The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-12-19
WILL HELP
OBTAIN BETTER
LAWS FOR AUTOS
Commissioner Says His Depart
menf Is Ready to Render
Assistance to Motorists.

IN a recent interview. J. B. r. Smith,
commissioner OF motor vehicles of New
Jersey, took up the question of the
proposed changes in the present Ere
llnghuysen motor vehicle law and the
reports of a threatened boycott by au-
tomobile manufacturers against New
Jersey until certain Objectionable fea-
lures of the law as it now stands shat
have been amended.
It is a well-known fact that Commits
sioner Smith has always been in favor
of as perfect a law governing the use
of motor vehicles as could be framed
and has never been arbitrarily opposed
10 anything that would tend to improve
the motor vehicle department or the
law itself.
He said in part:
"Of course the department stands
ready to render n proper assistance
in further perfecting of the laws. l be-
]ieve the public thoroughly understands
that that has been our position from
the beginning. / also feel that l am
well acquainted with the wishes of mo-
florists, and that, so far from seeking
to boycott the State, their inclinations
are to secur the best possible law and
Ats most efficient enforcement.
Although 1 believe that New Jersey
has had probably the best automobile
law yet enacted. perfection cannot be
obtained at once The public, perhaps
with difficulty, realizes the task the
Legislature has in connection with this
subject. The first New Jersey law reg
nlating the use of automobiles was
passed only five years 60. When one
considers that after four-score years Of
effort the legislatures have not yet sue
ceeded in perfecting avs regulating
the use Of railroads, we should not be
criticised II automobile laws have not
yet been perfected.
Tried to Remedy Laws.
Perhaps no problem has SO embar-
rassed all friends of good automobile
laws as that attending the charge of
q lack of comfy between New Jersey
and her sister States in the inter-
change of licenses, and we have all
earnestly striven to find the correct So
luton.
1.-THE travel and transportation con-
ditions In New Jersey are perhaps
unique. Our State is essentially a
highway. Interchange Of travel be-
tween New York and New England
and Pennsylvania and the great West
is necessarily across the bosom of New
Jersey.
1.-THE States seaside and mountain
resorts draw from other States large
numbers of guests and travellers. 1t is
to the interest of those resorts that
every facility be accorded to our guests
and visitors to attract them to our
State.
1.-THE law, of course, should be so
framed that every inducement to at
tract visitors to our State should be
provided.
New Jersey, as is we'll known, has
the best roads of any State in the
Union, and this OF itself attracts many
motorists. 1t is the New Jersey policy
not only to maintain the highways in
good repair, but to extend them in every
possible way.
These conditions cause an unusual
use Of our roads. as compared mile
for mile with the roads Of any other
State, and therefore make not only
more expensive their care and MAIN
tenance, but make the difficulties of
proper regulation much greater here
than elsewhere.
1.-THE department has given much
study to this subject, and has had the
hearty and loyal cooperation of the ac-
tive representatives of the organized
motorists.
Plan Conference.
Some time ago L suggested the de-
STABILITY of having a conference called
at a convenient time at which repre-
sentatives OF motorists from all the
States interested in the subject, in
GLIDING those who make laws, as well
as those who enforce laws and all
those whose. interests are in any
way affected by the use of motor
vehicles on the highway, including
farmers, tradesmen, manufacturers,
tourists, might meet and in d proper
spirit discuss the most efficient methods
OF automobile regulation. l am hope
full indeed, expectant, that means may
yet be provided whereby such a con-
ference may be held. Opinions on sucn
q subject must of necessity honestly
differ. We should not, however, allow
u differences of opinion to cause us
to impugn the motives of those who
differ with us, and no place is more
suited for bringing about a friendly un-
Outstanding of differences than in pub
lie conference. OF the ultimate out
come ! have always been optimistic,
and II I can be of any service in not
only raising standards of legislation
but OF actually securing a more ef-
ficient protection to the ~inalienable
rights of all those who use highways,
whether they be motorists, horsemen
or pedestrians, l shall be more than
---a - a. i