New-York tribune., 1909-03-28
CHAIN QUESTION RISES
HEARING At ALBANI ON
THURSDAY.
Charles T. Terry Points OWt InJUs-
tice of Proposed Restrictions and
Urges Opposition.

The State Highway Commission will give public
hearing at Albany on Thursday at which the Ques-
ton OF the use OF chains on the tires OF automo-
biies will come up for discussion Charles Inao-
deus Terry, chairman of the legislative boaro OF
the American Automobile Association, regards TINS
as 2 most important hearing. and has urged ali
members Of the New York state Automobile As
socatiou which affiliated with the national body
to attend the hearing, II possible
Mr Terry said yesterday that a great many sub
sects would probably be discussed at the meeting
and expressed the hope that at the meeting of the
directors Of association. in Rochester To-
morrow. some action would be taken. II is PROB
able 1isat some resolutions will then be passed for
presentation Albany
Let US consider" said Mr.. Terry yesterday, the
question Of the use OF chains upon one or more OF
the tires OF an automobile when the roads are coy
cred with snow or fee slime. Every motor We
hicle user knows that in such conditions Of the
highways il would be negligent 10 use an auto
mobile at all unless Il were equipped with chains
TO prevent skidding lie knows. also. unless he Is
utterly stupid and cares nothing for expense, that
Il viii not do to use the chains unless the slippery
condition OF the road absolutely requires their use
for the protection Of the occupants Of the vehicle
and the protection Of other users of the highways
'.An automobile users OF any experience also
know that for the short periods in Gny given year
during which chains used. the effect upon
the highways IS negligible They also know that
much more injury IS caused to the highways by
other non-skid devices. which, being permanently
fixed the tires. used the whole year through
IN all conditions Of the surface Of the highways,
whether dry not
There are II is true some few automobilists
who will use the chains when the roads are dry,
for the purpose Of securing traction and increasing
che capacity OF the machine for speed, but they are
& very small fraction indeed OF all the users Of
chains. And yet the question is being mooted as
TO whether a rule should be passed prohibiting
absolutely the Of chains in all conditions Of
weather. It is amazing that lawmakers should
consider for one the adoption Of rule
which would depTiring lav-abdding, decent users OF
the highways Of the use of their motor cars dur
ing those periods when the conditions Of the high
ways absolutely require the use of chains. in or
DER 70 punish the small fraction Of automobile
users who are so unrea soning and so careless Of
the rights Of others to them for an Hlegitl-
mate purpose. The So per cent Of automobilists
who behave themselves have ample justification
for the protest against legislation aimed solely at
the per cent who do not.
In this particular matter fair, just and
reasonable rule would be prohibit under a severe
penalty the use OF chains except when the roads
are in a wet, slippery Shiny condition or covered
with snow or ice Automobiles are organized and
have come TO be a powerful factor in highway use
and in highway regulation and they cannot and
should not countenance hostile legislation which
imposes upon them intolerable burdens and annoy
ance without any resultant good to the public az
large They will heartily concur and cooperate in
the enactment and enforcement Of rules sensibly
designed TO prevent and punish the few who have
regard for the proprieties, and who bring the
whole class of automobsts into disrepute because
Of their infractions Of proper regulations"
Going 10 refer to other legislation now pend
ing Mr Terry expressed some interesting views.
1t VIII be generally admitted he continued, by
al those who have given any thought to the mat
and by those who have been close observers Of
conditions that al least 95 per cent Of the owners
Of motor vehicles are ia-abiding citizens, who in
tend eli 10 observe the proprieties Of the
highway They are ready 70 and do obey all rea-
sonable and fair rules ard regulations which may
be enacted preserve the rights Of all users OF the
highways their own included. They intensely
interested, perhaps more than any other class Of
users CT the highways; IA the construction and
maintenance Of good roads This being they
feel outraged that any body of highway law makers
should proceed as though they were enacting laws
solely against the less than per cent OF motor
vehicle users who guilty Of violations Of proper
rules OF conduct and VINO disregard the propr1etles
OF highway traffic.
Take for example the matter Of miles-an-hour
limitations IN automobile II is the general
form Of automobile statute that automobilist
shall be allowed TO but shall be limited 30, ten
miles hour in cities and twenty miles an hour
in the country. The facts are that under certain
circumstances and at certain points in cities, 1t
NAV be the grossest negligence 10 go SIX miles an
hour or TO the automobile at all, as. for ex-
ample congested points, and, at the same time.
II may be that the open country, with road 60
feet wide, with other user of the highway IN
sight and with no dsnger which might arise from
intersecting roads. il would not be al all Negligent
10 run twenty-five miles hour.
Yet, if IN the last set Of supposed circurn-
stonces the automobiles, while exercising What
everybody would know TO be perfect caution. hap
rened 10 20 at the Of twenty-one miles an
hour for q hundred yards, he is as likely as
not 10 fall into trap and suffer all the penalties
provided by law. aimed only at the reckless driver
II drive- Of the motor vehicle had been in fact
negligent driving. IL YOU please, at the rate OF
forty miles an hour upon a comparatively narrow
road. with considerable other traffic upon IT, he
would doubtless escape punishment, first, because
OF the rapid rate Of speed at which he is moving,
and second. because, although the peace officers
might readily take his number and prosecute him
tc conviction, they not willing to go TO that
amount OF trouble II is the motor vehicle user
who is decent enough TO stop when hailed by the
peace officer, and who is going az such rate OF
seeed that ne may readily stop, upon whom are
.1sfted the harsh penalties provided by the laws.
The test should be Of negligence and not Of
miles an hour, and then tie law should be rigor-
,ously enforced