Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-06-10
AUTOMOBILE WAR THREATENED

IT 1t comes to a fight between New York and
New Jersey over the automobile reciprocity
agreement. New York will have a great deal
more to lose than New Jersey. 1t sometimes
seems almost as If New York looked upon New
Jersey as merely New York's back yard in
tended for New Workers to play in as they will
without let or hindrance. But when Jerseymcn
60 over into New York to play they must mind
their Ps and Qs and be very c~ircumspect in
every particular. New York has a rude awaken
ing coming.
Commissioner Dill. of the motor vehicles de-
TINT has the backing of every Jerseyman
demanding that New York live UP to the
Z oirit rs well as the letter of the agreement
yoetween the two states whereby autoists Of the
respective states pass to and fro without ques-
ton. 1t is safe to say that there are ten auto
mobiles carrying New York licenses coming into
New Jersey every day to one from New Jersey
going into New York. These New Workers come
over into New Jersey by the thousands every
weekend and many Of they act as If they
thought the highways of this state were built
especially for their benefit. The rights of others
are almost wholly disregarded. In fact, self
respecting Jerseymen have almost ceased to
use the main highways on Sundays especially
those leading to the coast resorts, unless in a
case of necessity. because of the great influx
Of New Workers who "hog' the roads in the
most reckless and disgusting manner. Yet
nothing Is done by the authorities of New Jer-
sey to put a curb on these non-residents. They
are given the widest liberties to come and go
at their will and travel as they please.
In spite Of New Jerseys great liberality
toward her neighbors from across the Hud-
son, the autoists from, this state are often sub
jected to various kinds of annoyances as soon
as they cross the border line into New York.
Commissioner Dill had occasion to take up with
the New York authorities only a short time ago
. case of gross violation Of the reciprocity
agreement existing between the two state on
the part Of some petty New York official. With
In the past few days another offense has been
committed against a New Jersey autoist by New
York authorities.
The minimum age limit for issuing a drivers
lnou1-mfteW Jersey at the present time is
len. In New York the limit is eighteen. A
~ Jersey driver was arrested and fined in
Axedo Park because he was driving a car when
s#N. was only seventeen years old, although he
a license duly issued by the state of New
Jersey. In taking the matter up with the NE"
vork state authorities the Tuxedo Park official
~ho fned the Young man was upheld by the
New York state department. Commissioner DIN
has announced that If New York persists in her
attitude New Jersey will be compelled to re-
xtaliate which, of course. would mean an auto
Ymobile war between the two states and that IS
something to be deplored.
The only fair basis for a reciprocity agree
n,ent between the two states Is that as long as
the autoist is complying with the laws that gov
ern motor vehicles in their home state they
should not be .molested in the neighboring
state. In the meantime, a commission might
be appointed by New York and New Jersey TO
draw up rules and regulations for utomoph
traffic to be adopted by both states so that the
laws would conform.
Reciprocity as it exists today Is decidediy 10
the advantage of New York yet it Is New YORK
that it doing it's utmost to provoke New Jersey