New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-08
JERSEY KEEPS BARS UP
Senate Kills Bill to Provide Less
Stringent Auto Law.
EDGE MAKES STRONG PLEA
Men Supporting Measure Called
Political Highwaymen" by
One Senator.
fBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

fly Telegraph to The TribUns.l
Trenton y. J.. Feb. 7-Following four
hour verbal battle in the upper branch Of
the Legislature to-day. Senator Walter z,
Edges reciprocity automobile bill was de.
feated by vote OF IL TO s. Two Senators
Cornish and Brown-were absent. They
nre counted on as supporters Of tho bill
MIR. Edge Immediately changed his vote II
lay, so as 10 be able TO move reconsidera.
tior later on II he can persuade enough
Senators 10 change their views.
Mr. Edges bill provided for ffteen-day
tourist licenses to foreign automobllists
without charge provided the state from
which they came granted similar privileges
To New Jersey sutomobiists. II also
knocked out that part of the present ace
which compes persons taking automobile
licenses in this state to give the Secretary
OF state power Of attorney. so that papers
car be served on him. II this latter pro-
vision had been in the Edge bill. the proba-
biI.ties are that IL would have passed.
Mr. Edge made an eloquent plea for the
passage Of his measure, declaring that New
Jersey should become a reciprocal state and
no longer he considered discourteous. IN
hospitable and selfish. He said reciprocity
In this connection should be considered from
three standpoints: The financial and bus-
ness benefit guaranteed by reciprocity: the
DEVELOPMENT of a neighborly and co-opera-
tive spirit with other states; the injury 10
business If present policy is continued. He
denied that the passage Of his bill would
derive the state Of much revenue from
ZOE residents, pointing out that non.resl-
dents last year paid $4,000 10 the state for
annual license fees. while only $4,000 was
represented in touring privilege fees. Only
the latter, he explained would be affected
by a law such as he advocated.
Mr. Edge contended that forty-four other
states in this country are operating under
reciprocal automobile laws. He admitted
the deep interest which hotel proprietors,
etc. at seashore resorts feel in automo-
bile reciprocity, but contended that tho
farmer, the merchant. and about every one
else IN New Jersey derived benefit as re-
suit Of the money which nonresident auto
n.obilsts spent at these seaside resorts.
Professor John d. Prince. OF Columbia,
the majority leader Of the Senate, vigor-
ously supported Mr. Edge. lie said that
automobiling was responsible for the de-
velopment OF considerable hitherto un-
travelled territory in the state, and he
thought that New Jersey should he as b-
eral as possible 10 nonresident automo-
bilists.
Senator Frelinghuysen, the author or the
present automobile law. opposed the Edge
bill strenuously. He read a list NJ figures
furnished by the state Motor Vehicle Com
missioner. which showed a loss Of $4,000
10 the state last year under the present
eight-day privilege. These figures demon
strated he contended, a corresponding re-
| duction If greater privileges were granted
10 nonresident Automobiles. Senator
Gebhardt also opposed the Edge measure
This bill" declared Mr. Gebhardt
would, in its present form, enable the
foreign automobiles TO come IN here and
run over you and me and not he liable. The
law would not give US any protection" He
said he would not characterize automo-
bilsts as hogs" but he would insist that
they are unreasonable" "Automobilists
and I am one OF them" declared the Hun
terdon Senator, should come down to this
Legislature and ask 10 have their license
fees doubled and even trebled, instead Ok
seeking to deprive the state OF revenue"
Senator Leavitt contended that the inter-
est of the seashore resorts in the bill was
occasioned by a desire 70 allow foreign
Automobiles to ride To their resorts free
OF charge and there he entertained at 81
a DAY and upward He characterized the
persons actively supporting the bill as ''po-
ttical highwaymen." The Mercer Sem
ator's speech teemed with humor and
irony and greatly amused his fellow SEN
ators and the spectators in the gallery.
Mr.. Sizer said his opposition 10 the bill
was due to the fact that 1t did not give
the state power 10 arprehend foreign auto
mobilsts who might be responsible for ac-
cidents within the borders OF the state
Senators Bradley and Gaunt. the latter
representing the agricultural interests. also
SPOKE against the bill. The vote was as
follows:
Ayes-Ackerm1n, Edge, Fielder. Fitzher-
bert. Johnson, Low Osborne and Prince
Total. s.
Nays-Bradley. Frelnghuysen, Gaunt'
Gebhardt, Hand, Leavitt Lewis, Nichois'
Plummer, Price and Silzer. Total, u.
Cornish and Brown were absent