The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-12-08
VEHICLES BUREAU
SAID TO Be NEEDED
New York Congressman Au-
thor of a Bill to Come Up
This Winter.

Washington, Dec. THE increase of
the use of motor vehicles in interstate
travel has become so pronounced with
in the past two years that it has at
tracted the attention of congress. The
discovery that there is no law on the
statute books to regulate them resulted
in the introduction OF a bill during the
extra session providing for the regu-
lation. identification and registration OF
motor vehicles engaged III interstate
travel"
Representative Cocks Of New York is
the author of a proposed law, which is
said to have the endorsement OF the
manufacturers of motor vehicles as well
as the owners of machines who indulge
in long distance tours.
The bill, which provides for the erea-
ton of a bureau, to be a part of the de-
partment OF commerce and labor, 20 De
known as the motor vehicles bureau,
has been carefully drawn so as not to
conflict with any state law governing
the use Of motor vehicles within the
state.
The head Of the proposed bureau is
to be a commissioner, to be appointed
by the President, with the advice ana
consent of the senate, with an assist
ant and a clerical force. The commits
siouer is charged with formulating rules
and regulations for the enforcement OF
the act.
The act provides for registration OF
al motor vehicles with the commission
err. together with a complete descTip-
tion of the machine. including the name
of the manufacturer, the manufactur-
er's number, the motor power and the
amount of such power stated in tgures
/ of horsepower. IN addition to this, IN
order to obtain a certificate OF regis
! tration. for which SIS IS to be charged,
/ the name of the owner and the state
/ in which he resides, together with
/ statement that he has complied with
/ the law Of his state regulating the ope-
I ration of motor vehicles Wlth!n the
state. and the number assigned his ma
/ chine must be filed with the commits
/ siOner. If the application for reglstra-
/ ton is approved. the commissioner VIII
( issue a distinctive number to be dis
PLAYED on the front and rear Of the ma
/ chine. as an identification mark, in ac-
! cordance with the provision of the laws
of the state under which the motor We
/ hicle shall have been previously regis
tered.
All motor vehicles registered by the
| commissioner are to be exempt from re
/ gistratiOn laws of states except the
] ]
ufacturer or a dealer in motor vehicles
is to pay a fee of $40. The owner of a
/ registered machine who sells, or lets
for hire, the machine for a period OF
/ over ten days, must notify the COM
/ missioner. and the registration VIII be-
/ come null and void within five days
after the time specified, and the certifi-
cate must be returned for cancellation.
/ The purchaser, or lessee, of the motor
vehicle is then required to register the
machine anew and pay the fees.
The act specifies that any violation OF
! it's provisions fOrfeits registration fees
and all rights and privileges and no
/ owner thus violating the regulations
may register any motor vehicle for a
new certificate until he has paid pen
atty of S25 in addition to the registra-
| ton fees.
The advocates Of this legislation say
| it will greatly stimulate the motor We
! hicle industry, and viii unquestionabiy
/ increase interstate travel by such ma
chimes. The creation of the bureau
I will provide means for Keeping COM
plete record of all motor vehicles used
which viii no doubt have tendency &c
check wild Joy riding in interstate
travel. as the Identification marks are
of such a character that the driver Of
motor vehicle would be unable to escape
punishment in case Of accident.
The revenue derived from the pro
posed law is to be used for the pay
ment Of expenses of the bureau; an
surplus that may accrue is to be pais
into the treasury. The expenses of tn
bureau will consist of the salaries o
the commissioner, which is placed a
IS 900 a year; a secretary at $4,000, ant
r whatever clerical force is necessary t
carry on the work. No clerk is TO re
ceive a salary exceeding $1,000 a year.
Officials of the department of com
merce and labor approved the propose
law on general principles, and asser
that it will promote interstate travt
and commerce and give the peODi
cheap transportation across state lines
Members on the committee on inter
state and foreign commerce who hav
examined the Cocks bill say 1t is need
ed TO meet growing conditions of in
terstate motor travel, and that it is nc
e wise longer to postpone federal regula
l ton of touring cars, which are multi
plying at such a rate that the time wi
soon arrive when they viii be operate
g., .,or-,,,offfion with short line railroad