Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-08-11
RELIEF N SIGHT
FOR AUTO OWNERS
fudge Adamson Introduces Bill
Concerning Licenses.
REDUCES TOURING EXPENSES
darmon's Chief Organizer Busy in
neutrality-suspicious. Keeps His
Fund Free From Wall Street
Taint-San Francisco
Exposition Site.
BY WILLIS ]. ABBOT.

Washington.-Some hundreds of
thousands of Automobiles who in
oulge In the pastime of touring ought
TO rise up and call Representative w.
Z. Adamson, chairman Of the house
committee on interstate commerce,
blessed. / am unable to discover why
Judge Adamson has come to the re-
lief Of the bubble wagon devotees
He is not himself given to that sport
and is rather fond of telling how in
bis home in Carrollton, Ga, he can
hitch his horse-age unspecified-to
his old Conestoga wagon and cover the
country with suffi cient speed and with
more certainty than can any motor
car
Probably the extremely intricate
and complicated bill for federal H.
censes for automobiles, now before
his committee, spurred Judge Adam
son to the preparation of his own
measure. The former has the approval
of the Automobile Club OF America,
but 1t Is the end sought rather than
the form of the bill that is approved.
The annoyances and expense to which
I0ui ms duLOihODlhSL5 al = SuDJGCIeu are
matter of current notoriety. For ex-
ample, the run from Washington to
New York. made easily in two days,
takes in six states, each with its own
rules as to licenses and registration.
Not all demand licenses of vehicles
merely passing through-New Jersey
is the greatest CRATER in this way
but each has some special form Of
registration that causes the traveller
vexadous delay. 1t is to correct this
evil, which exists wherever automo-
biles can go, that the national asso
citation has sought for a federal H.
cense law which shall ensure the IL
censee equal rights In every state.
But Adamson has put into about $50
words all the essentials Of the Peters
Tor association bill of $500 words.
Like the ordinary southern Democrat,
the chairman of the committee on in
terstate commerce Is shy of federal
licenses. His political school holds
that the less the federal government
has to do with the individual, the bet
ter. If anything can be done without
the creation of United States bureau
to do 1t, you may rely upon the south
ern Democrat to find and apply what
he thinks the better way.
Adamson's Bill Is Simple.
SO Adamson turned in disgust from
the complicated automobile bill with
its provision for a registration in the
office of public roads of the depart
ment Of agriculture Of all sorts of
data regarding the machine, it's own
er, it's chauffeur, with photographs,
etc, and fees of ten dollars for regis
tration and five dollars for license of
the driver
He met all the needs of the tourist
with a brief bill which merely pro-
vides that mo person who shall have
qualified by complying with the laws
and regulations of the state, territory
or district of his residence to use or
operate such vehicle or vehicles shall
be required in any other state or ter
ritory, into which he may go for bust
ness or pleasure, to make any addi-
tional registration or to take out any
additional license in order to use and
operate any such machine"
The bill further provides that the
certificate of the county clerk at the
autoist's home shall be evidence of
his having complied with his home
laws, and shall hold him immune
from all registration or license fees
in any other state.
Nichols Pushes Harmon Boom.
Hugh l.. Nichols, lieutenant gov
ernor of Ohio, and the man rec
ognized as the organizer of the forces
Of the Harmon presidential can
didacy, has been In Washington sew
eral days. Presumably his work has
been to awaken active interest in the
political fortunes of his chief among
senators and representatives, though
that work indeed has not been neglect
ed by Senator Pomerene, who has
made decided impression as a new
senator and has employed well his
popularity in behalf OF tie Ohio gov
ernor.
There Is no doubt that Governor
Harmon's candidacy has seemed to
lag Nobody appreciates that fact bet
ter than Mr.. Nichols himself But he
points out that the governor is ex-
ceedlngly ayerse to anything that sug-
gests frantic personal pursuit of the
nom nation. He will not Swing around
the circle" nor has he thus far even
accepted or encouraged invitations to
speak outside of the bound aries of
Ohio.
Just at present he is finding sur
cease of political care at Charleyoix.
Mich, where a seat astride a horse or
in a boat, or a trudge over the golf
links helps to get the mind in clear
condition for coming political con-
test. Fishing is well known to be
contemplative recreation In the course
of which plans for the future can be
thought out, while it is matter of
common notoriety that some OF the
biggest business deals have been put
through on the links However, while
Governor Harmon thus loafs and In
Horace's Villa.