New-York tribune., 1921-04-04
Hugo's Backers
Seek to Revive
Auto Tax Bill
Measure Exacting $4,000
Insurance Would Net
Ex-Secretary's Company
$2,OOO,OOO, Is Charge
Enright Approves Plan
Attempt Will Be Made To-
night i'll Assembly to Get
the Act Out of Committee
From a stag corresponden.

ALBANY, April 3.--Although the
Legislature will be occupied in con-
sidering direct primary legislation. the
proposed movie censorship and other
important measures this week, an ef-
fort may be made to restore life to
the Trahan bill imposing tax of $50
on every motorist in the state
The bill, which provides that before
an owner of an automobile may obtain
license from the Secretary of State
to run it, he must insure his car with
an indemnity or surety company for
at least $4,000. 1t is said that this
would cost the motorists of the state
at least $3000,o00. S2,000O00 of which
would go into the company of which
Francis M. Hugo, former Secretary of
State, is vice-presdent.
The bill among the older members
of the Assembly, where it has been
sponsored by Assemblyman Mitchell
Trahan, of Westchester, is known as
the hugo BILL Mr.. Hugo has been
up here openly working for the bill
since its introduction.
The bill was recommitted by an over
whelmning vote ten days ago. I'M
mediately after the Assembly killed it
Mr.. Hugo appeared on the scene and
has been here regularly since.
The bill has been indorsed by Police
Commissioner Enright of New YorL
City, according to Mr.. Trahan. Mr.
Hugo and Commissioner Enright are
old friends and the Police Commits
sioner. although a Democrat, worked
for Mr.. Hugo when he was a candidate
for the Republican nomination fol
Governor. At police dinner Mr.. Huge
referred TO Enright as "the best Police
Commissioner New York City eve,
had"
If the hackers of the bill find tina
they have tho necessary seventy-si,
votes for discharging the committee to
morrow night, they will make the mo
ton to discharge and thus get the bill
before the Legislature again and. j
luck is with them, push it to the ordc
Of final passage this week.
On direct primaries .hcrc will be
conference again this week in an cffor
to gather enough votes to insure tn
passage of the partial repeal of tn
bill in the Assembly. The Senate j
ready to pass the bill of Senate
Charles W. Walton, of Kingston. Thi
provides for the restoration of the con
vention system of selecting candidate
for statewide Offices and for the bench
A majority of the members of tn
: Assembly at the present moment ar
against any sort of primary repea
Dill. Ut ASSSllpiy iHSu \oiHC up ~
election next fall, and fear that to vot
for repeal of the primary law in an
shape or form might spell their defea
Those who had counted on the pas
sage of the bill are now bit skeptica
of their success, for Governor Mile
has declined to send a message to tn
Legislature urging the repeal of tn
primary law.
Another measure Of statewide i'm
portance is the Lusk-Clayton motto
picture censorship bill There will
hearing on the measure Tuesday, an
: the motion picture interests are hope
full that they will bring sufficient argu
ments to the attention Of the Legisls
, turc and Governor Miller to show tina
: the proposed legislation is too sweep
ing.