New-York tribune., 1908-03-13
COCKS BILL HEARING.
CONGRESS- MAY NOT ACT.
Judiciary Committee Likely to Table
Federal License Measure.
rrro4n The Tribun. Bureau.I


Washington March 12-Interferenee with the
state police power and the question whether tran
sit by automobile from state 10 state can be
considered interstate commerce and come under
control of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. discussed by many New Workers before
the Judiciary Committee of the House to-day. Rep
resentative Cocks. of New York, has introduced a
bill providing for the federal regulation. ident1ca
ton and registration of automobiles engaged in
Interstate travel. and it the const1tutiona'y
of this measure that considered.
Charles T. Terry of New York. chairman or the
American Automobile Associations legislation COM
nittee. for more than hours made a deter
mined fight for the against the practi-
caly unanimous opposition OF the Judiciary Co1n-
mistee The question of state police power was
first advanced by Representative Jenkins, OF WIS
consin. who limited that the proposed bill would
take from the states the power to leGislate for
automobiles within their own borders. Although
the bill specifically provides that under the license
granted by federal authority the automobile must
abide by all state laws Mr.. Jenkins and the major
ity Of the committee seemed unable to set their
fears a rest, and those present il looked as
though the bill doomed TO be tabled Tor the
present session.
Several representatives of the Chaufeurs AS
sociation. including Il. P. Huddy the attorney; H.
w. Harrison. the president and w. H. Walter, all
cf New York, argued a federal license for
drivers 10 put them on the same footing
with pilots and engineers This, they contended
would serve to make them careful and check
the speed mania
Among those In the New York delegation we're
". H. Hotchkiss, president of the American Auto
mobile Association r H. Elliott. secretary of the
American Automobile Association: r. A Field. OF
he Long Island Automobile Club: G. A. Batchel-
der, G. H. Benedict. of the Schenectady Autono-
bile Club: r. P. Hooper and S Boyer Davis
Advices from Savannah report the entry of
Stearns car in the S6O-mile of March 1a. near
HAT city Of FOlIrt ADD which
nominated for the high powered race to be run
the day before. This makes a total OF nineteen
actual entries to date. Several other manufact-
urers have sigpiied their intention of making en-
The entries total follows:
For contest No l. at 800 miles-Two Appersons
two Isottas American, one Acme one Lozer
and Stearns for contest No runabout ciass)
at 1s0 mes-two Thomas -Detroits. one Apperson
one Pennsylvania and Premier; for contest
No. 3. at 1So miles Qligh power class)-one Hotcn-
kiss. Stearns one Thomas Flyer. one Benz, one
Matheson and one AppersoD-
In addition, it is said that the Studebaker car,
its way TO Savannah. will be entered in
of the races if it arrives in good condition
Representatives of the Renaut and Fiat agencies
are now in Savannah investigating road and gen
eral conditions with view OF entering. while
number of Northern manufacturers arc still unde-
cided: among them arc the Mora and Gearess com
Ianes The latter, III telegram 70 savannah
yesterday said that the company was trying 10
find the Gearless Greyhound which had been
used as a pilot for the New York-Paris racers
GU, of Chicago and which the company to yes
tcrday morning had not been able to locate When
tho car is found it will be shipped 10 Savannah
Any finding a stray "Creyhound' viii please
advise the Rochester company.
The Savannah Automobile Club. which has here
tofore been a volunteer organization. has taken
steps for Incorporation. On Friday last an order
was granted in the Superior Court at Savannah in
cooperating the club The same evening the or
ganzation took place. Frank c. Rattey elected
president J. J. Rauers vice president. and Arthur
". Solomon secretary and treasurer.
This step means that the Savannah club will
make formal bid the Vanderbilt Cup race
this fall. and that it will be in Il position TO get
Indemnity bonds, etc. in the case of racing and
in the general financing OF and other contests
The executive committee in charge of the COM
ing races has settled Major ". e. Stephens
chairman of the military committee in charge
of the policing of the All the militia
eanizations.in Savannah and in nearby places have
volunteered for this work.
II is possible that the star event of the 1909 Or
mond Beach meet will De race for hun
dred -rnies-a hour trophy. Robert Lee Morrel,
chairman Of the Automobile Club Of America
contest committee, which had charge Of the Or
mond meet last week. said Yesterday that New
Yorker had told him he willing 70 give
handsome cup for such contest. Mr. Morrel
lnilRS SuCH 1SrF % S}Seu lpe.-piS i'i ii'H'-
cred miles, NJ. G. Rernin drove Renault last
that distance in - minutes ~ 10 seconds. 50
that to win the proposed contest only a little more
than twelve minutes would have TO he cut from
Beruins record.
Paris, March I2.--ibs increasing number OF auto
mobile accidents in Paris has resulted in the
mitigation Of more rigid regulations to govern this
traffic The prefecturai authorities
powered withdraw the license OF an automobile
driver for from eight sixty days for attractions
of the regulations and from two to twelve months
for accidents which involve injury TO persons. The
regulations provide among other things that the
number Of every machine must be lighted after
dark