Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-22
DAILY KENNEBEC JOURNAL WEDNESDAY DECEMBER g. 1920

state would come under that provis-
ion. and he answered that II they used
the highways with the truck he could
not see any reason why they would
not. N
Question was asked Of Mr.. Cleaves
If he had suggested that it would be
better to keep all of the departments
dealing with automobiles under one
head. He answered that he felt that
the construction and maintenance of
highways should never be in any 9TH
err agency than the highway depart
ment, and that the regulation of the
use Of the highways should all be un-
der one department. but not necessari-
ly that same department.
In. answer to the question If there
is likely to be any question Of inter-
state commerce. he replied that If it
were undertaken to make automobile
transportation a public utilities mat
ter, then the question of interstate
commerce would probably arise and
be a troublesome matter.
The question was asked, how Sc
we're penalty should be made in the
laws. and Judge Cleaves replied that
he did not feel that this So fine
amounted to anything. He believed
that the best method to- work was
through the operators license to
drive, to suspend it for the first Of
fense and to take it away for the
second.
The matter of damage done to high
ways by heavily. loaded teams with
! narrow tires. another speaker referred
| to. and Chairman Cleaves stated that
he believed the vehicular control of
highways should not he confined to the
motor trucks alone.
Governor Carl e. MiIliken
Governor Milliken was then intro
duced by the chairman, and brought
| the news that the contract for the
superstructure of the Portsmouth
| bridge had been let, and that as the
sub-structurc contract had previously
been let, the bridge is assured.
The governor extended a cordial in
| vitation for all in attendance to visit
the Blaine mansion. stating that he
would be pleased to personally show
ShCAA auOut TIC
Regarding the welfare of the
roads, Governor Milliken stated that
the great problem is the regulation
of the trucks In his judgment the
trucks are doing as much damage
by the unreasonable use of roads at
unreasonable periods as the State is
spending for maintenance now-about
100000 per year. He pointed out
| that there must be some method for
stopping the trucks from using the
roads at certain periods of the year,
and that these times Of the year can
| not be fixed by the dates, bat must be
fixed by conditions.
Upon the matter Of lights. he said
that he believed there is more dan
ger for those who fail to use lights on
the horse drawn vehicle, and he be-
lieved that three out of every four
horse drawn vehicles are disobeying
the law regarding lights.
Secretary Of State r. w. Ball
Secretary of State Frank w. Ball,
the next speaker, said that he did not
agree with some that we should wipe
corning the automobile problems, he
stated that the biggest question in
the enforcement, of laws which look
toward the protection of those who
use the highways, the question of who
should have a right to operate mo-
tor vehicles, the question of licens-
ing operators. All that Is now neces-
sary is for the applicant to answer
a few questions on his application
blank and hand over his 81, and re-
ceive his license. The speaker stated
that he believed in an examination
for operators. t.
He pointed out that people will
say an examination is not efficient
for that, as it is not the inexperienced
operator who causes the accident, but
in many cases the skillful operators.
He said that it seemed to him that
argument could be met because, first,
1t would eliminate some of them, and
then by cooperation the public could
eliminate the skillful drivers who are
operating their cars recklessly, if
complaints were filed. He empha-
sized the necessity of the people of
Maine being willing to cooperate in
the enforcement of these laws, and
stated that when the time comes
people will be willing to report the
man who drives the limousine as we'll
as the man who drives the Lizzie"
then we will have some enforcement.
The matter of the law relating to
dealers he then discussed, saying
that he did not believe the present
law Is just. He believed that the
dealers as whole are honest, but
there are some INSCRIPTIONS dealers
who did not intend to comply with
the law. The dealers law now pro-
vides for fee of s25 for which the
dealer practically gets five registra-
tons. or at the rate of IS each The
speaker believed that the dealers
registrations should be confined to
the demonstration and selling of au-
tomobiles, and he believed that the
dealers license should be increased
1t was also his belief that there
should be garage license, and a law
providing for the registration of cars
going into garage which would aid
the police officers in detecting theft.
The question of foreign cars regis
tered in the State was referred to by
the secretary Of state. who told of the
difficulty in checking up foreign cars.
Concerning the length Of time an out
Of the state car should be allowed to
remain in the State, he said that
there should be uniform law for
Ill go