Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-28
cially assigned for consideration -.
morrow.

] The SPEAKER (pro tem) The
next matter for consideration is hill
An Act for the better protection of
automobile garage keepers and own
ers. The pending question is the
third reading Of the bill.
Mr.. PLUMBER of Lisbon: Mr.
Speaker, | would like to call the at
tention of the House to statement
made by the governor in his veto
message conceIninS an act relating to
untrue and misleading advertisements
in which he recommended that the
Legislature cohsider whether or NOT
there was law enough on the statute
books already. AS | understand it, at
! the present tine there is law enough
for the COLLECTION OF debts. This bill
provides that ehoeXer puts an auto
mobile in puhc garage and gets ac-
commodation fr himself or for his
automobile, anG with intent to de-
fraud the owne and keeper removes
or causes the sltomobile to be re-
moved. shall be punished by impris-
onment not exceeding three months or
bv fine not exceeding 500.
| This bill looks to me like a revival
of Imprisonment for debt. The auto
mobile garage oener or keeper has, /
iuare in eommoa with other people
who have either services or collateral
10 sell the power to collect his bin by
low and that would seem to me suf-
feient. I don't NOW of any particu-
lar reason why automobile garage
keeners should have any remedy
aho,.o ,bat which exists for the rest of
nc in tho COLLECTION of our bills. 1t
bas heen urged hat inn keepers are
already similarly protected; that they
are protected as ms Dill would pro-
teet automobile arage keepers. AS
to the ladvisabiliu OF that particular
legislation do Mt wish to enter into
a discussion. butthere is this differ
ence between an nn-keeper and the
keeper Of garae that if man goes
to a. hotel and rgisters he may be
there for a meal day, a week, or for
a longer time. hsis in and out about
his business. and the proprietor or
mana ger of the Notel probably pays
M attention to the incoming or oul-
going of his guests so that it is pos
sihle for the guestto perhaps so away
without paying his bill IL ne is so DIS
posed. and it may possibly not be
unreasonable that the innkeeper
should have an acton that is different
from that of other people who nave
hills to collect: but man driving an
automobile into n garage and buying
gasolene, or having Few nuts usht-
ened on his machine, is unable TO get
away without the consent OF the own
err. 1t is urged that in many cases
the owner of the garage may hate to
question a man who has driven in or
is driving out with a good looking
automobile-may hate to question his
ability to pay, and let him go without
saving anything. ! have no DOUBT
that other people have been in that
same position; that they have lei peo-
ple go out of their stores or orices
whom they knew pretty well wouli
not pay, but hated TO make personal
matter of it and request the IN
dividual TO pay before he should
leave; but doubt whether in those
cases We wish to make a fine. such as
is proposed here. or Imprisonment, Tor
debt; and although / have no DOUBT
that this House would pass TINS Dill
/ nevertheless for these reasons move
that IT be indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. THoMBs of Lincoln: Mr.. Speaker.
and gentlemen Of the House, this Is not
my bill. and | have no particular inicr-
est In il, except that | WAS talking TO-
day with the gentleman who introduced
II. / asked him the nature of the Bill
and If the House will bear with me just
a moment / will explain It rs he en-
planned IL 20 me The automobile Dust
ness new has grown u such IN extent
that in almost every hotel in connection
Herewith there is a public garage. an
! think IL Is not going too far In lesa
sense to say that the proprietor of lhs
garage. especially II il Is run In eofi'
! junction with his hotel, advertising q
the public that he will care for auto
| mobiles. his business Is analogous e
| that Of the hotel keeper. He Is servine
| The public and must serve all wh'
| come. aud the very argument that m.
! friend from Lisbon fMr. Piummesl put!
| forward in defense of the law for IN
| protection of hotel keepers Is the yer,
argument that would go 10 support hi
! bill The gentleman Interested In thi
| matter. and by the way he is a keepe
! of a garage, tod me- ~ this inelden
| hippening in Bangor last summer.
! stranger came to town at night an
1 put M his car, ordered gasolene. som
| repairs ubeieating oil etc. and net
| shoe. which was put on, In the morn
! Ing he went to the garage. and to tn
| man in charge said. Il am going TO b
! around town this forenoon. aud will b
| back az noon took his car and wen
| dt,t RE immfdlateR started for tn
| boundary line. and it was with consid
e,lble difficulty that he was overtaker
| and it was only by making out specii
| writ-as any man who is a lawye
| would understand-such a writ as woul
4allow the arrest of person who ev
IDENTITY is about to leave the State. wher
| they were able to arrest him and hol
him for the debt. Now 1t is Just thos
| cases that this bill is meant to cove
1t is not 10 be used in a ease where III
| party is q resident of the town; it Ii M
necessary. and would not apply TO hin
| because the wording is that he mus
| procure it with the intent to defaau
the owner or keeper of such garage
| and ordinarily that would not be IN
case in civil debt as my friend put
I ~ I ~ thp AZ