Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-01
A COMPROMISE BILL
Presented by Committee Regarding
Taxation of Automobiles.

The committee on State lands and
State roads gave Il hearing TucsdaE
evening in the Senate Chamber on the
Doniean and Colby automobile bills.
both Of which are designed 10 make
automobile owners contribute moro
literally to the treasury Of the Stat.
and To better regulate the use OF au-
toinobilcs.
Representative Colby Of Bingham re-
viewed his bill very briefly, pointing
out that It provided that out ot-the
state machines can be in the state
50 days before being compelled to pay
for license. He said he had seen
new draft If the bill drawn by thu
committee which placed the limit at
10 days. He objected to so short
time.
Senator Donigan OF Somerset said
that his bin was modelled after the
New Jersey law. lie believed that
all automobiles should contribute ~
the state treasury. no matter how long
thov had been here. He objected u
the clause in the committee bill, which
provides that a driver may take OUT
and pay for one license which docs
not require renewal. He h llcV"d
drivers should be obliged t. procure
licenses every year.
Senator Winslow Of Cumberland
confessed authorship OF the commit
Tee bill. He took up objections 10
the Donigan bill. criticizing the SEC
lions relating 20 inspectors. graded
licenses. IL years, the minimum age
limit. and others. lie then onumor-
ated the objections to the Colby bill
and road his own bill. He said he
sought law that would be best for
all and give an upkcep fund of NJ
least $50. 00o for the state highways.
His bin embraces in its field of ac-
ton steam log haulers and road rollers
and places speed limit of 20 miles
an hour on all species of vehicles dealt
with by the bill.
Senator Winslow said that he felt
that the To-day clause for out OF the
state owners was fair, notwithstand-
ing the objections of the hotel proprie-
tors. He cited the objection that
Maine hasn't the roads and answered
it by pointing out that G35 miles Of
State road had been built during the
last six wears. He estimated that his
tax on non-residents machines would
pay the State between $4,000 and $2e,-
0a0 a year. ON examination by
Judge Maher Of augusta, represent
ing the hotel men it was brought ont
that under - similar law MaSsachu-
sets only got $1n0 last year.
Judge Afahcr read It list Of states
from which foreign machines hailed
which stopped i'll Augusta last year. as
follows: Massachusetts, 90. New
IL, Rhode Island 1S. New
York "a. Connecticut ~, Arkansas |,
Louisiana =, New jersey j.. Penusyl-
rania a, Illinois ), District OF Column
Dia 9, Ohio 4, Texas 8, California 1,
Florida 3. New Brunswick 3, quebec
/, Missouri /, Vermont l, Georgia :,
Michigan :, Minnesota !. Virginia =.
Indiana !, total 29S.
Wilbur Emerson, manager Of tho
Augusta House said that while his
louse handled $4,000 of automobile
business last year. the stockholders
weren't getting rich. All but four or
five per cent. Of it was spent in Maine
FOR supplies and the four or five per
cent. was spent in Massachusetts. He
objected to the Today clause as did
also Charles Hill, proprietor ol the
Belgrade hotel at Belgrade Lakes He
recited one tour he made in which
money was spent freely and called at
tcntion to the tire trouble experienced
by automobilists in Maine.
Representative Austin Of Phillips
wished to place tho free time limit at
30 days