Norwich bulletin., 1909-03-04
HEARING ON AUTOMOBILE
MEASURES RESUMED
Discussion on How Best to Get the
Present Law Enforced.

Hartford, March 3.-The continual
ton OF the hearing on the automobile
| measures before the house was resum-
ed again today and while there are a
few who favor radical changes in the
law which is at present on the books,
the great majority in the discussion
seemed to be united on how best to
get the present law enforced. The at
tendance was not as large as it was
yesterday, but it included a number of
members of the different oranges
throughout the state, who had their
grievances against the automobiles to
register
The first matter taken up was that
regarding the senate bill introduced
by Senator Reed and entitled concern
ing registration, numbering, use, speed
of motor vehicles, and the licensing
of operators of such vehicles"
Senator Reed explained wherein the
measure was different from the state
law at present. It aimed, he stated, to
exercise a greater deterrent effect on
those who are inclined to drive cars at
a reckless pace through the roads. He
desired to have a measure enacted
which would cause the forfeiture of
licenses entirely under certain condi-
ticns. The measure also wipes out the
one-eighth mile clause as evidence in
regard to speed.
There were no other speakers heard
in favor of the bill.
r. ]. Woodruff of New Haven ap-
peared in regard TO the present law
He wanted to have it amended so as
to allow prosecutors to more easily
secure convictions.
Mr.. Stoddard, representing the
Bridgeport Automobile club, spoke in
favor of an amendment to the present
law, allowing local authorities to per-
nit races upon the public highways
He went on record as being opposed
TO the taxation of persons coming into
the state from other states and thought
1t would be very bad thing.
Former Representative Allerton of
Niddlebury stated that he was op-.
posed to fixing an arbitrary rate for
a speed law and thought that no such
law could be enforced as carried to
an arbitrary limit,
A measure doubling the fees for au-
tomobile licenses was then taken up.
This was favored by Mr.. Duffy of
West Hartford. He thought that the
reason why the roads are so quickly
destroyed is because the automobiles
go over them at such a high rate of
speed. and he thought that the fees
should be doubled in order to provide
a fund for the repair of the roads. He
stated that the grange which he rep
resented is in favor of doubling the
fees.
Mr.. Platt of Milford said he believed
the law must be made more specific
to secure enforcement. He was not
in favor Of speed traps, but thought
that women who are driving on the
public roads are not safe under pres
ent condition.
William H. Gibney Of New Britain
was of the opinion that the automo-
hflHc oil 70 10 I
that the roads are being unnecessarily
destroyed.
Mr.. Duffy of West Hartford, in an
swer to remark by Mr.. Plat of Mil
ford that the drivers of cars do not
stop when people in carriages hold up
their hands, or when policemen want
them to, said that IL a few shots were
fred at them they would stop readily
enough.
Walter S. Schultz Of Hartford said
that the previous speakers had amt
ted that about Is per cent. of the au-
toists are all right and he called at
tention that there is about the same
per cent. Of abiding citizens in
every matter which is punishable. He
thought that most Of the violations
come from the small towns, where
there is little or no attempt made to
enforce the law, and that where there
is a lax enforcement many people will
naturally try to evade the law.
He made the suggestion that the
state police be asked to assist in the
enforcement of the law. He further
called attention to the fact that there
have been SO few cases of violations
of the law reported to the secretary of
state and if that phase of the law
was carried out there would have been
very much better condition Of az
fairs throughout the state
He also favored an amendment to
the present law to the effect that
where the view is obscured for one
hundred feet that autoists should drive
on the right hand side of the road.
This practically closed the hearing.