New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-22
UNIFORM AUTO LAW
IS HARD TO FRAME
Conferrees Meet, but Adjourn for
Week with Little Work
Accomplished.

The commissioners appointed by the
Governors OF the New England ana
Middle Atlantic States to confer for the
purpose Of formulating a uniform motor
vehicle law for the country. met yester-
day morning and afternoon in the Hotel
Belmont.
Several questions dealing with the
operation Of motor vehicles in cities and
or state highways were gone into In an
effort to frame satisfactory regulations.
More than one conference will be held
and the best judgment of the copferrees
will be laid before the legislatures of the
several states with view OF having a
uniform law enacted
Samuel w. Taylor. of No. 432 Fourth
avenue a member of the New York COM
mission, acted as chairman Of the con-
ference. II was through the New YORK
Commission that the general conference
was called, and w. +. Emo. known as
"the father OF traffic regulations" and
whose system was introduced into this
city and Paris, is also aiding In the
movement
The principal speaker at the morning
session was Colonel w. d. Sohier, High
way Commissioner OF Massachusetts.
! Colonel Schier recommended the substltu-
ton OF blue lights for red on the back
OF motor vehicles. He recalled that In his
home town a number OF accidents had re-
suited from pedestrians mistaking auto
mobile lights for danger signals or rail-
road signals
III blue lights were used instead Of red
this difficulty would be overcome he
said. He also re commended legislation Of
uniform nature respecting chauffeurs
whose licenses have been revoked. and
also the licensing OF owners Of automo-
biles.
Colonel Sohier stated that II would be
simple matter for a chauffeur whose
license had been revoked I'm Massachu-
sets or IN any othe' state because OF
gross carelessness to go TO another state
and secure another license TO operate
motor vehicles. The legislation he pro-
posed would prohibit the issuing OF a
license To chauffeur whose licenses had
already been revoked.
In speaking OF the revoking OF licenses
Colonel Sohler said that the method OF
procedure In Massachusetts Is stricter
than In New York. or. possibly. in any
other state. In Massachusetts,, he said,
when IL was determined that the operator
OF motor vehicle has been responsible
for the death Of a pedestrian his license
H. taken away from him, and renewal
is impossible. In the case OF injuries re-
sulting from the carelessness OF chauf-
feurs. he added suspension Of thirty
days follows
w. +. Emo also advocated the licensing
OF owners OF automobiles. when licenses
are required OF chauffeurs employed by
owners OF motor cars" he said, 1t only
follows that owners who operate their
own machines should be compelled to
secure licenses before operating automo-
biles I'm the public streets"
The afternoon session was devoted TO
reading extracts from booklet entitled
Comparison Of the Motor Vehicle Laws
Of the States of Connecticut, Delaware,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts. New
Hampshire. New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania Rhode Island and Yer
mont" prepared by the New Jersey Com
mission on Uniform Automobile Legisla-
ton, OF which J. II. Lippincott is chair
man and George L. Burton is secretary.
The matter read covered the ground fully.