Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-11-09
AUTO EXCLUSION ACT o. X


The Law court last week handed down
. rescript In the famous automobils case,
giving Judgment for the State, and de-
ciaring the oct to prohibit the use Of
automobiles ON Nj. Desert island to Be-
constitutional. The rescript, drawn BY
Mr.. Justice whitehoass, IL % follow:
This u . criminal prosecution for an
alleged violation OF . special act At the
Legislature approved March II, 100, en-
titled: IAN act to prohibit the uss OF
automobiles in the towns Of Eden, Mount
Desert, fremont and Southwest Harbor
on the island OF Mount Desert"
It 10 fundamental rule respecting the
distribution Of the powers OF government
into three departments, that mo psrson or
persons belonging to one OF these depart
ments shall exercise any Of the powers
properly belonging to either Of the
others". Const. Of Maine, art. Ill, 90. 3
But courts are mot Justified in preventing
the enforcement Of legislative enactment
by declaring 1t invalid unless sstisfed be-
yond reasonable doubt that II 10 In clear
|
violation Of some provision Of the con-
stitution. II IL the duty Of one depart
ment to presume that another has acted
within it, legitimate provinces until the
contrary 10 made to appear BY strong and
convincing reason.
Inc 'se'slseiss Power everywnsre
recognized - the proper guardian Of ali
socn pubic lients, - the rixnt OF tfasei
upon 'ne oasn~sys, sno - having, = tne
proper representative OF tine pooiic, Iuii
power ove5 tne Wnoae suo1ecs OF paying
guy, open'ne, A'elins ana oisconana'ns
ana TINS power tney may, 20
isr - they nave NOS oeen restrained oy
the constitution, exercise direcsiy without
osieeslin& Y 20 my 0net tfiounAi.
- now = wen-ssstied RUE tnst, IN tine
absence OF any CONSTITUTIONAL festriction
VI n"lsstion' sne les'sa.ture OF sosetea&n
ses.e, IN INC eAercss Oh "s ponce power
winch eAtenos 70 tne preservation o. tne
nves' hmos' neaitn' comfort ana quiet Of
al persons ana the pfotection OF AL prop
efty WITHIN the STATE, mas the rignt 70 pro-
mo-" aotomoones nom passing over
oertain stfeets OF pooiic Ways IN any CITY
OF Town.
ana was neio oy TINS court 10 the
recent case OF STATE '. mayo, io6 NAME
y, tnat . private ana special act OF the
legislature aotnorixing the town OF Eden
tone OF tne towns empfsceo In Inc act now
oetofe tine court u any legal meeting OF
the Soters tnereoi 70 Close 70 tne use OF
automooiies certain streets IN that town.
was not rpuenant 70 any CONSTITUTIONAL
provision, ana that the ordinance adopted
~ tne vote OF the Town IN pursuance Of
TINS enactment, excluding sutomooiiss
from sucn streets, was Q legal ana valid
one
An tnat case - In TINS, II was COMMENDED
IN oenaii OF the oeienoant that the statute
~ss IN Sioistion OF the natural inherent
ana unahenaoie rights" OF man specined
IN SEC. !, OF Art. l, OF the constitu-
lion OF Maine and article XIV OF the
amendments 10 the Consultation OF the
United States' declaring that no state
snan oeny 70 any person 1.-THE equal pro-
lection Oh the laws.
not " was determined oy this court In
cAreiuiiy considered opinion, and in &C.
coroance with the nrmiy- estabhshed prin-
capae ABOVE ststed, tnst the right to use
Ing Puolic streets u NOT an absolute ana
unequshneo fient, out 70 subject 70 hmi-
s.aon sno eontroi oy tne legislature
nesty 70 ploS'oe ior ana
peolose INC ssse.y' peece, health, morals
s' "eAisre VI inc people ana
.nA' no cons'i'otionA guaranty 10 vio-
lA'oo " sucn an e.ercise OF the poics
Po"ot oi the stste Inc fourteenth
,nen' - nov assigned 70 impair
.ns pol'os po~els OF sss'e' ana mas never
~ oonseruc'eo'
ocn is"s - Inc ect In question nave
.ese. oe1n fessloeo q Class iesisistion
Simply DeeAuse tney aHecs one class ana
no' .no'nei inss"oen - they anecs al
e' u INC '.ne c,ass an.e' sno the
elAs',n'oo involved IN tne law y