New-York tribune., 1912-03-14
AUTO NEWS OF THE DAY
Automobile Clubs Report Still in
Committees Hands.
ILLINOIS LAW IS ATTACKED
rhaufeur's Case May Result in
Multiplying Act Governing
Motor Vehicles.

-, information relative to the lnvesuga-
,,., into the internal affairs Of the Automo-
.rs club Of America was made public yes
...sov although under the recent com
.,,isep agreement the report should nave
- ready for distribution to the members
T,esday. 1t was said. however, that
- announcement relative 70 the progress
:, tbe affair would be made by this evening
,,r,,or around the Automobile Club OF
,.,rica had It yesterday that the work of
~. sneclal committee will take much longer
~ had been expected three weeks ago
"a that II may not be able 10 report Tor
80 time. There is even possl-
sgr,,r Il Is said that the deliberations VIII
,'...fsre with the annual meeting and cleo
~ which under the constitution. should
,a ,,.ce on the second Tuesday in April.
'u - which Is serving TO arouse the curl
-, of the members, who are wondering
- ,rbat The labors of the special com
rrittee may have disclosed
ooc,nrehensive illustrated book, giving
,.-;,tiors of motor cars. has just been
,s ~. the Automobile Board Of Trade.
>, ~ the ninth annual handbook Of gaso-
automobiles. prepared annually for the
,,fo-matlor Of the public interested in the
.ranufactlre and use Of gasolene driven
vehicles. ,..
-. r-,sert volume is one Of the largest
-. +be kind ever issued, and contains Illus
..o.io,s of cars made by majority OF the
-, r,arrfscturers The illustrations,
,..,,,5i,o various body equipments, cover
~ .rsr Ave hundred different models.
s,yirg particulars and prices Of each to-
e,,ssY With tho A. T. a. NJ. horsepower
rating
a, attack ou the validity of the entire
,r;rois automobile law passed by the last
,,anlrol Assembly, has been made through
90. which has been carried TO the Su-
--,-oo Court Of Illinois Though the test
SO was originally Intended only to attack
,bat section Of the state law prescribing
,ysrojratiors for chauffeurs, II has now
dnysIoned into a court test of the const-
,utlonality Of the entire law.
ra,I Sargent, a Chicago chauffeur,
hacked hy the Chaufteurs' Association, Is
she nlaintf in the case. He refused TO
,-o,rre cbaufaur's license, as prescribed
under the law. and has carried his case
- the SUPREME Court for final adjudication.
The consututionality Of the act is attacked
on the ground that il violates that part OF
,bs constitution which says: NO act there
after rassed shall embrace more than one
subiecto A Supreme Court decision is cited
ss follows: Where an act includes two
distinct subjects and both are expressed IN
The title. the whole act must be treated as
void
The briefs filed with the Secretary Of
state By the attorneys in the case set up
that the automobile act provides for 'regu-
latipg the use and speed" and prohibiting
the use without the consent Of the owner, ~
etc. thus violating that portion Of the CON
rttution which provides that no act passed
shall embrace more than one subject.
The bill now before the Legislature pro-
posirc 10 compel tiremakers to date their
rroducts does not meet with the approval
Of the manufacturers, says J. c. Matlack'
of the Ajax company. 1T imposes an
unnecessary restriction or the trade, and
creates false impression in the minds Of
dealers ana consumers. The average tire Is
not bit the worse off for six months or a
years seasoning, ana very likely IHe De'Ie'
FOR il. Yet the consumer, looking at the
cate. Is bound TO say: 4 don't want an old
tire. Give me d fresh, new one The
dealer. If he tries to say the tire is no worse
for being d few months old will probably
have his statements put down 10 self-in-
terest BE won't want TO carry stock If II
must be dated, and so The burden will come
back on the makers.
IF the bin becomes a law il would make
complex and difficult situation. II is not
needed. ii does not serve the public in
terest as far as l can see. Some tires at
the end Of three years seasoning are the
better for it. but what dealer would ever
be able 20 sell in 1915 a casing dated 1912?
The motor and accessory manufacturers
Rave cauvassed the tiremakors and find
6eferuri-f.H g--Ceiffor IN the measure.