New-York tribune., 1912-03-08

'CA[[AN LAW WILL STAND
Leaders OF Legislature Oppose
Auto Statute Changes.
ATTACK ON BUSSEY BILL
Lazansky Joins Move to Prevent
Restrictions on Chauffeurs'
Licenses.
LRy Telegraph 10 The Tribune.

Albany, March THE Legislature sp-
parently will make no radical amendments
TO the Callan automobile law this year. At
hearing this afternoon on several pro-
posed amendments before the Senate In
ternal Affairs Committee ii became known
that the policy which the legislative lead
ers have practically decided to follow is to
give the Callan law as 1t stands another
years trial. The automobilists are salts
fled with the Callan law. some OF them
saying that it is the best of the kind in
the country and that 1t is being widely
copied by other, states
The chauffeurs' license bill OF Senator
Bussey and the bill of Senator Long pro-
vlding that the Secretary OF State turn
back one-half the money received for
chauffeurs' licenses and the automoblists'
certificates of registration 10 the counties
were considered. The Bussey bill was In
troduced as result OF the many automo-
bile and taXicab robberles In New York.
as IL had been found that many chauffeurs
held state licenses though they we're ex-
conyicts. 1t provides that no license shall
be granted to a person who has been con-
victed of a felony and that the license OF a
victed OF violation of the present auto
mobile law The Callan law now provides
that chauffeur's license shall be revoked
after a third conviction upon the recon-
mendation OF the court
Secretary OF State Lazansky appeared
against both bills, saying the Calian law
should first be thoroughly tested Speaking
OF the Bussey bill, he said IT was irnprac-
ticable because II would make necessary
tho creation OF an expensive bureau in MS
Office. which would have 10 so into a COM
plete examination OF the record of every
person who applied for chauffeur's license
To see whether he had ever been convicted
Charles Thaddeus Terry. Melvin Bender
and j. A. Richie. all representing the New
York State Automobile Association, op-
posed both measures. Mr.. Terry also ap-
peared for the Automobile Dealers Asso-
citation and the American Automobile As
sociation. He held that the Bussey DILL
could not be enforced, even il enacted, as
the use Of the public highways is a consti-
tutlonal right and not privilege, and could
not be taken away. as this bill pro-
posed. Mr.. Bender said a chauffeur should
be treated the same as a motorman or a
teamster. lie directed his remarks princi-
pally against the section TO revoke chauf-
leur's license after conviction for viola
ton OF the Callan law.
Speaking of the Long bill. to turn back
half the automobile money TO the counties,
Mr.. Terry said that when the Callsn law
was passed there was an understa nding
with the automobilists that the money
should be used for good roads
The Long bill, no declared, would de-
stroy this understanding. What will be-
come OF this money that the automobilists
give the state If it is turned back to coun-
ties and petty officials? Would they use II
for continuous highways? No, they would
spend II for their market gardening roads.
Mr.. Terry said the automobilists were
not Obliged 10 submit to the "exorbitant
registration fees now imposed upon them,
but that they were willing and glad to DO
so il the money goes for good roads. He
declared that II the Long bill were enacted
the automobilists would 30 into the courts
and attack the constitutionality Of the Cal
Ian law.