The Washington herald., 1910-02-17
JOY RIDERS BLAMED
Sylvester Joins Auto Dele
gates for Uniform Laws.
MAY COMPEL CAREFUL DRIVING
American Automobile Association
Adopts Resolutions IndOrsing the
tfOn of neutrality-suspicious. Urge
Congress 10 Take Action.


Congress 10 Take Action.
Joy riders and chauffeurs employed or
commission were charged with being re
sponsible for majority OF motor ca
accidents by Maj Richard Sylvester
Chief of Police, at the legislative conven
tion of the American Automobile Asso-
citation yesterday afternoon at the Willard
Mai sylvester declared in favor Of uni
form legislation for motorists. both IL
the city and on public highways through
out the country. He echoed the senti'
ments Of every other speaker of the sec
ond days deliberations. and uniformity
OF statutes was the issue demanded il
resolutions adopted few moments later
Disposed to DisObey.
1T IS the man who is employed by an
other az chauffeur" said Maj Sylvester
"or the man who borrows. by permission
or otherwise, the machine Of another who
is disposed 10 be fragrant and Indifferent
as TO requirements of the law.
"Where chauffeurs are employed on
commissions, as they have been by some
corporations employing motor vehicles
and cabs, the disposition to hurry and
return for another load goes long way
toward making trouble for the police au-
thorlties and the operator.
1.-The motor car in the hands of indif-
ferent or irresponsible persons is a prob
lem that always causes trouble for all
concerned
''Now Congress believes reasonable
laws should be enacted for control OF all
kinds OF traffic in the District, hut these
regulations are not meant as hardship
save where Indifferent and incompetent
vehicle drivers are concerned.
1T is by all means important and de-
sirable that laws and regulations for
traffic should be uniform in all cities
and on public roads where It is possible.
But il is important also that proper su-
pervision should be maintained TO in
sure reliable conductors, and that the
limit of speed should be within the
bounds of safety"
Resolutions Are Adopted.
Following are the resolutions adopted
unanimously at the afternoon session:
Whereas rhe bill providing for Federal regulation
Of motor vehicles known as II. r. 5l16. introduced
By Hon. William ". Cocks Of New YORK. and now
pending meets the approval Of ali who have gwen
the matter sufficient consideration and the prompt
enactment cf slch q law is Necessary for the I'M
han.pered Development Of interstate commerce and
travel by means uf motor IehiCles and since Il y
only through Federal regulation that the unjust and
HTaHanted burdens now imposed upon the inter
state commerce and travel c9u be removed; there
fore be il
Resolved That the National legislative Convention
OF the American Automobile Association. held IN
Washington February Ij 20 T. 1919. does urge the
speedy passage q this measure and does hereby
pledge itself to use every honorable effort 10 accom-
pish its enactment.
Whereas there are thirty-thres States having gen
eral motOr-yehicle legislation two Of which are
alike and the provisions q which are dissimilsr
as to Cause confusion uuWATaniod 70 users Of motor
vehicles engaged in interstate travel; and
Whereas the unditions Il the highways in the
various States are not too diSsimilar that a motaS
Law adequate Tor the protection of the travelling pub
lie In any State would D. equally Inadequate IN any
other therefore. be
Resolved. That it IS the sense of this convention
that the mOtoryehiCle laws q various states should
speedily be made uniform. and that all the energies
ard influences that ~an BE- ltzitinatciy brought To
bar shall be exercised perssterty 20 eccfaplish TIE
enactment in each Sta;e of a uniform law which has
b.cn discussed at these coaveutions
The resolutions were presented by the
following committee: James T. Drought,
Wisconsin. chairman; Theodore H. Curtis.
Kentucky; L. II. Kittridge, Ohio; Joseph
H Woods. New Jersey; Dr. William p.
Richardson, New York; DR. A. B. Heyl,
Ohio; Walter S. Schultz. Connecticut:
Frank c. Battey, Georgia: a. NJ. Fletcher,
Vermont, Robert p Hooper. Pennsyl-
vania; s. /. Haynes, Massachusetts,; DR..
c. B. Brown. Oregon; George S. Walker,
Wyoming Hon. Neal Brown. Wisconsin,
and T. Edward Bryan, Florida.
we think our chickens are the
Whitest," said Frank G Battey, president
of the Savannah Automobile Club. but
l am Of the opinion that the automobile
laws OF Georgia are the best in the
world Gentlemen. the State of Georgia
has no automobile laws"
The Georgian went on to describe at
tempts 10 set freak motor-car bills
through the legislature Of his State, and
ne concluded by declaring Savannah is
again out for the big racing events. He
asked the convention 10 help bring the
grand prize event to that city again
Sees bright Future.
James H. Wood, of New Jersey, said
the time viii come when the Federal
viii have possession Of all
public highways and that uniform legis-
lation will be no longer a dream. Charles
p Allen, of Denver. Colo, said the ten
dcncy in the West Is to encourage auto
men wherever possible. He said good
roads" is a slogan there and that inter
state traffic is invited.
S. Boyer Davis. of Philadelphia. gave a
resume of the laws Of Pennsylvania. Get
down there on Capitol Hill and get busy
with your Congressman" was the advice
given by James T. Drought. of wiscon-
sin. Get busy with your Congressman
and make him vote for this bill. It will
help, and it seems TO me that is all there
g left for us to do now"
William C. Brantley. Of Georgia; George
L. Rogers. of Boston: L. II. Kittridge.
of Cleveland, Ohio; William A. ThIbodea.
1f Boston. and R. P. Spear were heard at
he morning session.
The convention adjourned late yester-
lay afternoon, to meet this morning at
% o'clock for a hearing before the Com
nittee on Interstate and Foreign Com
nerce, of Congress. on the Cocks bill.