New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-04
TO DEFEAT AUTO BILLS
Members of Motor Truck Club
Urged to Take Action.
PROPOSED LAWS DIGESTED
Legislation Termed Caprice Of
Well. Meaning but Mis-.
guided Statesmen"


action 10 defeat the lood OF bills against
motor driven vehicles and drivers now
before the state Legislature was taken
by the officials Of the Motor Truck Club
yesterday. when they distributed 70 the
members OF the organization a digest OF
some of the most striking Of the pro
posed laws. with the request that il be
sent TO all customers. sub-agents and
factory officials 1t is expected that other
motor organizations 81 the state will
take similar action. An accompanying
letter read in part:
Do YOU know any reason why your
motor trucks. used lcgitimately in the de-
livery OF commodities over a public high
way. should have any less rights than
they would If drawn by horses? Do you
know any reason why YOU should pay s. a
ton for every one of your trucks instead
OF s. for the truck whatever its capacity?
or why you or your drivers should be
forced to furnish surety bonds before
you can drive your own vehicle on
the public highway? or be 'Bertloned' b.
By the police like criminal be-
fore a license will be issued TO YOU? Or
why YOU should be neld liable for any
damage done by your truck or car when
1t is being used without your knowledge
or consent?
IF YOU appreciate the danger of this
legislation az We do-and what IL means
as an obstacle 10 the development and
Use of the motor truc,i-we believe You
will use your best efforts 10 head of such
an assault on your fundamental rights
as citizen. especially your right to use
the public highways. We ask no unjust
privilege. noI do We oppose reasonable
regulation for the preservation Of the
public safety. but we do protest aGains-
tine caprice of well meaning but mis-
guided statesmen"
IN the digest reference is made 10
eight bills which are considered the mos
oppressive and unnecessary. Abstracts OF
some of the bills. and quotations from
the comments on each are az follows:
BIZ No. 54S-Requirng eve:y chauffeur
10 furnish the Secretary OF State a 500
surety company bond. The effect OF
this will he that all owners vii. be re-
quired 10 furnish a bond" BIZ No. et--
This bill holds the owner OF a vehicle
liable for damages to persons or property
and no defence to any action brought
shall be that the vehicle was being orer-
atcd by an Unauthorized person This
is a very dangerous bill and means that
II your car is stolen. and the operator in
trying to got away kills a PEDESTRIAN or
does any damage You are liable on ac-
count Of the car being licensed in your
name"
Bill No l29-Requirilg every operator
90 a motor car 10 furnish a fond II
seoco. This bill requires no comment
rhe rank injustice OF it is plainly shown
by the bill itself Bill No. s95-Rcquires
every motor vehicle IN city of first
class with 10000 inhabitants 10 come %
a full stop in front Of all fire houses
all street. surface and steam railroad
crossings and all schoolhouses, and be-
tween and in the morning, l. and
in the afternoon and and in the
afternoon at all schooinouses. Under
this bill il would be Impossible 10 ope'-
ate a motor vehicle freely. II would have
10 come 10 a full stop 1T every block AM
In the middle OF the block in which there
is a fire or school house"
Bill No. 567-This makes the violation
OF a speed regulation Of the statute "A
felony. Under this If a man is con-
victed OF a violation Of the speed regula-
ton he would lose his citizenship and
would be I'm the class with those con-
victed OF grand larceny. arson. murder
and robbery. The bill would open All M
limited field for blsckmail and eNtortlon.'
Bill No. 649-This bill requires that al
chauffeurs be 'mugged' and their photo
graph and finger prints taken and com
pared with police records before license
is granted. 1t assumes all ,hauneur
are criminals before they get their license
and every chauffeur would have TO have
his PHOTOGRAPH in the Rogues Gallery.
A bill giving the Secretary Of State tn"
power TO revoke or suspend licenses with
or without a hearing. This bill is an
arbitrary one and places too much poWe!
IT. the hands OF ore mar without any re-
course"
Report Of the special committee OF IN
auiry appointed by Governor Sulzer. They
suggest the doubling Of taxation OF pleas
ure ears and the increase on commercial
vehicles from a fat rate Of : 10 rate
of s. per ton or fraction thereof. Thhe
is one of the most unjust bills that has
over been brought before the Legislature
The automobile tax is an unjust one ana
IN double il means that every citizen
owning a machine will have 10 pay this
additional tax 10 the State of New IorH.
The ONLY tax that is legal is the cost II
rerstration. which should be less than =.
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