
! country. II is absolutely certain that. largely
through The very active and aggressive policy pur
Of this association. the dissemination of it's ideas
regarding reasonablencss and justice in the provi-
plantations and reasons OF such policy, frequently
. and inteliEentlv declared. the sentiment of the
public in legislatures assembled specifically has
changed from that Of less active hostility
gent trendhneSs The point here. put in word is
that there is q very widespread and deep seated
conviction the Part Of tho public and legislators
! that not only are the users Of motor vehicles
titled to be relieved Of many of the harsh and
hurdeusome restrictions which have heretofore
Ehiaracterized statutes in that regard, but that
IdlhtsS |" aut9innhlllsts, on the one hand and
protection 10 other users Of the highways the
difteTlng only in slight respects from the laws
throughout the United States.
No more striking Illustration and no more convinc-
ing demonstration OF the that this the present
OF me state OF Connecticut having this matter Of
motor vehicle legislation in charge. and made by
such, such c=9mmtees = the subject of very thorough
mas most inteilg"nuy presided over the delibera-
tons OF those joint committees. to the con-
is required I'm the OF motor vehicle Iegisla-
Io9 IS uniformity throughout the various states
the automobilc legislation Of thai state Accord
ingly your board has learned that after the chair
man or your board had attended a public hearing
on the automobile bills before those Joint commit
tees Of Connecticut, and argued for the views OF
the American Automobile Association in that re-
gard, MIR Buell.. for the joint committees of that
state, or his own motion, communicated with the
secretaries OF OF 81 ut which
might be called the neighbors OF Connecticut and
also put himself In communication with the com
fiit'teS or the legislatures of those having
automohie matters In hand outlining his theories
with relation to a uniform state motor vehicle law.
and as 10 what should constitute tho provisions OF
such law, and urging their cooperation with the
state OF tonnectcut 10 the ends suggested What
may be the result Of such movement one cannot. Of
course, prophcsy. But the important fact is that
the movement has started. the sentiment is grow
ing and viii IN the end certainly prevail Congratu-
lation IL due the president Of the American
mobile Association and It's executive committee for
their policy, in pursuance OF which they initiated
this movement which they have so euergeticaly
ties.
While the general sentiment throughout the
country IS thoroughly along the line of motor
hicle legislation. much simple In form and
burdrnsome and unjust discrimination against
autOmObiliStS. there 4 single OF discorl
coming from the o"nighted territory of New Jer-
Sey by tho retention OF the barbarous statute
known as the Frey ylinghuysen bill" whose extreme
provisions and violations OF the rights Of the
OF the highways have constituted brilliant
known as cross road Justice" But In spite OF
Senator FrenEhuysen's apparent determination
not 10 abate the rigors OF his political platform I'm
this regard. IL confidently eNDected that tbars
are many more than sufficient fair minded and up-
biassed men I'm the Legislature OF that state to in
sure tho em,uatl tlon next year OF the worst of the
features Of that statute.
Splendid progress has also been made 10 secure
more favorable stat" laws in Indiana and Mis-
souri, through the efforts Of the members OF the
legislative board In those states
other Illustrations Of the same trend are found
and Maryland.