Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-13
MAY ASK u. S. TO
PASS AUTO BILL
FARMERS AND MOTORISTS FA-
VOR LEGISLATION
OF REGISTRATION
is DESIRED
Campaign for Passage of Measure Be-
ing Started Throughout the Coun-
try-Former Governor of NJ.
n. Supports the Move

That the automobiles of the coun-
try keenly realize the necessity for
the federal registration of automobiles
has been well illustrated as a result
of the recent legislative convention held
in Washington under the auspices of
the American Automobile association.
The strong plea made at the hearing
in Washington before the committee
Oh interstate and foreign commerce,
which is now considering the federal
automobile bill, has been productive
of the most beneficial results in all of
the large state associations and the
more important clubs affiliated with
the American Automobile association.
strenuous campaign has been in
augurated by many of the leading
clubs, and particularly throughout the
state of Illinois, toward impressing
upon the members of the committee
the great value of this national regis
tration bill to the automobile indus
try at large, which has now come to
be one of the greatest commercial in
terests in the country While it is
recognized that the benefits to tour
lists travelling from one state to an
other will be UNNECESSARILY improved
by the adoption of this bill in congress,
the fact is also admitted that it Will
directly and indirectly aid every de-
partment of motoring, whether for
business or pleasure.
The deep interest shown by the mem
bers of the committee on interstate
and foreign commerce, and their adj
mission that the broad principles of
the bill We're just and reasonable, have
been q great encouragement to the
active motorists who have been work
ing for equable laws on this basis dur
ing the last three years. Some minor
changes to the bill have been deemed
advisable and these are now being
made and the bill as amended will
shortly be ready for definite action by
the committee.
One of the strongest arguments in
favor of the federal registration auto
mobile bill was made by Ex-Governor
N j. Bachelor of New Hampshire
and master of the National grange,
with it's membership of upward of a
million farmers. EX-Gov. Bachelor
also looks at the purpose and benefits
of the bill from the broad view point
of the farmer, and he stated at the
legislative convention that, while re-
garding the automobile as an important
factor in bringing into the state resi-
dents of other places who desire to
purchase farms and make their sum-
mer homes there, 1t is also necessary to
consider that proper means of travel
must be offered.
1.-THE experience of the past six or
seven years has shown that different
laws on this subject have resulted in
many complications tending to dis
courage even the orderly use of the
automobile" he stated. I'm some
states the natural resentment against
the dangerous rate of speed at which
automobiles were being operated has
resulted in the enactment of unreason-
able laws, which defeated their pur-
pose by imposing regulations so strin-
gent that they could not be enforced
And a law that is not enforced is
worse than no law at all. For in
stance, many residents in New York
city live for four or five months of the
year in the state of Maine.
1.-THE pleasantest method of reach
ing their summer homes is by an au-
tomobile trip through Connecticut,
Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
AS travel of this kind is clearly inter
state commerce, they can properly
claim the right to so through these
various states without being forced to
pay taxes for the privilege of passing
over the roads. 1 understand that the
supreme court of the United States
has decided that the imposition by a
state of taxes on a travelling salesman