New-York tribune., 1912-04-07
ROADS FREE EVERYWHE'F
Federal Registration Bill Is No
Longer Necessary.
Jersey LAW APPRECIATED
commonwealth May Place 1900
or More Convicts at Work on
It's Highway System.

NTH the adoption by the New Jersey
,ocislature Of liberal automobile reci-
r,ooty bill there has practically been re
r,oyed any necessity for a federal registra-
,,on law. such legislation has been advo-
,a,ed for several years by the influential
,.o,oring bodies Of the country. both ma
,,oral and state. this being regarded as the
iv Uav in which the hostile attitude Of
xou Jersey and few other states could
:. oyercomc To-day there is hardly a
tate that docs not extend welcome to
r,o,orjsts Of other commonwealths, and
,.d.raI registration. were it made compu-
cory. might he regsrded as a hardship.
connecticut motorist No. 3.444 figured as
the first man in the country TO take ad-
,,ntaee Of New Jersey reciprocity. on
rrssaav. April >. he waited patiently all
the afternoon in front of the State House.
AZ Trenton. until the state had opened Its
Gates 10 the motorists Of the country, con-
,,nced that a non-reciprocal policy is un-
vise and unneiGhborly Governor Wilson
st exactly o'clock attached his signature
70 what has been known as the Stickel bill.
hand shake with the Governor and the
man from Connecticut scurried outside TO his
oor removed his New Jersey license and
,roceeded forthwith without hesitaEcy until
he met the first policeman. to whom he sue
cessfully explained the astounding fact that
nonresident motorists were al last welcome
IN the commonwealth.
When Governor Wilson last fall at Tren-
ton stated "a a delegation from the State
Association Of the American Automobile As
sociation that he would sign any fair auto
,nobile measure. a belief spread throughout
,be country ttat the one state which had
nersistcntly refused TO exchange courtesics
would soon secure law similar TO that of
the other states. It will he remembered
that in the Glidden tour i'm October last
Governor Wilson rode from Jersey City to
Trenton as the guest of Governor smith II
Georgia. and at that time free passage
across the commonwealth was given to the
touring non-residents.
Joseph H. Wood president OF the Ameri-
can Automobile Association state body,
who has been identified with the reciprocity
campaign from its inception to its success
ful conclusion, commenting upon the auto
mobile situation generally in New Jersey,
presents an excellent case for that state:
Because Of the declination Of its legis-
MLOFS 10 PAL llCIPdNt III ltOlpiONdl ~ ~ IiSSVo
With other states, New Jersey has accumu-
lated a reputation which has beclouded her
otherwise excellent automobile conduct he
said 1t was the first state in the country
TO pass the lights on -all-vehicles' measure,
and il ended the era Of speed traps by
taking away the fees from the local JUS
tees and constables.
1T has just passed a law which now
awaits the signature Of the Governor per
mitting the use OF convicts IN the repair
Ing OF roads. duplicating to some extent
the SYSTEM in use in Colorado. This VIII
provide between l,500 and 1000 men in tails.
penitentiaries and reformatories, who Will
De available In roads repair work, unques-
tonably saving 10 state and county many
thousands OF dollars. One OF the nuisances
Of automohillng is the muffier cutout, and
this is now prohibited, II the police Will
insist upon enforcing the law just passed
and signed.
There is no objection whatever on the
part OF the motorists Of tho state TO pay
ing fifty per cent increased fees in order
10 gain terms OF reciprocity with their
fellow road users in other parts OF the
country. Furthermore, the motorists are
we'll aware that the problem OF the ROADS
IS one properly demanding their earnest at
tenton and substantial cooperation with
all others interested in the proper construc-
ZION and adequate maintenance OF mgh-
nays in these days Of multiplied roads
frayel