Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-19
HOUSE DEBATE ON
AUTOMOBILE BILL
Rep. Small's A m end
ment Providing for
Exclusion of Eastern
Part of Town Until
January | Is Defeated
by Vote of 80 to 81

In Ions -,sslOn Thursday the Sen
ole considered many measures and
/ made seyer4l important decisions. One
NJ the most important questions con-
.lerea was the question of the adop-
,on of the I1urgin amendment TO the
j.-hgur uIll when debate on this
-yestjel RaS opened Senator Swift
Il Kefaeacc first took the floor in OPP
postjon 4 The amendment. He said
he amendment made a 55-hour law of
The bill and that If there is any meas
IRE tl4at this Legislature ought TO
pass unanimously il is a 54hour law.
He said the bill reported by the COM
mttee ana supported by 1900 signers
would not uiure any of the industries
Il the State, and II is asked and de-
manded py all churches, allied organ
laiioas and the State Grange.
Senator Tunton Of Penobscot sup
ported thu h5ll as reported. He declar-
ed the working people are making ex-
celen, things to buy but have not
the vherewtthal which will purchase
and the hours of labor should be short
ened to cut down production. Senator
Durcin SD he had presented the
smendmen; as a matter of senatorial
courtesy ana had not had opportunity,
being an attorney working from Is to
+ hours a day, to study the situation
0, those who work 10 hours a day and
want T. work only s hours. He said he
believed the amendment was COM
mendat)e and should be accepted. On
ihe question If adoption of the amend
meuj, = voted in favor of adoption
and :, EalnSt.
Senator Murphy's Order
Senator Murphy of Cumberland in
uoduced III order requesting the Gov
eguor 10 return the woman's reforma-
Tory act and upon inquiry from Sen
ator Allen explained that he wished
10 offer an amendment providing that
al acts of the board Of trustees shall
be subject 10 the approval of the Gov
e-1or and Council. Senator Allen OBJ
lected 70 the amendment, reviewed the
drafting Of the law and its passage,
and sad he thought as it had gone
through il should not he called back.
The vCa ana nay vote was taken and
the order rejected by vote 70 l. to
l.
Tire Forest Order
An oder was passed providing for
Tie appointment of special commits
SLOT II I'VE. two members from the
Senate and three from the House, to
serve without compensation or eX-
p+ls= and tc investigate and report to
The next Legislature the means of
Preservation ana conservation of
Maine forests. The order received q
Passage.
Street Car Employees
NE Senate rejected by a vote 70 Is
10 II Senate amendment A to the bill
'tauns 10 the hours Of employment
o. street railway employees. The
amendment exempted York, Aroostook
ana Somerset counties from the pro-
I!SonS of the bill. Amendment B Of
!eFed by senator Emery was adopted
without opposition This amendment
provides that if by reason Of an acct
ueh' or storm the nine-hour limit is
reached during q trip, the crew may
NVHpiete the trip. Amendment c, eX-
empunE Washington county from the
PROVISIONS Of the bill. was defeated
oy vote Of u to 10, President Her
Sey vote breaking a tie.
Mt. Desert Automobile Bill
me bill opening the town of NJ.
DESERT to automobiles occupied the
UatoA of the House for the major
'"t Of the morning session. The
question vas on the adoption of the
i"eAdment Of Rep. Small of Mt. Des-
p" The amendment provided that the
@S'efn part of the town should not
umt automobiles until Jan. l, 1918.
rep Thombs Of Lincoln precipitated
parliamentary and legal discussion
aNh consumed considerable time
men the amendment was offered. He
slsea a point of order, asking If the
.tehoment was proper for the con-
'uefauon Of the House in that its
0olect matter did not conform ap-
aFently with certain constitutional
DIVISIONS. His argument was. in
iief' that all laws should take effect
amer upon the expiration of the 80
Sy limit fixed by the constitution or
poh approval through the authority
me emergency clause when passed
tWo-thirds vote. 1t at once de-
e'oped that Rep. Thombs was, ap-
eFentty, alone in his opinion. for Rep
eSehtatives Pierce. and Sanborn took
= opposite position and no one sup
oited his position.
hep. Smalrs plea for his amendment
,ds based on the argument that M.
'eSert needs a year in which to ad-
Isl itself to the advent of automo-
ies before they come. He said that
le opening of the trunk roads to FIRE.
.'nt and Southwest Harbor would
I've satisfaction to those towns and
NIontlnIed on PAGE 5-CoIumn y