El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-17
5ANER laws FOR
THE AUTOMOBILE
Less Antagonism Is Shown
in Legislatures Against
Cars; Headlight Fight.

IT. He year just closed brought Ln ,Is ne ne
tor legislation than any prevlo ~ such
Rod. Some Of the laws Wers 80, az At
a sweeping change as to DIlhs a.
tacks in the courts. 800 ,ov- motor
The following states adopL5u Colorado.
laws during 1913: CallIoI ll.l,i,,e0 Mon
Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Aiichlg-eLl, vi
tana, Nevada, New Mexico, Terreesae
North Carolina, South Dakota, - - +b9
Wisconsin and wyoming, ACCORDING 70 'Ho
THE srnrerne court Of Mississippi uSc!ueu
that an oV-1er should not be compelled 70
pay 6 registration tax Of suIuCLeLC - - 81
to come under the head OF IevSAiuteg' 90 On
the ground Of personal property; hence thS
state registration law Is uncohstLtu Ia -
Ohio's new registration law bo14ing mat
be unconstitutional. the court H t rs -
while the ostensible purpose o. ~ ~ tJ,e for11
to pelice the roads, still II Wa ~ - 80
Of q tax for the purpose OF 1urlIs is -
enue to fhe state SO the court declared the
measure invalid because II was uoUH-0 80.
alton all motor cars being taXaple IN OIiO
vermont passed law prohibiting the
use Of red lights in the rear DeGaGs9 81,
between a motor car hghL anu
signal. In, from, .
flat perpetual registration Zee 70 q ~ Iol =
power basis, the fees ranging from % u
War on Lights. -. -
8. A feature Of the veaF was the fight big
cities make on dazzling headllBhls, So
Detroit and Philadelphia joining Win NsW
York in the opposition to the DrlghI Ls4iIs-
Wisconsins new motor code c consul 80 SN e
model OF its kind, passed. proVlulIHsS3 ~ 80
annual registration, automatic tIaLLLC rs t -.
lation and prohibiting cities ana towns 4IOAl
passing motor ordinances. -. 49,
A feature Of the year IN leglsltaelvs W.
was the same manner in when the VaLLoI I
state legislatures handled the motor p loo-
lem. We saw fewer cases OF antas oiii -
toward the owner Of the motor car anu -
solons seemed to be ready to listen TO rea-
son. In consequence most OF those staLSs
which did enact new laws passed measures
hat suit I'D In ma f0r
sin perhaps tried hardest to give the l0toL-
ist what they wanted, although New LOLA
florists raised an Outcry, which was all the
more appreciated because New 1OIh -
looked to to set the pace Tor oLheT coIll.iolI
WealthS IN the matter OF motor 4e5L9le-vie---
The hottest fire was armed at me motor
truck and in both Massachusetts anu FeLLl-
sylvania there were hard ughIs 70 pIeveIl1
exorbitant registration fees being charged
Perhaps it was this greed Tor reYenue a.
} displayed in these instances that mas
brought about the attack that is now be-
ing made on the registration laws OF TINS
country. While the motorists are not OD-
order that they may be given Identification
tags stiiI they protest against the various
states making fortunes out Of them
Want Fees Cut.
It is commended that this registration fee
should be only sufficient to pay for the tags
and for the clerical work necessary TO nan
! die this department OF the state
In both Ohio and Mississippi succeSsIul
attacks have been made on the reg1stra-
ton laws and in both these states there
/ have been decisions handed down declaring
that exOrbitant fees are unconstitutional
| The American Automobile association has
/ decided to take a hand in the fight, using
| the famous New Jersey case as a medium to
get into the United States courts where It
( is hoped to gain a decision which viii great
] " reduce the tag fees motorists have to
7 pay in the future.
In the larger cities fights muffler
/ cutouts and smoking cars nave been gener-
/ ally successful Now there are few arrests
! for violations Of these laws and the motor
4 lists generally bow TO the wishes Of the
I public and are striving themselves to abate
Z these nuisances
Dazzling headlights also must go and 1t
Z is worthy OF note that the larger cities are
/ bringing about the elimination Of this evil
[ This is bound to spread 20 the country, too,
where the danger OF meeting another car
I at night is apparent This will not mean the
elimination Of the headlight by any means.
DINNERS viii be necessary, Tor use continu-
ally in cities, while in rns country the lights
I will have to be dimmed when two cars
Z meet