The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-05
Law Proposed to Regulate
Traffic of Motor Cars
Between States.
WOULD CREATE A BUREAU
IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CON-
MERGE AND LABOR AND PRO-
POSED STATUTE is VERY CARE
FULLY DRAWN UP.
(ey Roderick clifford)

(ey Roderick clifford)
Washington, Dec. 4.-The increase
OF the use of motor vehicles in inter-
state travel has become so pronounced
within the past two years that it has
attracted the attention of congress.
The discovery that there is no law on
the statute books to regulate them re-
suited in the introduction of bill dur
ing the extra session providing for
the regulation, Identification, and reg
istration OF motor vehicles engaged
in Interstate travel"
Rep. Cocks of New York, is the au-
thor OF a proposed law, which is said
to have the endorsement of the manu-
facturers of motor vehicles as well as
the owners OF machines who indulge
in long distance tours.
The bill, which provides for the crea-
ton of a bureau to be a part OF the
department Of Commerce and Labor,
to be known as the Motor Vehicles bu-
reau, has been carefully drawn so as
crning the use of motor vehicles with
in the state.
The head OF the proposed bureau is
to be Commissioner, to be appointed
by the President with the advice and
consent OF the Senate, with an as
sistant and clerical force. The COM
missioner Is charged with formulating
rules and regulations for the enforce
ment of the act
Must BE Registered.
The act provides for registration of
all motor vehicles with the Commits
sioner, together with a complete de
scription of the machine, including the
name Of the manufacturer, the manu-
facturer's number, the motor power
and the amount Of such power stated
in figures of horsepower. In addition
to this, in order to obtain certificate
Of registration, for which $500 is to be
charged the name of the owner and
the state in which he resides. together
with stat. ment that he has complied
with the law Of his state regulating
the operation of motor vehicles with
in the state, and the number assigned
his machine must be filed with the
Commissioner. II the application fol
registration is approved, the Commits
sioner will issue distinctive number
to be displayed on the front and real
of the machine, as an Identification
mark in accordance with the provision
OF the laws OF the state under which
the motor vehicle shall have been pre-
yiously registered.
All motor vehicles registered by the
Commissioner are to be exempt from
registration laws of states except thu
state in which the owner lives.
manufacturer or dealer in motor We
hicles is to pay fee of ten dollars
The owner of registered machine
who sells, or lets for hire, the ma
chine for a period of over ten days
must notify the commissioner, and tn
registration will become null and vol
within five days after the time spec
fled and the certificate must be re
turned for cancellation. The purchas
then required to register the pachin
and pay the fees.
What Penalties Are.
The act specifies that any violatio
OF its provisions forfeits registratio
fees and all rights and privileges. an
no owner thus violating the regul,
tions may register any motor vehicl
for a new certificate until he has pal
penalty of twenty-five dollars in al
dition to the registration fees.
The advocates of this legislatio
say 1t will greatly stimulate the mote
vehicle industry. and will unquestiol
ably increase interstate travel
such machines. The creation of til
bureau will provide means for keel
ing a complete record Of all motor-v
hicles used, which will no doubt hay
tendency to check wild Joy riding
in interstate travel, as the identific
zion marks are OF such a characte
that the driver Of a motor vehic
would be unable to escape punishmel
in case of accident
The revenue derived from the pr
posed law is to be used for the pa
ment OF expenses of the bureau, ar
surplus that may accrue is to be pa
into the treasury. The expenses of IL
bureau will consist of the salaries
the commissioner, which is placed
$4,000 a year, a secretary at $4,000 al
whatever clerical force is necessal
to carry on the work. No clerk is
receive salary exceeding $1,000
year.