New-York tribune., 1909-04-24
NEW AUTO LAW LIKELY
SENATE PASSES BILL.
Speed Restrictions RemoUed ana
Big Income PrOUided.

ALBANY AnriI 2a-The bill of Senator Aids. pro-
posing annual registration fee to be PAID py
owners of automobiles, and which, it is estimated
will give the state annual income OF SNV"' TO
be used for the maintenance of improved nigh
ways. was passed in the Senate to-day, under an
| emergency message from Governor Hughes certi-
flying to the necessity for the legislation
The bill proposes the following fees: Vehicles IN
der 20 horsepower, 81; between 20 and 50 horse
power, S. and over 30 horsepower, 80
The present speed restriction is removed ana
the owner of automobile will be held respon-
sible for the operation of the machine at safe
and reasonable speed. Provisions heretofore adopt
ed which are aimed against 10y riding are IN
corporated in the Aids bill. All fines collected for
violations of the automobile law must be turned
into the state Treasury under the bill. and the
collection of the registration fee Is taken from the
office of the Secretary of State and vested with
the state Highway Department
II is understood that the bill will come up for
consideration in the Assembly on Monday evening.
and that no serious objection will be lnterposed
there. Should it pass at that time 1t VIII become
law within few days, and will go into erect
on July l.
The penalties are not essentially different from
those under the present law except for the using
of tampering with a vehicle without the owner S
consent, for which person so using or tamperlhg
may be punished by a fine imprisonment, or De
rrivation of the right to the road for six
months. any or all of such penalties 1t is
thought that this provision will put an end TO the
| Joy riding evil.
The passage of the bill is the result OF cam
pagn covering several years conducted by the New
York State Automobile Association and the Amer-
can Automobile Association. and. so far as Is
known. has the approval OF all automobile inter
ests. In the final conference those active IN &C
cOmpshing this result were Senators Aids and
Heacock Assembyman Hamn. William H Hotch-
kiss former president Of the American Automobile
Association and now State superintendent OF In
surance; II. A. Meldrum, president OF the New
York State Automobile Association; Oliver A.
OuavIe chairman of the legislative committee of
the last named body: Charles Thaddeus Terry.
chairman of the legislative board of the American
Automobile Association: Giles II. StilweH, repre-
sentng various manufacturing interests. well as
the Automobile Club OF Syracuse. and Frederick
H. Elliott. secretary Of the American Automobile
Association.
c. r TeahoId chairman of the committee on
straightaway races to be held on April q OF car
| nIvaI week, has made thorough survey Of the
course at jamaica and reports that by the day OF
the races it will be in excellent condition Entries
are coming IN so fast that some good sport Is
| prouised in the nineteen classes
! Green River Wyo.. April 23.-The Thomas car
| which is laying out the route for the automobile
race from New York 10 Seattle, reached here yes
/ terday a week behind its schedule From Granger
10 PocaeIIo the roads better, and II Is thought
/ that some of the lost time Will be made UP.