New-York tribune., 1912-03-17
ADVERSE BILLS KILLED
,6ti.Motoring Measures Will
Remain in Committee.
afw SIGNAL LAW OFFERED
,,.emblyman Harte Would Com
pel Equipment of Cars with
Complicated Device.

SOAA
ILL he interesting news to the ninety
.,s.rd automobile owners in the State
- work as well as many thousands
g., the neighboring states TO learn
-, nearly all Of tho measures introduced
.,ssbv directed against the interests Of
" -.,n,sts have been practically killed
in.oommittee
80 legislative session in recent years
,,ye there been SO many drastic measures
,..oan,ed affecting the use and operation
.,,,oroobi,es. The Stilwell light BILL
,,., has been sidetrackcd. would have
,,a owners Of motor cars in the Empire
s..,o o,one at least s2.5OO.ooo, TO say moth
,ho loss which the state would have
"' aa m consequence OF its keeping the
ron.resident tourists out Of New ioik.
~" eoisrature had enacted law refusing
% grant reciprocity to NONRESIDENT mo-
,or,s,s it could not have erected a more
a1ec,ive barrier against the autonooie
tourist Of other states.
7, ,s evident however. that some mem
,sre of the legislature are signal lamp
an,brsjssts. whether they own automobiles
~ moi Not satisfied with the defeat ad-
s..,,;-tered the Stilwell bill, the Touring
c,,h NJ America calls attention 10 the
,,onoce in a measure that Senator Harie
h.. introduced. which would amend the
highway laws pertaining to signalling ana
ntbcr devices required on automobiles.
senator Hartes bill provides that every
motor vehicle operated or driven on the
mbljc highways of this state shall be pro
vided with not only adequate. brakes, out
suitable and adequate devices for siShalhhE'
and shall. during the period from one-haH
bour after sunset to one-half hour before
s1rrise display at least two lighted lamps
m the front and on the rear OF such
vehicles a transparent plate showing III
white light the registered number OF 'he
vehicle in separate Arabic numoers' not
less than four inches in height ana edCh
s.rotA 10 be Of a width not less than hVe-
sishths Of an inch. and as part OF such
rur,ber the initial letters n. Y; a red
light and two transparent plates, showing
,n red light. one the letter r. and an
arrow pointing to the right shall be dis
n,sved and shown from the time the
vehicle shall change its course to the rlsht
until II shall have completed its change Oh
course 10 the right; the other the letter
L. and an arrow pointing to the lett shall
he DISPLAYED and shown from the time the
vehicle shall change its course 10 the IeIt
until II shall have completed its change OF
course TO the left, said letters X ana l.
end said arrows to be at least three lnches
in length and not less than hve-eighths VI
an inch in width
The Touring Club. the Automobile Deal-
e,s. Association of New York and several
q, the leading automobile clubs. which
mined IN the fight against the rear hght
hn are prepared TO go even further in
defeating the Harte signal light BILL which
Is more Objectionable than It's predecessor
Both of these measures are SAID 10 De III
favor Of patented devices. and once passed
could be used to harass the motorlst De-
yond endurance.
II is understood that the bill introduced
by Senator Long. designed to apply 90 per
cent OF the revenue OF the fines and pen
alties collected from motorists TO be pdlu
and spent in the localities where tney are
received. will not be reported out OF COM
rnittee This bill, If enacted. would have
opened up hundreds Of speed traps through
o,,t the state. and automobile users Will
therefore be saved the annoyance and IN
convenience which otherwise they would
have been put to had the bill become law.
The bill introduced by Assemblyman TAI
lett in relation TO warning signs or signals
on the highways which cross steam or
electric railroads at grade is regarded as
a most commendable measure. 1t reads as
follows:
"A warning sign or signal shall be con-
spicuously located at every highway which
crosses a steam or electric railroad AT
Grade, on each side OF such crossing, at
distance therefrom TO be prescribed by
the State Highway Commission. Such
distance shall be uniform throughout the
state The State Highway Commission
shall also prescribe the size and form or
design Of such sign or signal. The off1cer'
officers, board or body charged by law with
the duty Of maintaining a highway which
crosses a steam or electric railroad at
grade shall. before September l, 1872. cause
such signs or signals TO be erected at the
distance prescribed by the State Highway
Commission from such grade crossing and
thereafter maintained; and the expense OF
erecting and maintaining such signs or
signals shall be deemed part OF the ex-
pense OF maintenance Of the highway on
which they are erected. and be paid for
out OF any money available for the main
tenance thereof II the expense of main
tenance be chargeable to municipality,
the expense Of erecting and maintaining
such signs or signals shall be a municipal
charge This section shall not apply to
cities"