Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-10-13

4A8tstzkIun nj Mn<nr IsrucSO
7 azze Juzr -ufsrr1d N rhe largo
amounts G mnneg winch muzr be
SHANK 1nr the prnpEr main1zuunrH az
lmprsud higHWsys- 7 mare M dnI11
nut lne uuWlR upsrs-1nn of m8rnr
-urks 0n highway unEnIrad N thnn
ar IL tmrrDpsr SEASONS Of the yezr Is
causing enough annual damage to ar
pau1Irur1 az asnur a million tnIsa-s
Tar rzlniauanns- The prnnie.n Of rhe
Rrnner re<ulz.im al I'M heavy r--,ick
must ne READILY cansE BY rne nsx-
LeSisig-ure ann ynlr organisation
mnsf heip reRrn . -easnnsnie and cnn-
sfrnrtlre sniutlan. Transportation pe
uzpIpr trucks Is an INCREASINGLY val
1anie a1Junrr u the facilities Afford
ed uy rzl and wG-Er cnInmun car-Ie-s.
Ens prnniem Is 10 prevent uuneces-
sarv znd undue damage u the hugh
WAYS wlrnuut nRmperlng the uR-vral
depeiupmsu1 nf mnrm rr11cK uHuzpcr-
<arinn. In general. 7 may suEBuR fia1
II - Impossible u mako . rlgin aaIw
without iaEuiHg suDs diHcrariHnz-y
pHwEr IN some Eihnual. ID aaznrmme
what welgnr af Eurlu mzy IN spar-
Erne upnn = g1usn rn2G and II what
perln0E az rne yazr. Z u pnnnAhle Al
- rnzr . vMy much laxBE tse
snnuid he eEArrnd rum hsary trucks
and rnzx rhe fee IN the case NJ trucks
Of murs than six rnuE capacity 1ur
travel On ordinary highways shruid
he 80 nazTy as ID IN prnhihIuua
DISAGREEMENT Of Nkctnr ssiairins
! have tried tn pnlHf Ont that the
nest results in tiIs endorsement of mr.
rsr vehicle laws can ne sscured
through zile muHicipzi officers Of the
cities ann rowns Some Sta1e super
vision was neccssa-y, however. espec-
luiiv On the main arteries Of. --zvel.
In NY Ju1gmsur one State department
should ne given Jurisdiction over al
matters reiarinE ID licensing and cum
E-niliug mufur vehicles. Il rs urnnanie
tna1 SUCH Department would find II
useful IN maintain offices II several
csnrers OF population outside Augusta
where Owners of automobiles cuuld 70
in person ID pay fnr anc secure Iicsn-
SEES SuCn an E-augemsuL among
ai1er advantages. wpui6 make II eas-
lar I'd require from tnuse aupiwinE fur
a drivers license FOR the first time az
least written answers TO SOME cues
LnHs indicating their fitness 10 nper-
ate an aur0mniile- along with rhs in
creased licenses for heavy commercial
trucks should 20 some easisr method
az Identification as. for example q dill
ferent lerTEr with each grade Of Ii
cense. TINS would make Il impossible
tur heavy truck 10 De operaler with
a number plate PAIN fnr q lower rat
ing without MAKING the t-aur annar-
snI u the inspectors anG the public
Afr. Peters declared that the Pub
liz Utilities commission is one Of the
most important IN the State, act
ing Dnth as accsiera1or and as brake
on the States activities and pre-
scented ITS chairman. Judge Clszves
Adrraas OF Judge EleaNes
JuuEH Benjamin T. Clsavss. chair
man OF the Maine Public Talirles
Commission. speaking fnr ms own
cammIsEinn- the secretary OF State.
tns ATTORNEY general and the highway
department explained Just why the
aU1nmpniie laws have not been en-
forced. presenting their weaknesses
as well as Offering SUGGESTIONS for
their Improvement Jungs CiHsyes
alsD declared InaI there should he hut
one department in cnnt-ul Of ali MAJ
ters with reference n rnurnr vehicles.
IF the people wtan used aut1mp-
biies were the only ones VINO were m
any way concerned ar nenefr1ed by
the building and maintenance OF
gnbG roals. then II would be entirely
proper 10 charge the entire cost
thereof ID ti1aI one class of users. but
II Is now thoroughly understood that
every citizen IN Ifle State ID directly
Interested II the ma-er, and nearly
every citizen Is uireGflv and cnnsla-
erahiv Denffir-eG by the Improvement
N our highway conditions and IN the
maintenance Of those highways in
reasonable cnndi1inn," said Judge
Cieaves-
their creation and maintenance
should not, IN it's entirety, DE bnrne
ny any one group NJ users. and under
existing conditions the maiureuance
OF the highways Is MT paid fnr nv
mntDr venicles alone" continued
Judge Cleavcs.
There snnuiG ne but enc oepa-4-
ment IN confirm or ali matters with
reference ID motor vehicles The
matter OF the licensing az sucn We
nicies. the enforcement uf any speed
or oIner highway regulation. the
mat1er Of headlights al reiate to the
Same sunJfc- matter, and the respur-
sihiliry for the enforcement Of those
laws anr regulations should not be
divided.
Take the matter of the enforce
menf Of the regulations with refer
ence I'd speed and the reckless I'D
Grafton Of motor venicles upnn the
highways or their operation BY per-
sgns VINO are under the influence of
ianDr- I am unanie to find anv seq
tlon ar any Statute which authorizes
or requires any department of State
TO enforce such laws or any rexiia-
TONS. OF course. as a general prop
nsIfIun. every police officer. cnns,a-
bic. sheriff, or mis- deputies is re-
uuIred nv statute TO diligently en-
force all laws AS mar1er of prac-
tice- however. No sheriff ar ms dep
urles expect 70 GO out upon our high
WAYS ann devote their time 10 efH
enforcement af automobile laws and