Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-11-27
House Bill No. 2e4.


introduced by Mr.. Batcheider of
Townshcnd and referred to the General
Commitlee)
An Act to Amend Section 1901 of the
Public Statues Relating to the Speed of
Automobiles.
1t is hereby enacted by the General
Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Section l. Section 409l of the Public
Statues is hereby amended so as to read
as follows:
Section 1901, No automobile or motor
vehicle shall be run on a pui lie way or
private way laid out under authority of
statue, in careless or negligent manner.
If a person runs AN automobile or a motor
vehicle at "A rate of speed exceeding
twenty-five miles an hour outside a city
or incorporated village, or at rate of
speed exceeding ten miles an hour with
in city, incorporated village or the
thickly settled part of town, or at a
rate of speed exceeding six miles an hour
across any bridge of more than fifty feet
span, it shall be prima facie evidence
that the automobile or motor vehicle
was run carelessly or negigently. Moth
ing herein contained shall be so con-
strued as to affect the rights of the select
men of town or the proper officials of
city, or incorporated village, and said
officials shall have authority to make
special regulations as to the speed of
such automobiles or motor vehicles upon
narrow or dangerous roads or ways.
Such special regulations shall be subject
to an appeal to the state highway COM
missioner, whose decision in the case
shall be final. No such special regula-
tions shall be effective unless notice of
the same is posted conspicuously in such
road or way reasonable distance from
point where such narrow or dangerous
place exists.
1t is well known that this paper is I'M
alterably opposed to the surrendering of
the peoples highways to uses which they
were not made for, and which we be-
lieve infringe upon the inalienable rights
of the people so seriously that if the ques-
ton could be carried to our Supreme
Court such use would be declared to be
unconstitutional.
Let those who want to use these vehi-
Giles build their own roads, the same as
the railroads or trolley lines. The peo-
pies highways should be sacred against
anything and everything Shich renders
them unsafe, or in any way interferes
with their legitimate use by the great
majority of our citizens.
With such ideas, we do not like any
part of the above bill, considering it a
surrender to a comparatively few men
many of them impecunious, many
more entirely unprincipled, as shown IN
so many cases by leaving those whom
they have struck down to perish on the
highways, while they speed on to avoid
punishment-and all selfish.
Bot if any laws of regulation are pas
sed by the Legislature, they should in
clude all necessary machinery for their
enforcement. 1t is known by all that
very few automobiles pay any attention
whatever to any regulation passed by the
Legislatures, or any other authorities.
This is most disgraceful and most demon
alizing, an education to the people-and
one that will be followed quickly enough
by the viciously inclined-to violate any
law. 1t is indeed very dangerous pre-.
edent, undermining all respect for law,
and should be remedied at once and thor
oughly. This is not matter to be slight
ed, but, rumpet-tongued, it calls for
thorough and immediate remedy.
Again, any regulation for speed upon
the highways should be for all vehicles,
with limit of not more than twelve
miles an hour.
The clause of this bill granting power
to selectmen and proper town authorities
to pr otect their communities by abating
nuis res, we believe to not only now
~ out to be imperative. Such clause,