ACHIEVEMENT

Applications for the New York driving license, with their long lists of pertinent questions as to the sanity, activity, and purity of the driver during the past twelve months, leave many loopholes for careless omissions and oversights when being filled out. If applicants have committeed one of the numerous possible errors, they receive a long form, on which are listed some 36 possible things which may have been done wrong. Samples of these follow. No. 17. Form MV-51 must be approved by Stolen Car Section or person authorized by County Clerk to sign. No. 24. In the case of a co-partnership, Form MV-251 must be filled out. Each partner must enter his own name in his own handwriting, but any member must make the affidavit. An elected officer of a corporation must sign application or power of attorney furnished for any other person signing. No. 28. An owner who is unable to sign his name . . . and sign the application with a cross (x) mark, same to be followed by signature in full of the witness. No. 29. Three photographs required.

A Harvard student, applying for a renewal license, when confronted with a question such as "Have you been imprisoned for the use of narcotics or drugs, during the year ending. April 15, 1931," answered with a short dash. A week later, the application was returned, with none of its 36 alternatives checked, and typed above the list, "Please answer all questions on application 'yes' or 'no'."