Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-09

amendment to it in the House, but |
believe the amendment cuts out the best
part of the bill, if there is any best to
it. As l understand this bill here. it
practically covers everything but wag
ons hauling hay or straw. | understand
that the amendment leaves out and Elk
cepts all heavy teams. the very kind
Of "A team that requires the middle of
the road, the best part of the road. and
if any team ought to be obliged to car
ry IA light ii is a big, loaded team.
Many people that run automobiles
wholly and have very little use for a
carriage do not realize the fact that our
average farmer would have three or four
vehicles that would require lights. and
as | understand the bill. every one would
require two lights. Have you stopped
to think what that means to impose
upon the farmer in the way of expense
alone There must be trimmed and
! ready for burning tive lights Oh every
vehicle which he has. aud | say it
should include heavy vehicles for they
are the most dangerous to meet on the
road. because when they are loaded they
have 10 be in the main travelled part.
the best part of the road. do not know
as have put it high enough when / say
three or four. l believe the average
man in our country towns has at least
three driving carriages alone.
Had we passed an act. this winter
there was one introduced something on
this line, requiring the bushes to be cut
in the road way-then we would have
al val III
with teams and automobiles For some
reason or other this act was turned
down. We should especially pass one
that would require the bushes to be cut
on all angles on the road, so that not
only the people driving in carriages, but
the people driving automobiles could
look by and have a better opportunity
of knowing who they were TO meet and
when they We're to meet some one.
| have heard many complaints from
the rural districts in regard to this bill
The carrying of a light in many cases
is all right, and l think more people
are using lights every year, but to bind
the farmers down to carrying lights |
think We would find to be very objec-
tionable, and for one want TO record
my vote against it. l move that the
bill be indefinitely postponed and call
for the yeas and nays.
Mr.. BAILEY of Penobscot: Mr. Presi-
dent, l am very sorry and deeply moved
that such burdens and grievances are
put upon the poor farmer, that he should
De Obliged to put light, costing perhaps
30 cents on his wagon so that il would
be easier not only for the automobile
people but also easier for others on the
public highway, and that they could ira
vel with more safety.
The farmer in this State no doubt has
very hard show. The automobiles are
douhly taxed and one of those taxes is
used for the benefit of good roads. Those
taxes pay for those gooc roads. The
farmer does not have any use for good
roads. 1 suppose when they are built
that he will travel around them.
This bill no doubt, according TO the
statement of the senator from Kennebec.
was intended entirely for the benefit of
the automobile owner. 1t is not for the
benefit of the farmer travelling at night
that his wagon can be seen so that if
viii not be run into. / say that a num-
Der of accidents, and / know personally
about one, would have been avoided, if a
buggy had been carrying a light.
This bill is particularly effective when
there is a sort of haze in the air. At
That time wagon cannot be seen by
an automobile or by anyone else until
you are nearly up to it, but light can
be seen some little distance off and will
give warning.
In Massachusetts and Connecticut they
have law like this. We are passing
laws to get those people into our State.
but when they come here they find con-
ditions that they do not understand and
that they make complaints about a good
deal.
1t seems to me that this is a trivial
matter, that a man cannot afford to paw
% cents or % cents for a light to put on
his wagon. These lights are put on by
straps and can be taken from one We
hlele to another, and surely, they are
not alone for the benefit of the auto
mobile owners, but for the safety of all
travelling on public highways.
The loaded vehicles need them less a
they will be protected. as a heavily load
ed team, If an automobile runs into it.
Is not hurt, but the automobile people
are liable to damage.
RMS bill is intended for light vehicles
and for the life of me / cannot see WHY