Evening journal., 1919-01-01
AUTO LEGISLATION
Will BE SOUGHT
Would Place Licensing Into
Hands of Three Member
Commission
ANYBODY NOW CAN
OBTAIN TAGS

That there Will be important automo-
bile legislation before the coming ses-
sion OF the legislature is a settled ques-
ton. With Delaware already having
built many miles OF cement road and
preparing TO build many more and with
a State highway running through the
state from the Maryland line and the
Maryland good roads to the Pennsyl-
yania line. motors will be the method
Of Transporting passengers and freight
down the peninsula and TO every little
town within the next five years.
Last year over 1900 automobiles
were licensed in Delaware and II is eX-
pected that az least 1900 will be lie
ensed this year. The amount Of work
thrown upon the Secretary Of states
office Is enormous and IL is common be-
lief that this burden should be taken
from the shoulders. With all the in-
corporation he has charge OF and the
many duties Of the State Ii is said TO
be unfair TO pack this ever growing bur
den on the office.
10 is also a fact that when an autOmo-
10 Is not so equipped In Delaware or In
Maryland or in New Jersey, one IN
stance being the light lens. In Penn
sylvania II an auto IS equipped win
light which cen be dimmed from the
drivers seat it is legally equipped and
yet If that same man drives into Dela-
ware he will be arrested, for the law
specifically mentions that such an
equipment is illegal. II is very probable
that the whole matter will be gone into
and the powers OF licensing or taking
away licenses put in the hands Of an
automobile commission. At present the
Secretary Of State has the power 20 take
away licenses for drunkenness but Tor
nothing else. Under a proposed part
Of the new law the commissioners, one
from each county and one TO be To-
Gated at e1ch county seat, shall have
jurisdiction over such matters as they
viii be men who live in each commun-
ity and Will know the circumstances
surrounding.
Not only will drunkenness be pun
ished but reckless driving, and II man
Is found driving in a reckless manner
or drunk. the commissioner from the
county in which the act is committed
can be there in an hour TO examine
into the matter, and If he finds the man
guilty take away his license Tor any
specified time with a right OF appeal on
the part Of the driver to the entire COM
mission sitting as a body.
The appointment Of commissioners
will also do away with the applications
for licenses and viii enable any owner
OF an automobile to go direct to the
commissioner IN his county and receive
his license tags the minute he pays his
money. Under theNpresent method
man may make application, pay ms
money and send IL by mall 20 tho Seere-
tsry Of state and then wait several days
for his tags. In the meantime ne VIII
be arrested II he runs his car notwith-
standing the fact that he has paid Tor
the tags and made proper application
The commissioners viii also be sup
posed 20 examine any new drivers, ride
with them in a car and see II they are
capable Of running a car. Under the
present law an idiot can apply Tor
drivers license and there is nothing can
stop him from obtaining such license
and operating a car.
At present the revenue 20 the state
from automobile licenses amounts 10
perhaps $4,000, 81 being charged for
each 500 pounds Of weight. However.
Il Is claimed that it will pay the state
TO pay three commissioners, one in each
county, a good salary to look after TINS
growing business and curb some OF the
reckless driving that now goes on IN
fhe state. It is also probable that the
coet az licenses will be reduced as at
present Delaware charges more than
any other state in the Union. Alto
geiher a new law is badly needed and
autoisis everywhere are asking the leg
islature to pass a new law more uni
form with other states. one by when
they can obtain their licenses at once
and one by which reckless driving can
be Immediately curbed by the taking
away OF licenses for any space OF TIME
the commissioners may see III.