The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-13
ROAST GROEL
ASSEMBLYMAN CONDEMNED
BY vAILSBURG IMPROVERS.
They Charged That He Did Not Support
Auto License Fee Bill to
Raise Dust Money.

Members of the yailsburg Improvement
Association did not mince words in criti-
Ching Assemblyman John c.. Groel for his
refusal to introduce the bill which amends
the automobile law by raising license fees
for autos from 81 to $40 for motor cars
under S0-horsepower and from. $40 to $15
for those oversat a meeting of that asso-
citation in Union Hall, Vailsburg section,
last night.
When n letter from Mr.. Groel was read
stating that he opposed the bill because
he believed 1t was not fair, and that
wagons and other vehicles did as much
damage to the roads as automobiles, with
the exception of the heavier ones. a storm
of condemnation for the Assemblyman
broke loose. His letter favored a graded
license for, autoists.
The purpose of the bill was to raise
money to keep down the dust.
Joseph II. Wehrle told of the dust nuis-
ance and how the roads and assessments
committee of the Board of Freeholders
had endorsed the bill presented to the
Legislature which Mr.. Groel refused to
father. According to Mr.. Wehrie. Groel
told Assemblyman Hahn. who introduced
the bill. that he was "a fool" Mr..
Wehrle said that County Counsel Crane
favored the bill. as did State Road Com
missioner Hutchinson. He told VI his
visit last week to Trenton with Edward
I1hNflt pffSittHt u II JiupIoNtiSs diiu
of their failure to have the bill passed
because. of the. Legislature adjourning.
Mr.. Hager also spoke on the dust nuis-
ance and the delay the remedy had suffer-
ed because of Mr.. Groel's attitude.
II vas charged that A~ssemblyman
Groels position was due to the fact that
he owned an automobile. and Mr.. Hager
said he had hoped that Mr.. Groel would
be present at last nights meeting so
that he would be able to tell Mr.. Groel
that the big automobile owners of the
- 49, IT, - T1-----A
The committee in making its report said
that the bill would again come up In the
Legislature in September. and that II
hoped to have It passed without the aid
of ~Assemblyman Groel.
When William H. Coyer. chairman OF
the fire COMMITTEE, proposed that in order
to insure water pressure on Cliff Hill when
hydrants are open in Mead street an adj
ditional main should be laid he was asked
who suggested 1t. Mr.. Coyer gave the
mans name, and 1T was found that he
Association and that he had refused to
Join. The man, who was sale. to be f.
Arnold Beach. the real estate dealer. was
told. through Mr.. Coyer. that II he wanted
any improvements he should come. attend
the meetings and state his needs.
Assemblyman Groel's letter to the asso-
citation was as follows:
In order to not be misquoted or mis-
understood. / issue the following letter to
clear up my socalled opposition TO a pro-
posed law now pending increasing the
state taxes on motor vehicles from % 10
$40 and $25. F.
The bill as drawn is not fair to the
average autcmobilists and realizing that
they create som of the damage to the
State roads fhey" should, as they are. pay
towards it's repairs. If the present money
collected is not sufficient 1t is but right
and fair to.tncreasc ~ftsalsq to tax az other
vehicles that do dauage to the roads.
THE greater. wear and tear originates
from the heavy. and high powered autos
and my Plar would be tor grade the fees
according to the horsepower from say D.
horsepower and upwards.
1.-THE small ttfnabonts. bicycfes and
motorcycles do less dnmage on. the ronds
than horses and teams, especially on our
asphalt ana m~acadamfzed streets.
1--WE ave numerous motorists who use
small ruEabouts who 90 very little dam
age. less than a carriage horse and IL is
unfair to them to assess a State tax con-
sidering that all motorists are paying a
local or city tax. | am in hearty accord
to stop the dust nuisance created by high
speeding and believe the only way to
reach the perpetrators is to tax the heav-
Ter machines more than the lighter ones,
BIZ In q graded plan.
1T seems to ME that this Is the solving
OF this question and would be n fair propo-
sition to rake and ] do not think this
would be objected to by the parties to be
taxed.
II will heartily support q fair to ali
amendment TO the bill. and would suggest
q committee be appointed to confer with
the automobile associations to go over the
matter and from what / have experienced
from c~o-autoists I found them a fair, just
and obligirg set Of gentlemen