The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-02-14
State Association Held Meeting in
Minneapolis Yesterday
FINE BANQUET IN EVENING
John H. Hohmann, Mankato, Responded
With Address On Work Done
in South Minnesota az

Mnneape "a " 12-The
bill Aisto' .<sed law govern
inn Mo- ..ation of automobiles
anA licensing of owners and
chaIffeurs in Minnesota was the
chief topic of discussion at the meet
ing in the Hotel Radisson yesterday
of the directors of the Minnesota
State Automobile association.
NJ r. Nyman, general manager of
the Twin City TaXicab company and
member of the committee which
has been drafting the proposed law,
explained the bill to the directors.
He said it was to have been intro
duced in the house yesterday, but
for some reason with which he was
not acquainted such procedure did
not materialize.
The BILL in most particulars, is a
revise of the present law. Mr.. Ny
man said, with some additions and
changes. 1t was drawn up to offset
another bill, prepared for presenta-
ton at this session of the legislature.
which the automobile men did not
think a justifiable measure. Mr.. Nv.
man said this latter bill would be
unfair because it violated the states
constitution in the means it used for
providing a tax. because it would
/ levy against automobile owners et
/ the rate of so cents DER horsepower.
regardless of the original cost of the
/ car. and it would empower the 500
rotary of state to revoke or suspend
licenses with or without hearings
/ The bill. which the committee drew
I'D, would put all mouev collected
/ from fines into the state good roads
4 fund. An automobile commission
would be created This commission
would take all business pertaining
to the licensing and registration 81
motor vehicles and their owners cr
drivers out Of the office Of the score
tary of state One member would
he a secretary who would devote ~
his time to the duties Of the Office
for an ANIMAL compensation IF g. eGa
I Debate Ar1o-- Directors.
Mr.. Nvman started lor~thv Sc
bate among the directors when he
explained that section Of the biz
which would give the court power -
suspend or revoke the license Of ~
automobile owner or chauffeur who
was convicted on any charge covered
in the proposed law Numerous d.
rectors claimed that this provision
would tend to work against the in
terests of owners and drivers Mr..
Nvmsn explained that the cause for
the provision was the desire to rid
the public of menaces in the persons
of drivers who were careless. inebri-
ates or dangerous for other reasons.
:; Iasv I'D hot fIa
povision might he particularly disas-
trous to automobile drivers in those
sections of the state where machines
were not yet common. and the resi-.
dents were opposed to them. They
maintained that many men who
; might not deserve the punishment
would be made victims of justices.
who would suspend their licenses
because of some offense that would
not merit the action. This section
of the bill was left open for argu-
ment; and it was decided that a
change should be made within a day
or two.
The cause of good roads was ex-
pounded by many speakers last night
!, at the dinner of the association at
the Hotel Radisson. Asa Paine was
POSTMASTER and in opening. told of
: the progress the ancients had made
| in constructing roads that have sur.
vived to this day.
Cooley Makes Talk.
George w. Cooley, engineer of the
state highway commission. told of
what the commission expects to do
in the future. He said that it is
: now planned to foster system Of
: state development, wherein the coun-
5 ties will bear the expense in the pro-
Continued on Page Two.