114 CONFERENCE OF GOVERNORS. 



Connecticut an owner's servant cannot operate the automobile, even 

 if the owner were in the car with him. In Connecticut I under- 

 stand there is a non-resident law, and the Secretary of State sends 

 notifications that persons must be residents to operate a car. In 

 Ehode Island the law is practically the same as in New Hampshire. 

 There is another class of legislation that has interfered with the 

 motorists. In three of the New England States local ordinances 

 are prohibited; in three other States they are permitted. 



I trust there will be iafluence enough this year to force through 

 the Legislature a bill abolishing local regulations, and putting the 

 entire regulation of the motor under the Highway Commission 

 in the several States. Mr. Parker has referred to the fact that 

 we should exclude local politics. The trap is a local political affair, 

 to make some people hold oflSce for life, and in some places to 

 enable the town treasuries to build up their roads for other purposes. 

 It strikes me that the State of Massachusetts should lead the way in 

 this regard by controlling the entire driving of motors throughout 

 the State. I should like to see the Highway Commission given 25 

 or 50 officers, these men to be mounted, controlling the various dis- 

 tricts, so that our towns should be taken care of, and eliminate 

 this graft element that has been worked up in the towns for several 

 years past. 



Another correction that should be made in the law this year 

 is in regard to the registration of automobiles. At the present 

 time a man purchases an automobile and pays $5 for registration; 

 he sells the machine in one month; neither he nor the purchaser 

 of the vehicle has the benefit of the license. I think that one fee 

 for a year ought to be our rates. I trust that will be another 

 amendment to the law. In Massachusetts the question of fees is 

 very important. They have defeated the increased fee according 

 to the horse-power of the car. I do not know the disposition of 

 the authorities this year, but I think if they would confer with 

 the motorists, as they should do also in all the New England States, 

 we would get at some sane fee as to our share in the maintenance 

 of the highways; but I think when we have contributed one-half, 

 as at present, we are doing pretty well. 



I only hope the Governors of the several New England States 

 will see fit to appoint at a very early date three commissioners 

 to meet in a conference and to formulate more uniform provisions, 

 in order that we may get somewhere near a uniform law for the 

 New England States; because at present a good automobile can 



