Norwich bulletin., 1916-02-15

regulating the speed and fixing the rate at 15 miles an hour outside the limits of a city, and 12 miles an hour within. The legislators of that ses- sion were particularly proud Of their work in regulating sthe speed of vehi- c!es. and 1t is recalled that in the ex- change of felicitations at the end of the session reference was made to the automobile law and the prediction that the act would suffice for the ad- cqlate regulation of motor vehicles of every description for many years, per- Eaps a generation. Within two years the provisions of the statute of 1901 were found to be insufficient for their purpose.
 At .he session of 1903 the first law was passed in regard to the use of markers and the administration of it entrCsted to Secretary of State Charles G. R. Vinal. The law allowed owners of automobiles and other motor ve- hicies to obtain their markers where ever they r!eased so long as they con statute prescribed. This standard re- qulred that the letter c, indicating the state, and the number, should be raised, and three inches high. The numbers were given by the officials at the office of the secretary. The law did not provide for an operators s license, and the only fee demanded was that for the registration of vehi- cles, Sl per car.
 Markers Provided By State
 At the session of 1905 a law was passed which made it the duty of the secretary of state to furnish all mar kers and to see that they were all alike. Theodore Bodenwein had sue ceeded MT. Vinal as secretary. The markers were sold to the owners of vehicles at cost price. a dollar a set That act contained a provision to pre- vent the swinging of the rear marker.
 In 1907 the fist tax was laid on automobiles at 8 rate from S3 to $10 according to horsepower. At the next session the secretary was first given the rC wer tC hold hearings and to suspend licenses. Colonel Matthew H. Rogers, of Bridgeport was the secre- tary and suggested the important legislation that was enacted relating to motor vehicles at that session. He was the first administrator of the law. At the session, of 1915 the distinction which made livery vehicles a separate class was abolished.
 Motor Department Established.
 For some years after the first auto mobile law was enacted the work con- nected with the administration was done in the office of the secretary of state. When the necessity of having tfe work dor c in other quarters but
 
 rC Ctdry, was recognized there was some diff7 ;ilty experienced in SC :uriig suit able oon7s. But just then the state liz brary was removed from the capitol to the new building on the south side long room west of the library vacant of Capitol avenue and this left the Colonel Rogers, the secretary, and Mir. Dwyer saw that the room was admir- ably adapted for the purposes of the automobile department which was to be organized. The superin;e dent of the capitol acceded to the request of the secretary for the room and also rave the adjoining room. These rooms soon became cramped but the work of the fast growing department was con- tinued in It until few months since when Secretary of State Charles c. Burnes and Labor Commissioner Will jam $. Hyde came to an agreement by which there was an exchange of rooms to the advantage of both and in addition the secretary was given the large corner room formerly reserved for the committee on cities and bor- oughs and also a new room which was constructed by taking off part of the old supreme court room. The auto mobile department has now ample quarters.