The sun., 1908-04-30
AMONG HH GOHONOBITTS
HOPE FOR PASSAGE or NEW BILL
DURING SPECIAL SESSION.

those Of the New York State Automobile
Association. have not entirely given up hope
that the automobile bill introduced by Senator
Armstrong aud ASsemblyman Merritt al
Albany will be passed before next winter
II has been reported at Albany that Gov.
Hughes In his message TO the Legislature
when II meets In special session on May II
will recommend that the measure be passed
and II IL the hope Of the motorists that enough
Of the automObllng voters Of the State will
advocate the bill 10 their Senators and Assem-
blymen so that II will be passed without
delay.
II has been asserted that -the chairman
Of the legislative committee OF the Auto
mobile Club Of America" publicly opposed
the measure, which s probably an attempt
TO fasten the blame for non-passage OF the
bill upon W. w. Niles, who was the chairman
Of the law and ordinance committee Of the
Automobile Club. but an ofioial OF the club
said laet night that this il a very much mis-
taken idea, as the Automobile Club Of America
has all along been In favor Of the enactment
Of the bill, Il Ia true that the club officers
thought some very slight changes should be
made In the BILL but what may be called the
oflclal attitude OF the big organization TOWARD
the measure was expressed b. retiring pres-
dent Colgate Hoyt In his annual report to
the members on April II. as follows:
Recognizing the need OF some revision
Of the New York State automobile law 20
as 10 do away especially With the obnoxious
miles per hour clause, which enables local
constsbles 10 establish traps and time auto
mobilists over a measured course Of few
hundred feet. resulting In many unfair and
unreasonable arrests for a slight technical
violation OF the speed limit. the special COM
mittee on legislation Of the New York State
Automobile Association, OF which Mr.. Niles,
your counsel, was a member, drafted bill
which would cure this and other defects OF
the present law. and to provide for reyo-
cable license and an annual registration fee
based on the weight Of the car.
sixteen other bills OF minor importance
have been introduced, but held in allegiance
pending the presentation Of this bill by the
State association. which on April was intro
duced by Senator Armstrong In the Senate
and Mr.. Merritt in the Assembly, and seems
TO be a step In advance OF any legislation
we have yet had, as IL abolishes the arbitrary
miles per hour clause and speed limit, and
substitutes the common law provision Of
reasonable and proper speed having regard
at all times for the safety Ct other users OF
the highway. While, in the opinion Of your
governors. some Of the provisions OF the bill
should be amended, II is hoped that this
may be accomplished and that II will be
passed before the adjournment Of the present
session Of the Legislature.
As originally drafted the bill prohibited
any municipality or town from passing any
regulations 10 govern the speed OF motor
vehicles 10 their corporate limits, which was
really the essential feature Of the measure,
as the local limits Of six aud eight miles an
hour have been the stun bling blocks which
have caused 30 much annoyance TO autOmO-
billsts during the last few years, The speed
trap industry has been largely developed by
localities that have had these extremely low
speed rate limits, and cOnstables with very
inferior stop watches have arrested hundreds
for exceeding these local limits by only
fraction Of a mile per hour at a time when
there was no other vehicle or pedestrian in
sight on the stretch Of road being driven over,
These speed traps. some OF them being
conducted over measured stretches OF hun
dred yards or less at the bottom Of hills. have
proved 10 be very profitable for many small
towns and villages, furnishing, as they do,
pleasant, exciting and remunerative employ
ment for petty politicians for a couple of
hours on Sunday and holiday afternoons IL
was reported soon after the bill had been
introduced at Albany that a number OF small
towns and villages had made strenuous obIec-
ton to that part Of the measure which would
speed traps. and that this part OF the bill
would be amended TO conform with the wishes
OF the small towns that still desired TO conduct
speed traps, The fact that some Of the towns
and villages objected to that part OF the bill
has been taken by local owners as a frank
confession that forced revenue from strange
automobists Is desired more by the officials
OF the objecting towns than reasonable aud
just enforcement Of the law, with justice to
both automObilists and the inhabitants OF the
localities through which they may be driving
j. B. Foster was elected president Of the
Florida East Coast Automobile Association
at the annual meeting held recently at the
clubhouse on the Ormond Beach az Daytona,
Fla, The me mbers decided TO have an addi-
tion to the clubhouse built in the near future
and q number Of bath houses on the beach
were ordered constructed. The other officers
elected were as follows: First Vice president
D., II. Cove second yice-presdent, y. h
coHrsd sSSTsdery Board Gi dTesCrs r. BUnd
4. Hilliard, J. b. Moore, Z. y. Oates. II. B.
Neloh aud !. l.. White.
As Jefferson De Mont Thompson. chair
man OF the Vanderbilt Gun commission was
out OF the city yesterday " did not discuss
with Harvey Granger and A, W. Solomon
Of the Savannah Automobile Club the ap-
elimination ;riSI for the William X. Wander.
bilt, Jr.. cup. News comes from Hartford
that the Connections State automobile law
expressly forbids racing on the public high
prevent a contest like the Vanderbilt cup cup
race, but any hill climbing event as well
Provided that Connecticut cannot furnish
q course, the only circuits that are likely to
be considered are those at Savannah and
ST. Louis, from which cities formal appHca-
tions for the race have already been mdae
TO the vanderbilt cup commission.
The daily table dhote luncheons and Tues |
~ Amfnmphila
Club Of America will be discontinued for the |
summer, beginning tomorrow, May /. Frank !
lin Farrel, Ansonia, Conn; William T.. Letting !
we'll Watkins. n. Y, aud William B. Plunkett. |
IN the club. and the following |
have applied for active membership: Charles |
Blum, Charles C. Dickinson, William H. |
j Scott MCCom6, Edwin B. Steese, lee George /
sherman, j. Allen Townsend and q. II. WOerz. |
When II becomes necessary TO secure new |
spark plugs care should be taken to get ones |
used In. The selection Of the type OF plug /
best suited TO- be used depends almost en- |
tirely. on the design Of the cylinders IN which |
he plugs are 10 be htted. The best results |
will be obtained from plug which is long
enough 80 that It's firing points are we'll down |
In the explosive cha mber. Some engines are |
built with good deal OF metal in the cylinder |
lasds or with extra large water jackets so
hat plugs with short bases will not project |
ar enough into The cylinders TO give good |
'eryice. Most spark plugs can be obtained |
n different lengths. 40 that generally II will !
,e possible TO secure the length desired OF I
whatever make the buyer wishes TO use.
Now that the American Automobile A.
ISOLATION has entered upon the path OF re-
orm by eQualzng dues It might tackle
,ther abuses, says the MoiON Rsc0Td the !
'ficial publication OF the New Jersey Auto
mobile and Motor Club at Newark One
4 these 10 the "one club one vote rule. Taxa
ion should be according 10 representation
nd when a club pays a tar on 900 mem
'ers II should have a voice and vote OF
corresponding volume.