Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-02-28
MAY RECONSIDER
AND AMEND THE
AUTOMOBILE BILL
House Defeats Bracken Meas.
nre, Which Failed to Provide
Penalty for Violations.
r5ron a stan Correspondent


TRENTON. Feb. 2S.-The Bracken
auto bill, House No. So, establishing re-
ciprocal relations between the autoists
of New Jersey and those of other
states, vas beaten in the House last
night after a debate that lasted almost
two hours. II was the first real debate
of the session.
The vote was twenty-eight in favor
of the measure and sixteen against. It
requires thirty-one votes to carry a
bill. The bill will likely be reconsidered
today. It Is of the greatest impor-
lance to autoists, who are fighting
hard for reciprocal relations. The
principal objection to the bill in its
present shape is hat 1t has no pro-
vision to enforce penalty against a
foreign autoist who stays in the State
longer than the fifteen days in which
he lie exempt from taking out a license.
A somewhat similar automobile bill
introduced by Senator Edge was beaten
in the upper house last week, Both
the Republican and the Democratic
platforms last fall pledged the parties
to support legislation for reciprocal
laws. The New Jersey Automobile and
Motor Club wants the Braeken bill
passed.
Assembiyman whyte, of Camden,
Jumped on the measure hard. He pre-
dicted that IN five or ten years other
States like New Hampshire and Yer
mont would be putting up the bars
against a~utoists in the same manner as
New Jersey mas dom
Attacks Autoists.
Assemblyman Walsh, of Mercer. at
tackled the tactics of the autoists in
the last campaign. He charged that
they pursued q course of intimidation
to make candidates for the Legislature
pledge themselves to the auto measure.
Assemblyman Bracken, seeing that
his measure was in trouble, tried to
withdraw 1t, but owing to a prelim-
inary tangle was unable to do so.
Leader Matthews objected strongly to
the measure, not only on the ground
that it had no provision TO issue proc
ess against an offending visiting motor
list, but also because of the great de-
struction 1t would cause to the good
roads of New Jersey with any recon-
pense.
He pointed out that the State is stu
ated as no other State is, having with
In a mile or two of it's borders three
times as man, motorists as there are
within the state. He said that auto-1ts
might stay in the State 365 days in
stead Of the fifteen prescribed and
there wat apparently nothing to stop
them. The 81 registration fee he con-
sidered nc hardship, especially in view
of the fact that fifty cents was the
charge for conveying an auto across
a ferry. He, too. objected to the method
of campaigning pursued by the autoiStS
last fall.
"If This bill is enacted into law he
exclaimed, at will not be by the free
and uncontrolled vote of the Legis-
lature. but because of the coercion ex-
ercised previous to the election"
Republican Leader McCran "joshed'
Matthews on his opposition to the auto
bill. He said nat New Jersey was an
inviting land to the autoists from other
places, many of whom might be 80 in
fatuated with the scenery that they
would buy a farm in Hunterdon
County. Mr.. McCran made a few moro
references to Hunterdon Of a humorous
nature.
1.-THE gentleman from Passaic must
not be personal" said the Speaker.
II am not personal" said Mr.. Nc
Gran.
w LAAo RANNS 0Oo1 I
pardon for misi~nterpreting your
language"
McCran-"I regret that 1 should use
language open to misinterpretation."
McCran wondered If the small in
crease in population in Hunterdon
County in many years had any rela-
ton to the opposition to the auto bill.
Then he made a serious argument in
favor of the passage of the measure.
McCran's illusions to Hunterdon
caused Matthews to grow eloquent. He
Reminded the Assemblyman that 1.-THE
sacred spot on which we are standing
tonight was carved out of old Hunter
don. which had been cut away, slice
after slice, to give territory to other
counties Matthews's praise of Hun
terdon and her citizenship filed the
chamber with the odor Of new-mown
hay and made one think Of Maud Null
Ter on a summers day.