Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-10-01
MUCH EXPECTED
OF new AUTOLAW
Revolution in Handling of Licenses
and Basing Fees to be Paid by,
Owners. Plates to be Issued 4
INCREASE OF 2o. =.
CARS IN 10.
Secretary Of State Ramsey @.
Effects of New Statute Going e
/ to Effect Dec. 4. New Law
to Bring Great Relief
to State and COun.
ty Officials

to State and COun-
ty Officials
Des Moines, Ia.-In 1904 there
were 931 automobiles registered in
Iowa. In 1911 the number registered
has increased to 5000. With three
and q half months Of the present
year remaining the total registration
has exceeded $4,000 cars since Jan.
4. This is an increase in eight years
Of 100000 registrations. Next years
totil registration will run 100000
unless all signs fail.
These are figures just compiled by
w. G. Ramsey, secretary Of state,
who declares that the same systerl
In vogue in 1911 for taking care Of
registrations prevailed when he en-
tered the Office in July Of this year.
He declares that with the antiquated
system of registering which prevail
ed and with the inefficiency Of the
old law, the actions of second hand
dealers and the failure to act on the
part of the negligent car owner re-
suited In complications and entang.
dement's in the automobile records Of
the state which can only be describ-
ed as being utterly chaotic.
Hence the new law, he believes,
will bring great relief to state and
county officials. and to- auto owners
as well since It will provide for tbs
county registration and an accurate
check on sales of cars and those not
registered. In discussing the new law
Secretary Ramsey, among other
things said: ~
'.The new law hecames effective
Dec. /, 1919, and its operation will
revolutionize the method Of motor
vehicle registration in the state of
Iowa. Under this law. the manner of
computing the fee for registration
of automobiles is entirely changed.
The fee will be based on the manu-
facturers' list price and the weight
of the car. The fee is per cent of
the list price, fixed at the next even
800 above the list price, and 40
cents per hundred pounds Of weight
fixed at the next even 100 pounds
when fully equipped. The fee for
motorcycles is fixed at IS per year.
After an automobile or motorcycle
has been registered Ave times the
fee is reduced one-half on the list
price only.
1.-THE fee for trucks is based upon
The loading capacity and ranges from.
SIS for truck Of one ton or less
capacity to sits for truck having
q capacity Of six tons. The fee for
each ton OF load capacity above six
tons Is $50 in addition to the six
ton rate. No license is issued for s
truck having a capacity of over six
tons without permission Of the mu-
niciple authorities, If operated with
IN the. limits Of city or town or
from The state highway commission
II operated on the public highways
Of the state. The fee for trailers is
also BASED upon the load capacity
and rdnges from So to $50 per year.
"Nfw number plates are to b.
issueh annually and \all registrations
except dealers and chauffeurs. are to
be made thru the Offices of the coun-
tx teasurers OF the several counties.
The chauffeur's license is 81 per
year and the dealers license is $25
per year, with additional dealers
plates costing SIS peri pair.
"The new law increases the zee
approximately from so to 100 PEI
cent the minimum fee being $40
This represents a considerable in
crease, but at that the fees are tess
than those now charged in Massachu.
setts and Michigan. It is estimated
that there will be more than 4oo.'
900 cars registered in Iowa next year
and the revenue from such registra,
tion will amount to between SIX ans
seven million dollars. making tne
motor vehicle department the iars'
est single revenue producing bureau
of the state government.
"Of this 31a per cent is set asio
for the support of the state highway
commission, "a per cent for the
maintenance of the MOTOR vehic'e
department and "a per cent Is TO DC
apportioned back to the coun.ss
based upon the area of the county
as compared to the total area OF tns
state, to be expended upon the pr'
mary road system OF the Vas'ou'
counties Of the state"
.ls< ". Z. "a IL Il, 4t3& n.