Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-29

Inc etIOTtS 10 pTOtllOle Iil-doNlStA
legislation in various states was de-
plored by Day Baker. chairman of
the legislative committee of the
Massachusetts Automobile Dealers
and Garage association. at meeting
Of the Maine Automobile Dealers as
sociation held Wednesday at the AL
gusta House. The keynote of the
meeting was organization and coop
Grafton of the auto owners and deal
ers for protectio against this men
ace.
The afternoon meeting which vas
called at 230 was devoted to the
routine reports and discussions OF
vital problems that pertain to the
auto industry. These matters were
of a private nature and the meet
ing was discussed behind closed
doors.
At this meeting also. the officers
for the coming year were elected.
There are: President, Myron D. KID
der of Portland: vice president. w.
II. Hight of Skowhegan; secretary
treasurer, Ira Belyea of Waterville.
.rhetrustees who were elected were
H. c. McCorrison of Brunswick, w.
H. Hight of Skowhegan. p. M. Law
renee Of Augusta. John Morton of
Pennington, Ira Belyea of Wat Or
VILE. Stanley W. Johnson of Sanford,
Myron Kidder of Portland. Perley
Ripley of South Paris, V. S. Darling
of Auburn. E. Y. Eldridge Of Bangor
and u. F. Harrison of Houlton.
The legislative committee has not
yet been appointed.
The evening meeting was in the ma
ture Of banquet with two prom
inent automobile. men as the speak
ers. These men, Day Baker of Bos-
ton, and M. c. HORNE of New York,
are both well versed in all the pro-
blems which face the auto dealer and
both delivered very interesting and
instructive talks along these lines.
The new president, Myron Kidder
Of Portland, opened the meeting and
after expressing his qualification at
the honor which had befallen him he
said that he would not have accepted
the office If he had not felt that each
member Of the association was behind
him. He said that cooperation must
be the keynote Of the association if
1t is to do good for the owners and
dealers.
Day Baker spoke on the "Protec-
tion Of the Automobile Industry from
Ill-Advsed Legislation" He told of
the legislation which was proposed in
the United States last year. OF the
1900 proposed bills in the different
states last year only 81 were passed.
which shows the enormous number of
bills which would be harmful if pass
ed He told Of the work in California
where of 33 bills which came before
the legislature only one was passed,
/ and that was the only one which the
auto men approved This shows wha.
can be done If the auto men organize
and express their desires.
He gave. some interesting statistics
try since 1909. These show that from
, standing 30th in industrial rank in
1909, the automobile industry had adj
vanced until ii stood in second place
in 1920. He said that there was an
average of one automobile to each IL
inhabitants of the United States ami
that in Nebraska this ratio was so
much greater that it would be possible
to put the whole population in autos.
with each person having seat. and
! move them cut of the state at the
same time.
| Mr.. Baker spoke Of the campaign OF
propaganda which the railroads are
conducting against the motor trucks
and said that the long hauls werc
| the most economical by rail. hut that
| the trucks made the short ones better
owing to the fact that they delivered
! at the door. even If they did charge
as much as the rails.
Trucks have revolutioniZed the Sc
| lection of sites. for manufacturing
| plants. Previous to the use OF truck:
! It was necessary to select site nea:
| the railroad, but this is not so now
| The manufacturer can select a p!acS
| off from the railroad if he pleases and
| rest assured that he will be able to
handle his product by truck.
Regarding legislation. he said tina;
| in this State, as in all others, If would
be best to organize all automobile as
] sociations into one so that they might
settle differences of opinion and SC
| not keep the representative the
law-making bodies guessing as {
| what was really wanted. THEN the
! men should talk with the Lawmakers
! and discuss the questions 50 that these
men might understand what the peo
| pie wanted, and also that if they die
| not vote accordingly their chances
| for reelection were very slim. In thi:
way the proper kind of Legislation
would be gained
A problem which may come up II
this State if it has not already done
SO. is that of erecting permanen
bridges. 1t was proposed in Massa'
chusetts to build concrete bridge:
which would be almost indestruct
auto fees to pay the costs. Mr.
Baker said that as these bridge.
would be here for generations, it wa!
not right that the present generation
should pay for the whole. but that i
was more fitting that they be pait
for by bond issues raised in thu
various towns and counties in which
the bridges were located. In thi
manner the expenses would fall OF
future generations as we'll as on thi!
and would release the present auto
fees to be used to maintain the pres
ent highways.
| NJ. G. Horin of New York, who i!