Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-14
GIVE POWER
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! police in Lewiston or Bangor or
Portland" replied Senator Wads-
worth.
/ Ferley E. Ripley Of South Paris,
OF the Maine Automobile Associa-
ton. wanted to know who Is going
to pay for the police force created
under the bill. and was told that the
pay will come out of the highway
fund as at present
Senator Wadsworth told the COM
mittee that U. S. Marshal Stillman
I Woodman is much in favor of the
! principle OF the bill. He said that
1t Is evident that crime is on the in
! crease and his bill aims to provide
, something to check it.
Representative Cakes Of the COM
mittee pointed out that county. city
and federal law enforcement officers
are already at work and often pass
! the buck to each other, and inquired
II the State police force would not be
simply another excuse for passing
the buck again. Senator Wadsworth
! said he could not tell, but did not
think so.
| A question was raised by Chief
Sanborn Of the present highway
ponce as to whether or not tho
whole force might be changed when
ever there Is change Of governors,
70 this. Chairman Hinckley of the
: committee inquired whether a civil
service provision might not be added
: to the pending bill.
Senator Wadsworth said he would
be in favor of making the force per-
manent. but felt that civil, service
would be clumsy and expensive to
/ attain. 1t was agreed by all that
| the force should be kept out of poll
tics. by whatever means might he
oecided upon as effective to that end.
| IN answer to a question by Sena-
Tor Maher. Chief Sanborn of the
! state Highway police said that since
ne mas been In office that he has had
no trouble with any sheriff, CITY
marshal or other officer as regards
the enforcement of the law.
j. f.. Rackley of Portland, a de-
tective, said that he believed that
the State police should be under the
authority OF the attorney general He
lhought that the members of the
safe Highway police should be given
the same authority as q deputy sher-
III, and Ex-Gov. Nilliken told him
lew days ago that he believes that
| fish and game wardens should have
the same authority as deputy sher-
lifts.
Il do not believe that these high
way police would have the time to
investigate crime if they do their
| work as regards the enforcement Of
the highway laws" said Mr.. Rack
ley.
Mr.. Rackley also favored a State
bureau Of criminal investigation un-
der the attorney generals office.
| 10 Define "Bona Eide Dealer in
Autos
"A step in the right direction"
was the endorsement given by. Chief
Fred Sanborn of the State motor
vehicle department to a bill defin-
ing the term bona fide dealer" in
automobiles. on which hearing was
held before the judiciary committee.
The oil was introduced by Rep
| reSantative Frost OF PASSPORT, and
as explained by him, is designed to
do away with the present practice
under which any person who owns
three or four cars, may take out O.
dealers license plates for them, even
though he may never sell car.
The Frost bill makes the term
dealer" mean persons who are re-
COgn1Zed agents or manufacturers OF
motor vehicles or who are under
contract with the manufacturer or
distributor. 1t also makes provis-
ion for the recognition of dealers In
secondhand cars.
Chairman Hinckley of the COM
mittee took the ground that the
present law providing for the is
suance Of dealers plates to bona
fide dealers is sufficient, saying that
II persons who are not dealers, are
getting such plates. they are COM
uniting fraud.
"Why not prosecute Them" he sug-
gested to Chief Sanborn. 1T is
matter for procedure under existing
law. Don't come to the Legislature
and ask for more law, especially If
drawn in a weaker form than at pres
ent."
Mr.. Frost insisted that the term
bona fide dealer" Is too elastic, and
that his bill would more exactly de-
scribe who is a dealer and who is
not.
Perley F. Ripley Of South Paris,
chairman Of the executive committee