New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-28
FINALLY PASS AUTO BILL
Jersey Senate Adopts Reciprocity
on Reconsideration of Vote.
FIVE-YEAR FIGHT ENDS
Motorists Succeed at Length in
Efforts to Have State Let
Down the Bars.
IBy Telegraph TO The Tribune.

Trenton, n j., March 27.-The Sticksl
automobile reciprocity bill passed the Sen.
ate this afternoon by a vote of II 10 2, with
amendments increasing the fees on pleasure
cars 30 per cent and making those on com
mercial vehicles over 1900 pounds a fat
so year. The bill came up on recon-
sideration Of the vote by which the bill
was defeated last week, and Colonel Col
gate, its sponsor in the senate made
short speech IN It's favor.
Mr. Leavitt attacked the measure. He
declared that the $1,000 inhabitants OF the
five counties whose roads would DC most
seriously damaged by tho wholesale in
flux of nonresident autoists should not bs
compelled to shoulder this expense In order
TO please the 1.132, l67 people I'm North Jer-
sey, who were afraid their goods would be
boycotted II this bill does not so through"
These five Counties Mr.. Leayitt explained,
were Monmouth, Middlesex, Mercer, Bur
lngtOn and Camden.
Mr.. Fielder believed the throwing open Of
the roads In this manner meant the attrac.
ton of autolsts who would spend consider
able money and also probably result in the
location in New Jersey of desirable citizens
who, on tours, would become impressed
with the advantages of the state
Self-preservation, said Mr.. Davis, prompt.
ed his opposition to the bill lie argued
that the other states crying for reciprocity
do not have any reciprocity to offer.
Pennsylvania, for example, he added, i'm
posed tolls every few miles, and yet their
autoists want us TO give them the free use
of our roads. This bill meant he contin-
ued, that the Jersey sutoist would have 70
bear the expense Of the repair and main
tenance of their roads 10 provide beautiful
touring highways for nonresident autoists
whose states have practically nothing TO
give in return. He criticised the absence
from the bill of provisions covering regis"
tration and the power of attorney.
Mr.. GeDhardt replied to Mr.. Fielder's as
sertion that the Democrats should support
the measure because the party platform
was pledged to reciprocity.
Reciprocity" he stated, was matter
of give and take, and this bill doesn't
provide for any such thing" He declared
that the city of Orange, where Mr.. Colgate
lived, contained the most abominable roads
in New Jersey.
Less than per cent of the citizenship NJ
the state. conteuded Mr.. Gaunt are ask
ing for this legislation, fact which con-
WINGED him that it did not represent general
public sentiment. lie called attention TO
the fact that New Jersey has more miles
Of improved highways than any other state
in the Union, the destruction Of which Will
be certain if this bill passes
Mr. Leavitt said that an effort had been
made to inject politics into the matter,
and, in a characteristic way, he congratu-
lated those Democrats opposing the bill
for having nerve" enough to stand up
against the dictation of their bosses"
The bill was passed as follows: Ayes
Barber, Colgate, Edge, Fielder, Johnson
Low. Pierce, Price, Prince, Silzer and Slo-
Sum--r. Nays-Davis, Gaunt, Gebhardt.
Hand. Leavitt Lewis, Nichols. Read and
Smalley-9.
The amendments will be adopted by the
House tomorrow and sent on their way %
the Governor The passage OF the bill
marks the end OF q tive-year fight ON the
part OF the motorists TO have New Jersey
take down the bars.