New-York tribune., 1910-07-15
CHAUFFEURS AT SCHOOL
First Examination of Auto DrIv-
ers Under New Law.
NO PUZZLES IN QUESTIONS
Secretary of State Koenlg VIII
Insist on Men Being
Fully Qualified.

Automobiles lined the blocks IN the vicio-
ity of Broadway and 18Th street yesterday
from 10 O'Clock till noon. while five hun
dred of the men who drive them were Up-
stairs in No 2e7 West 74th street writing
evidence on their examination papers that
they were fitted 20 handle an automobils
and conserve the public safety at the same
time.
All types OF cars we're there. from unkenpr
taxicabs to smart racing runabOuts and
roony touring cars In the hall above. sit
ting at their ia bIes ike so many school
boys. were representatives OF ali the types
Of chaufTeurs known 10 man Some were
uatty and smart IN their private Hvsries
and some we're not az all natty. but all
were struggling with the same questions
There was a rumor abroad that the ques-
tIons would be hard and extremely technical
in their nature Accordingly, all the i've
hundred men whose livelihood depends on
their ability TO drive an automobile feIr
pretty nervous They were agreeably sur
prsed to find that the questions were nor
at all difficult and dealt more with mat
ters of common sense than abstruse engine
difficulties
Frederick H Elliott. chief examiner. was
in charge of the examination. and was as
sisted 5y his twenty-nine deputies. who
walked I'D and down the aisIes Ike proc
tors Samuel s Koenig, Secretary OF STATE,
and Albert g CaIlan. the Assemblymsn
who drew the bill, were both present watch
ing the operation OF the first examination
/ Mr.. CaIlan said We do not claim that
this bill is perfect. but il is certainly y
great Improvement on the old Law. which
allowed a man 70 obtain license on any
name. He could have got a license in ths
name Of dead man If be wished.
4 Each of the men examined had fled his
application with the Secretary OF State az
Albany. That application had been accom-
panied By a fee Of & 80 good until January
/ l. 1911. or $ for the entire year The appli-
cation bore a photograph of the applicant
duplicate Of the photograph will be past
/ ed on the license when il is issued The
chauffeur will also receive a badge, which
he must wear at all times He must also
carry his certificate OF license with his
/ photograph
Secretary OF State Koenig expressed him
self as annoyed that the chaUneurs thought
the questions would be very severe. He
said: These men have their living to earn.
and certainly would not put any unncces-
sary obstacles in the way OF their earn
/ ing it
/ chaufeurs are men who operate motor
vehicles for hire, either in the employ %
one individual or for general service. The
law seeks to have men who are capable
Of giving good service Applicants for
licenses as chaufeurs will not be troubled
with puzzle questions. nor will they be
/ confronted with trick propositions But
/ they will be required to answer questions
that have 10 do with the everyday work
Of men hired for operating motor vehicles
Their character and habits viii bs
looked into, and their reputation for reck-
less driving and in1emperance. If there IL
any. viii have something TO do witt
whether they will be licensed under the
new law I purpose that every man who
operates a motor vehicle in the streets
and highways of this state shall be fuIIv
qualified and in every way competent 20
do so with safety TO every one concerned q"
The new number plates for automobiles
viii be issued to those who have registered
next week. There has been some deIav
in getting the plates from the makers. but
every owner who has registered with the
Secretary Of State Will De furnishs with
the new number plate before August I.
when the new automobile law goes into
effect
feurs viii be held frequently in order 70
| accommodate the applicants for licenses
Those seeking to take the examination will
be notified to appear before the examiners
in patches OF five hundred or more on
each day. according to the receipt Of appii-
cations on the next date for examination.
probably July Is. morning and afternoon
/ sessions will be held F H Elliott and
/ his assistants have no power to receive
/ applications. Their work is merely 20 tak-
charge of the examinations as ordered by-
the bureau In Albany
/ All applications should be sent to the
Automobile Bureau OF the Secretary OF
States Office. Albany Owners permits
/ chaufeurs' certificates and number plates
\ as well as every detail OF the operation OF
| the Cailan law, are directly under the gu
pervisiOn of the Secretary of State in his