The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-01-30

The -automobile bills" are in. With
the introduction, on Friday, OF the
last of the measures designed 20 resu-
late motor vehicle traffic in the state
Individual members of the house and
senate rested their cases. Tuesday,
at the meeting of the committee on
roads, rivers and bridges, to which
all proposed motor We aicle Legislation
has been referred, the duplicating and
overlapping bills will be siftsd out,
and possibly, by amendment on the
part Of the committee, measures
broad in scope and embodylng the
best features of much of the propo-
sails will be evolved. vOr, on the
other hand, the more meritorious Of
the bills presented may be brought
into the, house and senate practically
unchanged.
The general nature of the autono-
bile legislation. to be offered by the
roads, bridges and rivers committee
for the consideration of the general
assembly will be in line with the pro-
posals set forth in Governor Hol-
combs message. OF that there is no
doubt. The recommendations con-
tanned in that document have been
taken to heart by members of the ma
jority party, and have all been en-
bodied in bills now pending.
Summing up the trend of the bills
now in committee, it can be said that,
taken as a whole, they provide for:
Heavier penalties-jail senten-
ces in most cases-in theicase of neg
ligent drivers of motor vehicles, with
especial severity shown toward those
who drive while under the influence
Of intoxicants-
2-More stringent examinations of
applicants for drivers licenses, and
more restrictions upoH the return of
licenses to those who have forfeited
them
3-The creation of the Office Of a
Commissioner Of motor vehicles and
the placing of all matters pertaining
to automobiles under his supervision,
removing such matters from the do
main of the secretary of state-as was
recommended in the governors mes
sage.
4HFurther restrictions of the en-
ployment of glaring lights upon high
ways.
5-Setting a limit to the loads that
highways Of the state.
Likely to be Favorably Reported
Legislation OF the character sum-
married. above, it can be said with
practical certainty, will be reported
by the committee. There may be mi
nor changes in the penalties provided;
minor changes, say, in the methods of
examination of wouId-be licensees
laid down in the bills; slight aItera-
tons in the specific restrictions laid
on the employment of headlights at
night. The provision for the creation
of, commissionership may arouse
some protest, but, backed by. the ex-
ecutive recommendation, it is likely
that it will go a long ways. In this
connection, it is Interesting to note
that the most comprehensive legis-
lation on that subject, as well as on
the general subject of penalties for
careless drivers, has been introduced
by the house chairman of the roads,
bridges and rivers committee, Repre-
sentative Watt, of Sharon, and by Re-
publican Leader Klett, in the SEN
ate.
One Of Mr.. Waits bills, falling ,un-
der the head Of provision No. 1 as
outlined above, leaves unchanged the
penalty for the first and subsequent
offences violating any provisions of
sections 2, 8, 4, s. 7, g., II, IL
is or 25 of Chapter 231 of the public
acts of 1915-the sections relating
to statements copcerning registration,
transfer of ownership, dealers and
manufacturer applications, markers.
granting of licenses, provision for
brakes, lights, horns, etc., speed, tam
pering with the cars of others. public
garages and so forth-and for the dri-