The sun., 1919-04-13
BAD MOTOR BILLS
NOT LIKELY TO PASS
Strong Opposition by Automo'
bilists Stopped Some Dan
gerOus Legislation. ,

In reviewing the automobile Bills In
the Legislature. the Legislative Commit.
tee of the Motor Federation reports to
its affiliated clubs throughout the State
: that while many bills were introduced
early in the session It In quito Ger.
tain now that the hearing hold March
4 was productive OF very good results
and the majority OF these bills have
been killed, especially tho three bills
affecting the responsibility Of motorists
and calling for compulsory bond and
insurance.
Secretary George c. Donahue Of the
New York State Motor Federation re-
ports that the principal bills that are
obnoxious to motorists are the taxation
bills calling for a general increase in
license fees and upon which there was
a hearing Tuesday, April 8. These bills
were opposed because the Federation
officials believed that the motorists
should not be considered as a separate
class and the tax made upon them. Then
there is the Knight bill which in It's
inception was aimed to compel all mo-
florists in the state of New York to take
an operators license and to pay spe-
II
affect New York city alone. and even
now many of its provisions are unneces-
sary and only add red tape to tho
operation of a motor vehicle In New
York city.
The Federation has given support to
the Malone bill for the acquisition of
the Greenbush Bridge between the coun-
ties OF Albany and Rensselaer,. and the
movement to appropriate over half
million dollars for the construction of
q permanent bridge at Schenectady, and
measures pertaining to highways; in
fact. several weeks ago when the New
York State Legislators ehdeavored to
d withhold the state appropriation for
town highways. the Federation put up a
vigorous opposition and as result over
two million dollars will be available this
year for the construction of town high
ways.
Two efforts were made in the way OF
Introducing bills to abolish the State
Police Department and the Motor Fed
Grafton vigorously opposed both bills,
{ neither of winch will pass the Legisla-
ture. Another bill that was opposed
was the Thompson bin to prevent auto
mobile clubs i'om putting signs upon
. the highways. and the Thompson bill
I in relation to rear plates on motor
vehicles. which is the so-called illumin-
ateu plate, ana Wlllle lIb REFUSES
( In committee, the latter bill was brought
out on the floor. but Is meeting with
vigorous opposition and. according to
reports from the Legislature, will not
pass.
| Briefly. reports Secretary Donahue.
! the work of the Motor Clubs through
the New York State Motor Federation
has been to prevent the Legislature from
! compelling the motorist to carry bonds,
compensation insurance, liability insur-
ance, operators license with examina-
ton. Illuminated rear license plate. and
above all the two bills aiming to increase
I the tax on automobiles as constructive
mea sures, the Federation drew up and
had introduced the Booth Davenport
bills for mirrors on motor trucks. the
. Mullan bill TO protect car owners and
10 assist in locating stolen cars. and
several other measures all OF which are
certain to become laws In fact, the
Federation adopted very constructive
policy this year and recommended the
planting of trees along the highways,
the appropriatng of money so that the
Secretary of state could prepare a basic
map of the State of New York for gen.
eral purposes, urged the passage of a
bill whereby the Highway Department
could construct connecting links at rail-
road crossings, and other measures that
were for the general public good and Of
great benefit TO the motor car owners.