New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-22
MOTOR VEHICLE LAW
EXPECTED TOSTAND
u;ceacres Predict That No
New Legislation VIII
Be Enacted.
M'GRATH BILL HAS
NOT BEEN DOOMED
p,onosa,s Based on Uniform Con-
troll Contain Features Of
Old Regulations.

t.-o,i information CLEANED 10y those WHO
,a,e been following closely the various
,.r. NOW before the Legislature at Al
800. 30 eppcars that no motor vehicle
,...sistion. either o. a remedial or adj
..'~.. nature. will be enacted at the pres
see.ion All the bills INTRODUCED have
,e,o tabled or are n the hands Of com
,,it,ses. and they are expected TO withcr
.,s No. forgotten until another year.rolls
around.
The one piece Of proposed legislation
hat would have mot wi,h the approval
ofa large number OF motorists-the Nc
Cath hIl-has no, been doomed in
-,,rrcr to indicate that tho present law
nets with much condemnation from
.,ose who are most directly affected by
ID. operation.
A.. a matter Of fact the McGraih bill
was designed 10 amend the Callen law
o-5 carries nearly an the provisions Of
,l, law that IS now I'm force. II provided,
bovevor. FOR the registration Of motor
cyclists. considered a desirable matter IN
,i.v Of the increasing number Of the two
wheeled vehicles in use.
Those who objected 10 the McGrath bill
based their antipathy on the provision re-
ouiring the licensing Of all operators Of
motor vehicles. whether owner or chauf-
feur and would have given the licensing
officials the power Of revocation OF the
license for substantial cause.
The Herrlcll bill found quick and solid
opposition because Of its provisions for
registering cars on a basis that would
have meant. It was asserted. an increase
~ about 800 per cent in the fees. In other
respects it was considered too drastic. II
called upon the state to furnish sign
boards for the various roads leading into
the six hundred incorporated towns and
villages In the state, and in that respect
ed novelty that aroused much com
ment.
The White bill, based on the report
submitted by the Motor Vehicle Legis-
latiye Commission. appointed TO confer
With the representatives OF other states
on the question Of uniform laws, has thus
far been introduced only in the Senate.
It has already been criticised as failing
To meet the situation.
In some respects the White bill is remi-
niscent of the laws controlling motor We
hices in this state as far back as 1901.
when there were fewer than one thousand
automobiles in the state. The wiseacres
expect that this bill will find its way out
Of committee. but they unite i'm predict
ing that 1t will fail to become law.
One Of the interesting sections Of the
report submitted by the Committee on
Uniform Laws is as follows:
In our opinion. the exaction Of a tax
in the form Of a registration or license
fee. which produces more revenue TO the
state than is reasonably necessary TO
cover such expense. is an unjust and I'm
proper exaction upon one type Of vehicle
II may be urged that motor vehicles
should pay license fees graded I'm pro-
portion 10 their horsepower, on the as
sumption that motor vehicles damage the
highways.
I'm answer We would state that the
highways Of the state are for the use of
all its citzens-their Improvement is for
the benefit Of all its citizens. Before the
motor vehicle the roads were bad and
their use was comparatively limited. The
Improvement Of the highways was as de-
srable then from the standpoint of the
pedestrian and the users Of horse-drawn
vehicles AS II is to-day.
The motor vehicle merely accentuated
10 the ewes OF the general public the need
of better construction and maintenance OF
Inc roads and made apparent the need
Tor improved highways Your commission
tails 20 see. therefore why motor vehicles
should pay any exactions whatsoever
which other users of the highways DO not
ray
We believe that motor vehicles should
- subject to taxation upon the same
basis AS other personal property and
mat In this way the owners Of motor
vehicles VIII bear Just burden of taxa
Ton In proportion to the value OF their
ears. irrespective Of horsepower"