The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-02
MOTOR LICENSE ACT
WITH TEETH ASKED
Secretary of State Hugo Joins
Movement to Require Tests
for Drivers.
CITY MAGISTRATES HELP
Mounting Toll Of Killed and
Injured Brings Demand
for Protection.
CITY MAGISTRATES HELP

After several years OF discussion. dur
ing which the number of persons killed
or crippled by automobiles has mounted
steadily and amendments to the len!ent
laws OF the State have proved shock
ingly inadequate. an earnest effort Is
to be made TO have this years Legis-
laturs pass measure with teeth in It,
At meeting in the Traffic court. at
tended by Secretary OF state Hugo.
Magistrates and representatives OF the
police and motor and civic associations
a committee was appointed. with Maeis-
trate Cobb as chairman. TO draw up
a bill
The Chief Magistrate thus pictured
the situation:
THE casualties occurring in the city's
streets are like what we get from the
i attlefelds in France. When I stand at
the corner OF Blocker and Lafayette
streets, where tho traffic is enormous.
the people somehow give YOU the i'm
preston of chased animals who have be-
come quite expert in lodging vehicles
They have acquired a sort OF vehicuar
elusiveness.
Careless Drivers Not Cured.
The selfish, heartless reckless or
careless driver. who was at first djned
later Jailed. has not been cured. though
] am frank to say that with a less
Jealous Magistrate than Judge House,
who presides over the Traffic court, the
casualties IN the city would have been
100 per cent greater. With 5000, 900
people In the city We have got to do
something"
He said that under the licensing sys-
tenn used in London and the strict
powers of the police. from 5000 to 4. 900
drivers are continually on the suspended
list and trafic court is unnecessary
He said Magistrates here should have
the power OF revolving or subscribing
licenses. as an immediate decision when
the evidence was before the Judge and
the memory Of witnesses clear as to
what had occurred. was better than hay
ing an additional hearing before the Sec
rotary OF State.
1T is similar" Magistrate McAdoo
SAID, TO case which must be held for
higher court with many Of the facts
forgotten In the labyrinth of the Grand
Jury and trial held some time there
after"
All the speakers said there should be a
law compelling all drivers OF motor ve-
hicles 10 be tested severely as to their
CRYING ability and mental and physical
condition. II was predicted however,
that upstate legislators would not tol.
crate such law and that II one were
~ N"''' NV Fh''iu Uescru the
city line
Secretary Hugo contendinx that the
power which creates should also be the
pOWer to destroy. said he would be will
ing to have the law amended permitting
him TO revoke or suspend licenses on the
Iecc mmendation of a Magistrate
He said the present law was made
ouate. and even 1t was hard to enforce
as although New York had ore-ninth of
all the antOfnOhilea in ba -rit -
he had only six inspectors. He denied
that there were many criminals among
'Nautfeurs and said it was not right to
cast aspersions upon their profession
But he conceded that safety lay in n free
application Of the revocation and sus-
pension Of licenses and added. 81 would
like 10 make il posi- ibie that no person
shall be killed.
Magistrate McAdoo remarked that no
legislation could be passed without Mr.
llugos approval and that cooperation
might bring results.
Police Ready to Help.
Deputy Police Commissioner Harriss
said the Police Department would he
glad to create division of men to in
Nestiga!e the characters OF candidates
for licenses. lie thought five men would
ne enough.
Several Spokesman for the New York
State Automobile Association approved
the revocation OF licenses by CITY Mag
istrates. but said the 100 Justices Of
the Peace in the country districts should
not have such sweeping authority.
Albert w. Seeman. secretary of the
association. said he had been unable to
ascertain why upstate legislators op-
posed a strict motor law. except they
thought members OF their families ought
not to be inconvenienced by examination
as TO fitness.
At this point Magistrate McAdoo said
that perhaps the most powerful opposi-
ton to the proposed law comes from GER
tain manufacturers and dealers who feel
that 1t would he ''unfriendiy legislation
in restriction OF their trade"