Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-04-01

| get beaten IN court they ehall come 70 thi
Legislature and get things fixed for them
Mr. Thatcher-Ne; but II they ar,
thrown out Of court they have the privilege
Of coming to the Legislature. This 40
years charter has expired. The peopi,
claim that they are being taxed to suppor
that bridge unjussly. that the bridge haI
reverted 70 the State by the provisions oi
its charter. The bridge corporation hangs
| to it because il 10 . good paving investment
The psopie are being ground down by the
tell which IL exacted OF them. know
about this matter. have . mill in the
town Of Milford. My agent 10 compelled
to run back and forth daily Q dcren times
and pay ten cents. He can get NO reduc-
ton. He has to pay just the same ~ man
who goes across ouee. Men have been
conpeiled to pay $500 for one winter. o,
because they would not pay il, have been
sued and hsd to pay 3400. Ii 10 an ipjus-
tice. The people claim the bridge has re.
verted tn the State and belongs 10 the peo.
pie; not only because the charter has
expired, but because il wac not built
where il was agreed to be built. They do
not want to be thrown into court again
By information the attorney general
brought this matter into the courts. The
decision was appealed from and now If
they are unsble TO gain their case and are
thrown out of court, thew want the privii-
ege Of coming to the Legislature. They
have right now. They came in 1874 and
we're promised relief, and were relieved
for number Of years. They then began
TO increase their tolls, ard whenever par
ties asked them for redress they said: I'VE
will sell you the bridge" They feel they
cannot hold it = great while. they know
their charter has expired and want the pub
lie to buy the bridge.
Mr.. Wslton-If the argument Of the
senator from Peuobscot is correct
then we should certainly ae-
cept the majority report here, l
would, If l could, vote every tollbridge
out of existence. IL they hsve rot any
right the bridge reverts 10 the State II
they have right, they are entitled to keep
Ii. This Legislature is not leylrlsting sny-
body out of aoy vested rights. The major
ity report provides that it ahsll revert to
the State when it Is ascertained through the
courts, that the State is eGtitled to 1t. l
do not understand the minority report to
mean anthipg else, but if it means what the
Senator from Penobscot elaine, that those
people are 70 ceme here for a rene 1y, 1t is
,ime such proceedings were sat down upon.
The matter resolves itself iato this
There is suit now pending brought
BY the attorney general. Upon The
decision OF that suit the question
10 to be settled whether this bridge
has reverted to the State, and when that is
settled the whole question 10 settled and
needs no legislation here whatever. IL ii
is settled that it hiss not reverted, this Leg
islSture has no right to pass law annuling
the charter of these people who have built
& bridge there at presumably great ex-
pense.
Mr. Mallet of Cuuberland--As one of
the committee on ways and bridges signed
the msj ority report, because IL was thought
by myself and those who signed with me
that the majority report was The report to
sign, tha. the words "shis act shall not
affect or prejudice" should be Incorporated
in the report which should be adopted. The
whole matter hinges upon the decision Of
the court as we understood 1t.
On molten by Mr. Thatcher, the matter
was laid upon the table
On motion by Mr.. Swanton Of Ssgsds-
hoe, Senate document 23S. an act to incot-
Telephone Company WAS taken from the
table, and on the same senator's motion
amended, and as amended took its several
readings, under suspension of the rules,
ard passed to be engrossed.
The Senate then went into joint con-
vention with the House upon the matter Of
Charles S. Hamilton.
In SENATE.
On motinn hy Mr. Smith of Lincnln