Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-13
STATE HOUSE,
AT Automobiles and Goa
Operators Licensed.
Praise from West virginia for
Supt. Stetson.



Out has shown a decided falling off
during the past week. The applica-
lions are yet coming in. but slowly, and
while there are probably some ma
chimes In the State which have not
been registered, the number is very
small. 1t was thought that the num-
Der Of automobiles IN the State would
be about 500. but it will hardly reach
that figure at present. The number
which had been registered up to Mon
day noon. was AT, and t04 licenses had
been granted to operators
An amusing feature was noticed.
yesterday, in connection with one of
these licenses. When one wishes to
become an operator, a blank is sent
him from the secretary's office, to be
filled out and returned to the office
On this blank are questions to be an
swered, which. while they do not re-
quire the applicants statement as to
his religious preference or political
views, require sufficient material re-
grading his life's history to render his
identification easy. Many Of the an
swers which are made To the questions
| are amusing in one way or another,
but the one which has won distinction
| over the rest, so far, was turned in by
| Portland man. yesterday, who calmly
| wrote in on the blank provided for the
date Of his birth, the words: Dec. 25
| 1906" Undoubtedly it was intended as
| joke, but it has been recorded in the
books of the office that Mr.. SO-and-sO,
| Of Portland, is the oldest automobile
| operator in Maine.
And speaking Of the automobile law,
similar law has recently been passed
in New Jersey, which will be of inter-
| est to drivers of machines in Maine,
who may have occasion to travel in
that part Of the country, this season.
The law provides that all residents and
non-residents of the state shall have a
license and have their machines regis
tered. The other provision is in regard
| to the size Of the letters and the plac-
ing them on the machines. The fee Of
only 81 is charged for each vehicle and
| this gives the owner a license to drive
and a number for his machine Deal
ers' and manufacturers licenses are
SO as in Maine. 1t is provided that
when the automobiles are in New
| Jersey, only the N. j. number should
| be displayed. There are further pro-
visions to the law which provide for q
maximum of 20 miles an hour as fixed
for towns, cities and pubic highways.
Penalties are attached for fines from
$40 to 800. A maximum fine of 500 for
the display of a fictitious license num-
Der is provided, with an alternative of
30 days in Jail.
The many friends throughout the
State of Hon. w. w. Stetson, State
SUPERINTENDENT of public schools Of
Maine. will be pleased to read the fol-
lowing complimentary allusion TO him.
which was published in the June num-
Der of the West Virginia School Jour-
nal, under the heading of DIR. Stet-
SON."
For the past ten years DR.. w. w.
StetsOn has been State superintendent
of Maine, and his work has attracted
such wide attention that he has been
called upon to lecture in every state in
the Union. 1t is quite safe to say that
no state superintendent anywhere is
doing more for the schools of his state
than DR.. Stetson is doing for the
schools of Maine. To nave him In
West Virginia was great delight to
all who heard and met him. He dis
cussed two questions, Cd Does the
school pay? co What kind of school
pays? He showed that the man with {"
| High school education cams twice as
lmuch as the man with a common SchOCl
Ieduca: lion. and that the man with col
!ege education, twice as much as the
man with High school education. He
showed that education pays better than
anything else for both the individual
and the community. AS to the school
itself it ought to have an attractive
setting, with :arge and beautiful
grounds. He discuss ed the four classe s
of students found in the common
schools-the bookisE boy. the physical
boy the artistic boy and the freakish
boy, and he discussed the best methO !
of treating each class. Then he empna-
sized the absolute necessity of strong
community sentiment to support the
schools as the peoples greatest institu-
ton. He gave many illustrations
from his own observation and expert
enoe, end herever he spoke he was re-
| ceived i'm the most cordial way.
| Governor Cobb has received from
Francis Il. LOomis, assistant secretary
| OF state at WdSnlnStOl, -. -, d Soih
munication asking that permission be
granted the SD Canadian Regiment to
enter the State, in order that they may
participate in the military carnival at
Portland, July %. 1t will, without
doubt, be granted.
A question which came in for quite
an amount of discussion among some
Of the officials at the Capitol. Monday.
was as to which was the left bank of
river. Some claimed that it depended
on which way one was going, that 1t
would be on one side of the river If one
were going up. and on the other If COM
ing down, while others thought that II
one stood looking toward the source of
the river, the left bank would be at
their left hand. A few were of the
opinion that If one were to follow the
course Of the river, the bank at their
left hand would be the left bank. The
Halter belief proved to be correct, and
was shown to be SO through reference
to the dictionary.