Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-04-29
GOVERNOR SIGNS
BILLS AFFECTING
MOTOR VEHICLES.
But AutOists Are Still Displeased
Over Failure of Reciprocity
Measure. to Pass.

BY placing his official approval OIL
the two bills affecting motor vehicles
that passed the recent Legislature.
Governor Wilson has made possible
the placing upon the statute books of
this State three very desirable amend
ments to the automobile laws, namely,
Q reduced registration fee for vehicles
registered after September L in each
calendar year. the rating of automo
biles for registration purposes on the
formula known as the A. L. A. NJ, and
an enforceable law requiring all vehi-
oles to carry lights at night.
These were three of the five reforms
asked for last August by the New
Jersey Automobile and Motor Club. and
In behalf of which the officers and
committeeman of that organization
worked increasingly. The loss of the
reciprocity bill by a tie vote in the
Senate on the last day of the session
was to be regretted, as President Bis
sell and his jieutenants fought hard for
it's passage, Mr.. Bissell remaining at
Trenton day and night during the last
week of the session, but the result was
encouraging. even in defeat, as tho
closeness of the vote shows that the
Legislators Of New Jersey are surely
awakening to the Importance of g. lib
eral automobile policy in this State.
and it is anticipated that a reciprocity
bill will be surely passed at next ses-
sion.
Mr.. Bassell was out of town this
morning, but Vice-President H. ID.
Bowman, when interviewed, made the
following statement regarding iegisla-
ton:
When the club first took up the
legislative question it was decided to, ie
possible, have the motor vehicle law
amended in five respects.
1.-THE first n most important fea-
ture was to secure reciprocal relations
with other States. That this has not
been accomplished is through no fault
of the club, nor is it due to a lack OF
energy on h part of any member or
members of the club who were connect
ed with the movement. AS is we'll
known, this was brought to a tie vote
in the Senate, and therefore it is,
proper to state that the automobilists
came nearer to securing reciprocal re-
lations with other States than ever be-
fore. 1t will safely follow next year,
We believe.
I'VE have secured, however, the
adoption of three amendments, which
have been signed by the Governor, I
understand, and are now law. They
are viz: The lights or all vehicles
act, so amended as to be enforced, and
doubtless the club will take this mat
ter up later on and see that the let
ter of the law is complied with. Lights
on all vehicles at night are an absolute
necessity, and the full compliance to
this new law will be insisted upon.
ALSO an important change is the
adoption of the A. L.. A. M. formula
for the determining of license fees. It
is now impossible for a manufacturer
to overrate his car and thus cause a
purchaser to pay a double fee.
Another amendment secured is the
pro rata payment Of license fees,
whereby if application is made for Ii
cense after September / only one.half
of the full years rate is charged.
"A1l three of these measures, while
considered minor to the main question
of reciprocity, are indeed important,
and the work of our legislative COM
mittee has not been entirely in vain"