New-York tribune., 1918-05-05
Bill Provides for Com
mission to Award
Damages in Acct
dent Cases

Motor vehicle legislation in quantity
was introduced as usual at Albany.
The volume of bills was fully as large
as usual, but some of those proposed
earlier by legislators died early deaths,
and automoblists have not to be wor-
rled by the menace of many of them.
One measure that was introduced by
Assemblyman Blakely, of Westchester,
proposed to create a Motor Vehicle
Liability Commission, to assure com
pcnsation for injuries or death caused
by Negligent operation of motor vehi-
cles. The commission was to have
three members, to be appointed by
the Governor. Not more than two of
the three were to be of the same polt-
cal faith. The chairman was to get
$4,000 year. the other commission
ers $4,000 and the secretary $4,000.
Travelling and other expenses were,
If course, to be added. The com
mission would have power to appoint
deputies and to employ an actuary, ac-
countants. medical doctors, clerks, in
spectors, stenographers, etc, etc, etc.
ne commissioners were to be appoint
Cd for five year terms.
The bill would create a state insur-
ance fund to compensate in cases of
accidental death or injury caused by
negligent operation of an automobile.
This fund is ITO be collected by the
Secretary of State from the applicant
for registration of every motor vehicle
registered in the state, and shall be in
such amount as to every motor vehicle
so registered as the commission may
determine, the same to be fixed on an
equitable basis as to all motor vehi-
cles, taking into consideration their
horsepower, carrying capacity and the
/ like, that the commission may decide
upon" This looks like an additional
tax upon motorists of a peculiarly OBJ
noXious kind.
The bill stated, however, that "if at
the time of application for registration
i of motor vehicle the applicant shall
file bond in penalty of $4,000, exc
cuted by two sureties owning unen-
numbered real estate in the state of
the value of $4,000, conditioned that he
will pay all damages sustained by any
person by reason of the negligent oper-
alton of such motor vehicle, then pay
ment of premium to the Secretary of
State under this act is hereby waived,
or if such applicant shall file a liability
insurance policy in manner and form
as may be approved by the commission
assuring the payment of any damages
to the extent of $4,000 that may be
caused by the negligent operation of
motor vehicle, then and in that event
payment of the premium herein pro-
vided for is waived"
Under the measure motorists must
either insure the payment of compen-
sation in the state fund, or be insured
, in liability insurance company to
that end. or deposit a bond with the
commission. Insurance policies to be
! acceptable must give the commission
tl10 rYfrht {O ~
benefit of the people. Thirty days
notice must be given to the commits
sion of the cancellation of any insur-
ance policy Of course, if a man sells
! his car and wants to cancel his insur-
ance, this legislation makes it simple
matter, does it not? 1t does not.
The commission is supposed to de-
eide all cases brought before it on
proper notice and to make all awards
to persons damaged
1t looks to US like an intolerable
piece of unnecessary legislation of a
peculiarly unfair type. Aside from
that, of course, we are for it, Mr..
Blakely.
1t rather makes unnecessary the
measure introduced earlier by Assem-
blyman Taylor, of Erie. to require all
! motorists to file $4,000 bond with the
| Secretary of State when the car is reg
istered, or else to have liability insur-
ance in that amount. These measures
are popular in communities where in
surance companies are many and
strong. Bonding measures appear to
be inordinatelv favored this spring.
There was another measure, fathered
by Assemblyman Welsh. of Albany, that
also proposed $4,000 bond, with some
additional trimmings.
In the Senate, Mr.. Towner, of Put
nam, proposed a law to permit persons
of seventeen years as minimum to
operate cars in New York City. This
would make the law the same for
drivers within New York as it is for
those outside. Under the operators
license law, the seventeen-year- old son
of an upstate car owner may drive in
New York City, but the child of resi-
dent here has to be eighteen years old
to do the like. This at least is equal
izing the terms Of operation of law
that is, as it reads, absurd at the best
Senator Argetsinger, of Monroe,
would make it possible for the Secre-
tary of State to establish additional
Offices in cities of the first class for
the registration of cars.
He,e'e IN OOO MIL