New-York tribune., 1909-12-12
AUTO AND THE LAW
NEEDS OF THE SPORT.
Uniformity Demanded by
Those Who Drive.

The need OF uniformity in automobile laws
is now attracting attention throughout the
country. Scores Of state associations and
clubs have for some time recognized this
necessity. and have been working for its
accomplishment in their respective states.
The legislative board os the American Au-
tomobile Association. which first brought
forward the question OF uniformity in auto
mobile laws as a subject deserving Of ths
same careful attention whicn for years has
been given TO many other questions is about
70 bring the subject more prominently De-
fore the country at large by the first na-
tional legislative convention which Will be
held in Washington on February Is IS
and Il.
The purposes Of this convention wer.
clearly explained by Charles Thaddeus
Terrr. chairman Of the legislative board. al
the recent annual meeting Of the American
Automobile Association in this city AS a
further evidence Of the increasing interest
/ in the importance Of equitable automobile
legislation. II il worthy OF note that Mr.
Terry has been invited by the officers Of
the National Civic Federation 10 speak be-
fore that body on this subject AZ the ma
tionsl conference on uniform legislation, -
be held in Washington on January IT. 1s
and "a
~ the February convention delegates
from all the clubs in the national organiza-
tion have been requested to attend and in
vItations have been extended to the Gov
ernors OF all the states, inviting them to be
present in person or by one or more Off
ciallv accredited representativ
Tie purpose ~ the convention IS tvofol1
first. To secure the passage in Congress Of
the federal motor vehicle registration bill
and. second. 70 bring before the ofHciaI
delegates of the various states the necessity
of enacting a uniform state motor vehicle
law.
According 10 Mr. Terry. uniformity in
automobile legislation in the United states
must be attained in these two directions
The federal registration hill. which has
been advocated persistentIy by the Iegis-
latiye board for mere than two wears
seeks - permit interstate travel of motor
cars hy a simple method Of one registra-
ton through a national registration hu-
reau. this regulation to be operative in all
states. without the necessity Of securing A
special license 20 tour in a dozen or more
states. as is now the prevailing system.
The national registration bill was intro
duced into Congress last year, but owing
20 the tariff agitation. II failed 10 obtain a
hearing before the Judiciary Committee, 10
which IL was referred The hill will be
reintroduced in Congress AZ an early
date a hearing viii then be asked for
and it is the intention TO have the hearing
set for one OF the DAYS during which the
convention viii be in session. thus permit
ting all the delegates 20 bring their
arguments TO bear for the reporting Of the
bill favorably 70 Congress
we believe" said Mr.. Terry in his
annual report before the American Auto
mobile Association. that there can be no
logical answer to the expedency and the
legality OF the measure, except it's prompt
enactment INTO law. and any and every
Congressman who seeks 10 evade the ques-
ton or TO attempt an argument in opposi-
tion should be met fairly and squarely by
4 better arguments, and that is not difhcuIt.
The full rights of automobiIists have
been too long ignored. To large extent
| it may be said that hostile automobile
legislation on the statute books is there
largely because we ourselves have been
lax and Indifferent about H. We want
and must have. the same kind of work as
has been done in New York. Pennsylvania
and Michigan in every state in the
Union"
In referring 10 lEe WOrk accomplished
since 1907 for a uniform state motor vehicle
law Mr.. Terry said that the progress made
thus far was highly encouraging In w en-
ty-eight states, which he cited at consider
able detail. some OF the more important
features OF this state law have already been
enacted. Those states which now exempt
non-residents from paying an additional
registrs ton fee provided such motor users
I have complied with the law in their home
| states, are: New York. California, Illinois,
| Indiana, Iowa, Michigan. Minnesota, Mis-
souri,. Nebraska. New Hampshire. North
/ Carolina, Ohio, Oregon. South Dakota,
/ Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. In
Massachusetts,. Vermont and Pennsylvania
/ nOn-residents are exempt from registration
/ and license fees for ten days and in Rhode
Island for twenty days
The registration fees. however vary
greatly In Nebraska and South Dakota
/ the fee Is 81: in Minnesota. 81 80: in Tennes-
/ see. Utah. Maine. Virginia. Washington,
Wisconsin and Florida. g.: IN Oregon,
Michigan and Maryland. So: in Ohio. North
/ Carolina, Missouri and Iowa. s.: and IN New
| Hampshire, SO. all these being nat regis
/ tration fees, without regard 10 the horse
| power OF the machine
/ The New Michigan law. enacted at the
last session OF the Legislature. is modelled
! more nearly on the plan OF the American
! Automobile Association uniform auto
mobile state bill than that OF any other
/ state, demonstrating. says Mr.. Terry. the
/ effectiveness OF the persistent efforts Of
/ some OF the American Automobile Asso-
cIasion's prominent members in the State
/ OF Michigan. particularly $. d. Walden.
| Roy %. Chaplin, william r. Metzger ana
others. The statute prohibits local ordi-
nances except on the question Of spesd.