MULTITUDE OF BILLS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 123, 27 May 1933, Page 17

MULTITUDE OF BILLS

LAW-MAKING IN AMERICA

ONE PER CENT. GET THROUGH

A review of tho legislation affecting motor vehicles passed by eighteen State Legislatures in America which have j ended ■ their sessions shows that of thousands of Uills introduced only a i small percentage were enacted into law. The measures adopted related to regulation of trucks and buses, fixing registration fees and motor spirit taxes, restriction of motor vehicle sizes and weights, use of motor spirit revenue, financial responsibility, and other questions of motor vehicle operation. It is estimated that altogether about 0000 Bills were placed before the State Legislatures this year. Of these, more than 2700 related to oil aud motor spirit, but a recent count put tbe total of such measures finally enacted at only 21, or less than 1 per cent. In the majority of cases the measures adopted have not becu of a drastic character, and some have received the commendation of motoring . organisations. According to Mr, Alfred Beeves, vice-president of the. National Automobile Chamber of Commerce, measures designed to harass motor vehicle owners or to obstruct development of highway traffic met with little success in mos.t of the Legislatures which have adjourned. Intensive efforts were made by railroad groups to secure the enactment of a number of measures which ■would have injured highway users, but none of these measures were passed by the New York State Legislature. , Among Bills adopted was the Buckley measure repealing the 65 per cent, surtax on trucks and buses voted at the end'of the 1032 legislative session. Another enactment' (going .into effect

July 1) reverses the rule of the road for pedestrians, making them keep to the left of the. highway. This was approved'by the New York State Automobile Association. la America cars are of the left-hand drive type, the rule of the road being the opposite of that in New Zealand. The emergency one-cent additional tax on motor spirit, which makes the State levy three.cents per gallon, was continued for another year. SIDEWALKS ALONG HIGHWAYS. Another measure before the New York State Governor provides for the Jaying of sidewalks along State, county, and town highways. This is favoured by the New York State Automobile Association as not only providing unemployment relief but as promoting safety. The sidewalks would be of: gravel, shale, or cinders. Another Bill requires the use of safety plate glass in the doors, windows, and windshields of motor vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1935. ' Among measures passed by Legislatures in other States, a general ten-: dency is noted to reduce registration fees. The National Highway Usci-s Conference reports decreases in licence charges for passenger cars in Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Arkansas, and, Kansas. However, the registration fee for passenger automobiles was raised in Montana, and for trucks and buses for hire in Indiana. Oregon increased the motor spirit, tax from 4 to 5 cents per'gallon, the only Bill calling for an increase of the fuel levy which became law so far this year. Arizona, voted to continue a 5-cent rate. South Dakota was the only State to authorise diversion of motor spirit lax funds, in this case ■ transferring 50 per cent, of the revenue to the rural credit bond and interest fund. Other States, including Indiana, North Dakota, and Washington, refused to authorise diversion of road funds. Five States extended regulation, of trucks or buses, placing new restrictions on their weight and size. The length of combination vehicles waa reduced from 85 feet to 65 feet in Idaho and limited to 45 feet in North Dakota, in Oregon to 50 feet and in South Dakota to 35 feet. In Idaho the axlo load was reduced to 16,000 pounds, but the groes permissible load increased to 50,000 pounds; in New .Mexico axlo loads were reduced to 16,000 pounds (18,000 pounds with low pressure pnuumatie tires); in North Dakota the gross weight was limited to 1-1,000 pounds.