New-York tribune., 1910-03-20
JERSEY AUTO FIGHT
HARD ON FISITORS.
argument for Reciprocity srith
Other States.

Trenton. n. J.. March 1s.-AIthough ~
sembIyman Walter z. Edges automo5ns
Bin was defeated in the Senate a dav Or
two ago after passing the House by a hiS
majority. Senator Edmund Wilson. who
looks after Atlantic County's interests On
the upper branch Of the Legislature. has
hopes that he can secure a reconsideration
% the BIN. The measure as already told
n The Tribune providing for three fvc-day
periods In year. during which time VISIT
ing automObilists can use New Jersey Foads
without the payment of a license fee It
was said In the legislative halls here yes
terday that unless the Edge bin becomes
law there IS little chance OF the automo-
bile measure introduced IN the Senate ~
Senator Brown getting through the House
u the majority leader has anything 70 say
about H. This bin Increases the license
tees about p per cent.
Senator Wilson. In discussing the Edge
bill. had this 70 say:
In my Judgment New Jersey viii Ioss
little OF the annual license income x any.
because OF the passage OF this act. This
system would have been Questionable a
year ago and there would have been serI-
Gus difference OF opinion but We have
now had one years experience with a nom
nal n0n-resident license fes-namely. g
The report OF Mr. smith. Motor Vehicle
commissioner. demonstrates that the state
has taken in the munifcent sum Of s. SO
during 1913 from this 81 automobile priVi-
lege. while during the same period the
state has taken IN over S240000 for the Is
suing or the annual licenses 20 some TWEEN
seem most reasonable that during zoe.
when nOn-resident motorists had the Ou-
portunity OF either taking out a license Cor
days trip 20 the state for the small sum
OF " taking out the temporary license.
all who wished 20 escape the annual Tee of
s. % $40 would have last year avalled them
selves Of the 81 privilege accOTdedE
Only seven thousand persons took ad-
vantage OF this nominal fee. thus proving.
in ny mind, that the average motorist u
fairly honest. and Il he intended % use the
roads OF the state % any extent he So
cured the annual license and was through
with Il. Certainly the figures prove this
assertion. Therefore. IN 1910. with this
evidence 20 20 back 20. Is Il not reasOnable
20 assume that the same argument VIII
prevail, and that rather than dodge con
stables. inspectors. garage agents selling
licenses and the like. the average mo-
tOrist viii do In 1910 just as he did IN lsr-
take out an annual license if he expects
TO use the roads OF the state for a greater
time than the three three fve day periods
that the law pTovtdesF
Commissioner Smith informs me that. %
date the amount received for two months
December and January-fOr annual licenses
Is $1,000 ahead OF the two corresponding
%
date. over $4,000.
Another point: It is generally conceded
that Of this $4,000 income last year con-
siderably more than half OF IL came from
residents OF New Jersey. For the sake
OF argument. place the amount from the
residents at $4,000. II New Jersey does
not pass this act these residents Of this
state will be compelled 70 pay. 81 thew
wish 70 tour IN Pennsylvania. $4,000. 20
have the privilege there. IL they wish %
tour In New York. inasmuch as New York
IS preparing to pass a reciprocal Dill Ike
Pennsylvania. they will also be compelled
to pay $4,000. and similar amount IN
period. which all OF them are gradually
doing
Therefore. for the loss OF. approximately.
5000 which We took IN last year-ant
even though This were doubled or tripled--
for the loss Of that amount % the state.
we are asking our resident motorists %
nav from 100000 up 70 drive their ma
chimes in two or more states, simply ne-
cause our state will not reciprOcate.