Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1909-03-20
SEN sPETERSON
RAISES A ROW
OVER BILL TO RETAIN OLD
SOLDIERS.
Legislative Combine is Getting
Many Hard Knocks from
Questions that Make Trouble.
(Heatwole's Legislative letter.,

l.
tomobile bill, which has passed the
house, provides for the registration of
all motor vehicles in the secretary of
States office. A registration fee of
$3.50 is to be charged. The registra-
ton is to be made annually. When
the first registration is made the sec
rotary of State is required to assign
the auto a number and deliver to the
owner tag 12x5 inches in cases of
autos and 5x3 inches in case of mo-
tor cycles, on which is to be the name
of the State, the year for which the
tag was issued and the number as
signed the vehicle. Each auto must
be equipped with brakes and horns,
and at night carry two lighted lamps
in front and a red light visible from
the rear. An automobilist must stop
his machine when signalled by a
driver of team to do so and remain
stationary so long as it is necessary
to prevent accident. The rule of the
road for motor vehicles as laid down
in the law is similar so that in case
of teams meeting or passing except
that the driver of the auto is required
to slacken the pace on approaching
a team. In cities or villages slow
moving vehicles are expected to keep
near the right curb, allowing those
moving more rapidly to keep near the
center Of the street. All vehicles,
however, must keep to the right of
the center of the street.
No fixed rate of speed is provided
for in the hill. 1t is enacted that the
speed shall not be greater than is
reasonable and proper, having regard
to the width, condition and use of the
highways" and as shall not endanger
property Or life. In approaching a
dam, bridge, sharp curve or descent,
crossing, etc., the machine must at all
times be under perfect control, and
the rate of speed must not exceed in
such cases mile in six minutes, nor
on any street or highway Is miles an
hour.
Chauffeurs are also required to reg
lister annually and pay 80 the first
year and 81 thereafter. Upon regis
tering the chauffeur is given a badge
which he must wear conspicuously
when operating machine. No per-
SOP is allowed to operate machine
who's not registered chauffeur. In
case of accident resulting from the
operation of the auto the drivers re-
quired to stop, and if requested give
his name and address. Children un-
der fifteen are not permitted to drive
machines except when accompanied
by parent or guardian. Autos pass.
ing through the State or their chauf-
feurs are not required to register.
Such a row as Senator Peterson rails
ed in the senate the other day. The
thin veneer of senatorial courtesy was
all scratched off and the partisan be.
meath stood revealed. Not that this is
to be deplored at all. One doesn't
have to know even the most smooth
spoken of the senators very we'll to
see that senatorial courtesy is only
designed for public exhibition, and
that they are just as ready behind |
each others back to attribute motives |
to their honesty, their candor or their
disinterestedness, as are people who
don't profess to be half as considerate.
Now, what was Senator Peterson's |
offense? 1t consisted in the fact that |
a capable and efficient State official
would be protected from executive
displeasure if the entirely meritorious
bill whose passage-after explanation
he secured under suspension of
the rules, became a law. There is
now on the statute books a law more
honored in the breach than in the OBJ
servance providing that veterans of
the civil war be given preference
when seeking public employment.
Senator Peterson sought to strengthen
this law by extending to veterans al
ready employed the protection of civil
service rules In case where such en-
ployment exists the official could not
be discharged under the Peterson bill
and must be retained in office after
the expiration of the term for which
he was appointed unless charges were
made against him and these charges
sustained by evidence before a COM
mission composed of the governor,
the lieutenant governor and the at !,
torney general. i
What is wrong with that kind of a