The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-11-23
AUTO OWNERS
WOULD AMEND
STATE LAWS

The killing of the Arnold boy by Ed
tuxet Wednesday night, the killing of Ell
mer Buck in Central Falls on Sunday by
an unknown automobllst. and the horri-
BILE accident TO Albert Cornell, Jr., sever
al weeks ago on the Apponaug road in
connection with which the police are
searching for James A. Bates has aroused
not only public Indignation against AFRO
giant automobile drivers, but also the
member OF the Rhode Island automobile
clubs, and drastic legislation may result
President of the club William Penn
Mather. Secretary Frank NJ. Barber and
other members OF the club met in con-
ference yesterday afternoon in the club
rooms, at l6 Garnet street. and IL was de-
cided to issue a call for a special meeting
TO take action for a better state regula-
ton of automobile drivers.
Automobile drivers who have a regard
| for the rights and safety OF others dis
turbed by the reflection cast upon them
! by the recklessness and fast driving OF
other chauffeurs. have taken a leading
! part in the movement against the abuses.
not only to protect their own name and
reputation, but TO protect the public as
well
Mr. Mather is heartily in favor of some
measure that will remedy the evil I'm this
state. The American Automobile associa-
ton has prepared a uniform state law,
which will be presented at the club meet,
ing for discussion.
IL is the belief among the autoists that
a law prepared in a hurry and passed
by persons not wholly conversant with
the conditions OF automobllng through
out the country or state would be made
quate, and for this reason law similar
to the state law prepared by the A. A.
A. Is urged
Other states have begun campaigns sim
liar to the one proposed by the automo-
bile club here. In Pennsylvania the Mo-
tor federation is advocating the passage
OF national act to register all automo-
biles.
The city of Philadelphia has passed an
ordinance that makes IL compulsory for
drivers OF automobiles TO obtain license
from the city's bureau OF steam boiler
inspection.
| In Massachusetts, chauffeurs. whether
private or public. must obtain a license
after an examination public chauffeur
must renew his license each year.
New Hampshire requires the drivers ia
take out a license each year al cost of
Isl Connecticut requires an operating H.
cense for which "A fee OF s. is charged
annually. The District of Columbia is
under a similar reguls ton. except that
no fee Is charged. A driver there must
qualify before the board OF motor vehi-
Gle examiners.
In New Jersey each driver must take
out "A license annually from the commits
sioner OF motor vehicles. Drivers In
Pennsylvania must take out an operat'
or's license annually. and those In tho
city OF Philadelphia are required TO take
out an additional license from the city
Drivers in Vermont have TO show IL
cense to drive In that state. for which
they pay s. annually.
There are but eight states in the Unior
that have no laws regulating motor vehi
cies. They are Arkansas. Colorado. Ida
no. Louisiana. Mississippi. Nevada. Utal
and Wyoming Georgia has n statute
applying 10 Catoosa county only rcquir
ing registration with the county clerk
Professional chauheurs have registered
a protest again tho owners OF cars VIII,
seek TO throw tho blame upon the shoul
ders OF their hired drivers. The chauf
feurs claim that I'm almost all the recen
cases where accidents have happened tn
owners themselves were driving the ca
and not the professional chauffcurs
The cheuffcurs arc I'm favor of n Law
that will ohligc them 60 take out II
cense. because they feel that .it will be
protection TO them.