Perth Amboy evening news., 1909-01-09
Calls Attention to the Loca-
tion of New Jersey, and
the Many Attractions Of
fered for Automobiles.
Revenue From Licenses
About One Fourth Cost of
Roads, of Licenses
Come From Out of State.
Remedy Offered for the JUS
tice of the Peace Evil
Defends Their Actions As
a Whole--ls the Only Way.
ee.al 70 ths EYENlNe wEws.

Special to the EVENING NEWS.
Trenton, Jan. e.-Commissioner J. B.
R. Smith, Of the State Department Of
Motor Vehicles, in his annual report to
the legislature, strongly resents the
charges that New Jersey is unjust or
disconrteous in its treatment of moter-
lists from other states In iustifying the
legislation of this state, Mr. Smith ad-
mits that the feature of the New Jersey
law which has caused the greatest criti-
csm on the part of motorists is its fail
ure to recognize registration certificates
of other states. In this connection he
calls attention to the fact that New Jer-
sey, In proportion to It's size, offers
greater percentage of improved roads
than any other state Of the union, and to
an extraordinary extent is patronized
by automobilfsts from other states.
Discussing the question of Interstate
comfy as regards automobile legisla-
ton, Mr.. Smith says:
"There are under consideration four
methods of dealing with this subject
First, to refrain from recognizing for
eign registration, as is done by New
Jersey, Pennsylvania and some other
states; second, to recognize indefinitely
foreign registrations, as is done by
New York; third, to recognize foreign
registrations, for a limited term, for
five, ten, or fifteen days, as is the pre-.
vailing practice in New England; fourth,
to issue, for a nominal consideration,
a short term registration Because Of
the practical difficulties in the way Of
! enforcing the limit, the effect Of the
/ New England plan is to admit indefn-
| itely on foreign registrations.
New Jersey's Situation.
g 1t must not be forgotten that New
lJerseyis situated in the heart of the
most densey populated section ef611n
western hemis . ere; that over hve -
lion residents of 6TIsSsT 6TIsF sa ssassS75E 75s7zs -
near its boundaries that single day :
automobile journeys is sufficient to car
ry them from their homes, over our
improved roads, across the state, to 3
point beyond it's furtherest boundaries;
that the mileage Of improved roads in
New Jersey is many fold that of any
other given territory of equal size, OUT
f, side the continent Of Europe; that con-
trary to the laws in many other states,
these roads, as well as our unimproved
roads, with two or three unimportant
exceptions, are absolutely free Of tou
charges, or other expenses to all tour
lists.
This, together with our numerous sea-
coast, and mountain, pleasure and health
resorts, constitute many advantages
given to visiting motorists, not possess
ed by other states. Cannot it then, In Z
fairness, be charged that New Jersey lie
discourteouss ! believe it will not be 20
charged by any person who will paus
sufficiently TO consider the privileg
New jersey gives In exchange for Il
automobile registration certificate.
But Improvement cannot ce accolS
phshed without thorough consideration
It must be first borne in mind what the
purpose of registration is. In New Jer-
sey it not only serves as a means of
Identification fits principal object in
certain other states) but also as an ef-
fective means of administering punish
ment for violati tions of the law, through
the power of revocation, and equally
important as a means Of collecting
revenue for the care of the improved
roads, every dollar of the money col
lected from automobiles under our Law
being spent for hard road repair.
An Important Question.
GA much more serious problem ad-
dresses itself to Jerseynen when the
question Of preserving the very salutary
feature of our law, that of the power
of revocation of registration certificates
for violations of the law, is considered.
Unless the driver or the owner has first
been licensed, the state is without pow
er to revoke his license. 1t might in
deed be possible to prescribe such PEN
a1ties for violating the laws that this
present efficient feature of our law
would not he necessary. No plan has
yet been brought to my attention. -
would accomplish sucn a result without
first causing considerable tike and an
noyance, both fG Sf~~< It's and those
charged with the enforcement of the
law
Regarding the revenue feature Of
our present scheme of registration, there
is perhaps much room for Legitimate
and honest doubt. There is hardly q
question, however, but that at the pres
ent time, the public almost unanimous
ly believe that automobiles are not car
rying more than an equitable share OF
the burden of the repair of the inn
proved roads. When it is considered
that the cost of improvement to the
hard roads Of the state is more than
100000 per annum, and that the rev.
enueS from motorlSts aggregate less
than one-fourth that amount, it would
seem that this popular conclusion is well
founded -
Some Figures Given.
The report shows that during the caf-
endar year ending December 81, the de-
partment paid to the State Treasurer
sl79,l93. This included sl2s,061 re-
ceived from the issuing of 2l ,94s regis-
trations; 1876 received from 2o,545
licenses, and $6.925.94 from fines, from
which was deducted as fees paid to
agents $9,549-57-