The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-13
MOTORISTS SORE,
CALL LEGISLATION
PROPOSED UNFAIR
Big Meeting Tomorrow of Manu=
tacfurers and Car Owners
to Take Action.

Motorists all over the State are as
ma as the proverbial hornet we the
action of the Assembly in Trenton
this week, when the automobile meas
ures introduced by Assemblyman
Austen Colgate were unmercifully
pulled apart by the legislators and the
hopes of the drivers of motor cars
were dashed to the ground
OF the three automobile bills the re-
strictive measure, which makes it IL
misdemeanor for persons to drive an
automobile without the consent of the
owner, or while intoxicated, or for a bet
or wager, or in an attempt to break d
speed record, and also makes it a mis-
demeanor to drive a car after a IL
cense has been revoked. or to fail to
display registration numbers, or TO
display false numbers, was the only
one to pass the House.
Bill No. lis. which is to all linking
persons II of the fairest measures
ever offered, say autoists, and is de-
signed to eliminate all danger in using.
the highways at night by requiring all
vehicles to carry lights after sunset,
has not even been reported from com :
iiliilCt, dlu tltI0 SttiilS W DC SOlIlb
danger of this necessary measur being
smothered this session.
The general automobile bill was laid
over until Tuesday for final action,
after 1t had been amended by reduc-
ing the speed limit in the open coun-
try from thirty to twenty miles. 1t
seems, declare motorists, to be almost
impossible to convince the lawmakers
that the present speed requirements
cannot be honestly lived up to by the
Inotorist nor honestly enforced.
Assemblyman Matthews, of Hunter
don, introduced an amendment, that
was adopted, providing that the money
collected under the automobile law for
registration fees, ETC., should be placed
in the general fund of the State in
stead of being used for the repair and
maintenance of improved roads.
There are some $500, 900 of fees coll
lected from the motorists involved in
this proposition and every motorist has
taken alarm and proposes to put up a
stiff fight to keep the money for good
roads, for which purpose 1t was orig
inally collected.
So grave do the automobilists con-
slider the situation that the associated
clubs Of New Jersey have issued a call
for a meeting Of all motorists, manu-
facturers of parts and other interests
involved, to take place in the club
house of the New Jersey Automobile
and Motor Club, in Park place, tomor-
row afternoon at 3 o'clock, when q
plan of action will be adopted.
Many prominent motorists think that
the proposition to divert the automo-
bile funds to other channels than those
provided for in the Frelinghuysen act
is clearly unconstitutional, and this
phase of the question will also be dis
cussed at the meeting tomorrow.
The trustees of the New Jersey Au-
tomobile and Motor Club have, in addi-
tion,. placed themselves on record in
this matter by adopting the following
resolutions:
whereas it has been brought to the at
tention Of automobiles and the public that
there Is a suggestion to divert the funds
which nave already been accumIlated IN
registrations and licenses of Automobiles,
Resolved, THAT we view such action OF
the part of the State and It's legislators as
an act Of bad faith in attempting the diver
sion Of this money for any other purpose
thar which it was collected; and be it
Resolved, That this club is unalterably
opposed to the diversion Of any of the
funds contributed by the automobiles
through licenses and registration fees for
any other purpose than that specifically
set forth by the law under which these
fees were collected, namely, the mainte-
nance of imgroved highways.
Resolved, That copies of these resolutions
be sent to the Governor, the president Of
the Senate, the Speaker Of the House and
to Senator Frelinghuysen.
Altogether the present situation
promises one of the bitterest wars ever
waged by the motorists. and there
seems to be a strong and united feel
ing among all users of the automobile
that determined measures will have to
be undertaken.