New-York tribune., 1909-11-04
AUTOMOBILE RULES
International Con gress IN Paris
Did I'm porfant York.
Paris October 10

mobile Regulations, Whlcn was Hriu
.n Paris. from october > TO October IL,
vas composed OF sixty delegates and
-,,-esentatives of the various nations
NJ Europe and Of the United States OF
America. Its deliberations were >of
,hori duration. but its work was OF the
most far reaching character. and auto
mobiIists travelling through Europe in
,,tlre will bless this congress and the
wisdom that presided over it's sittings.
Mr William s. Hogan, chairman of
the European delegation OF the Auto
mobile Club of America, who represent
ed the United States government at the
congress. explained to a Tribune CORE
spondent that ne was directed by the
Secretary of State TO scquaint the con-
.ress with tho conditions which gov
srn automobiles in America. namely,
that they are under state and not fed
eral control. and that the United States
could not. therefore take an active part
in tho work of the congress.
This" continued Mr. Hogan. SIS very
much the same conditions OF things
that will be met with in Switzerland,
where regulations and customs are diff
ferent III the twenty-five cantons. and in
Great Britain, where automobiles and
other vehicles are under county council
control.
esides myself were the delegates
and representatives. of Germany, Aus
iria-Hungary. Belgium, Great Britain,
Italy. Holland, Portugal. Rumania, Rus
sa Switzerland, Servia, Bulgaria, Mon
AGO. Montenegro and Sweden, and special
%
Foreign Affairs. the Minister of Public
Works, the Minister of the Interior. the
Minister Of Finance, the Royal Auto
mobile Club of Belgium, the Motor
Club Of Belgium. the Touring Club of
France, etc.
The draft of convention submitted
10 the congress contained proposals for
the regulating OF licenses for cars and
drivers. for the unifcation OF the rules
OF the road in all lands besides an eIab-
orate disposition for the Identification of
cars generally. The principles Of the
convention were voted after certain mod
ifcation of details had been made and
were signed by the representatives. of
Germany. Belgium. Bulgaria, France.
Italy. Montenegro. Rumania. Servia and
sentatives did not feel that they could
sign without first referring the matter
10 their respective governments BY
November u. however. the convention in
question viii become an international
Law FOR ali those countries which shall
have signed their adhesion to it
Certainly, the most salient point of the
CONGRESSES achievement is the creation
II tho International road certificates the
holder Of which viii he allowed TO drive
his automobile in all the countries party
10 the agreement without any other
formaitT than the presentation of the
certificate IL question. Cars Will be COM
I'elled, however, TO carry at the rear an
oval SHAPED plate. bearing a determined
letter or letters indicative of the country
Of its origin.
The four danger signals adopted Ivy
tho Congress Of the Road held i'm Paris
last year. were maintained by the pres
ent congress, and all the countries party
"a the convention agree to place thcm
alonE their roads outside of townships
and largo centres
The examination Of the question CT
right or left was hotly discussed, and
the general feeling among the members
of the congress was tho adoption of the
left as being prefera BILE to the right for
many reasons, but it became apparent
thar no International regulating of the
question was feasible. in view of the i'm
possibility Of unifying tho rules Of lhe
road. 50 different in all lands
Article III of the convention. nov
ever provides" continued Mr. Hogan.
that the international road certificate
can be refused if the driver or owner
o. car is not OF the ne ationaIity of one
of tho contracting countries. This cccu-
lstion might seriously handicap f It is
enforced, the large numbers of American
tourists who visit Europe every wear
and who would thus he deprived Of the
benefit of Il great Improvement Tne
work of the congress Is, nevertheless. of
tho highest interest 10 American auto
nohilists. who viii benefit by excellent
regulations ana for whom travelling
conditions in Europe win thus be made
much easier
The calling OF this congress is due 10
10 initiative Of Germany. and was de-
CIdod upon at a meeting of the Intar-
national Association Of Recognized Au-
tonobilc Clubs at Hamburg in 1897.
The French government has spared
neither trouble nor expense 10 make this
congress one of far reaching utility"
At the close Of tho congress NJ Mil
lsrand. Minister Of Public Works, delir-
cred an address 10 the representatives IF
the various nations. He was proud, he
said, of the results obtained by the on
gress. and he bestowed unstinted praise
on tho excellent good viii and under
standing that had peryaded all the meet
ings. After having spoken in glowing
term Of that esprit de corps or soli-
darity which united. regardless of from
uers. the automobilists OF all lands, NJ
@liierand dwelt on that tightening Of
tie bonds which unite nations. the IA
clitsting Of their intercourse with one
another b. suppressing or lessenng sub
jects for quarrel, and he said in closing:
lou have served, in d large measure
he cause Of progress, Of civilization and
Of peace" c H.
KILL NEGRO, HUNT TWO OTHERS