The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-02-09

jail improvement arose. It was desired to have the hearing next week, but there are so many engagements that 1t will have to be deferred. Representa- tive Gum, a member of the sub-com- mittee, will be busy next week with matters before his committee on wo- man suffrage, and there are other im- lorfant matters that will prevent com mittee hearing next week. When the hearing is held if the representatives agree upon some general plan, the com mittee will probably be instructed to re- port detailed plans and then the repre- sentatives will formulate bill carry ing the necessary appropriation for the work.
 THE BRIDGEPORT GRADE CROSS
 INGs.
 The most important hearing so far this session before the railroad commit tee took place this afternoon. Five of the committee were present, Senator Cof- fey presiding. Despite the blizzard quite a delegation of Bridgeport people and several members of the general assem- bly, were present. The hearing was on the proposed elimination of the grade crossings in Bridgeport, for which three voluminous bills are now pending before the committee. The city was represent ed by Corporation Attorney Davenport, Mayor Bostwick and Councilman Smith, and Senator Marigold and Representa- tive Marsh of that city were also pres ent. The Consolidated road was repre- scented by Hon. Lynde Harrison.
 nNba hill of p an a five MarE1 of Bridgeport has been amended by that gentleman by adding the following;
 After the sums named in section as the limit to be apportioned to the state of Connecticut and the city of Bridge port are exhausted the remaining cost of the work as herein described shall. be paid by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company. All costs and legal expenses of every kind that may be incurred in the proceed ings referred to in section 6 shall be paid for by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company alone, and the city of Bridgeport shall not be liable for any portion thereof"
 The sum total to be paid by the state of Connecticut in carrying out the pro- visions of this act shall not exceed $25, ,OOO, The sum total to be paid by the city of Bridgeport in carrying out the provisions of this act shall not eX- ceed $50,000 All other expenses of every sort, kind and nature, whatso- ever, that may arrise or accure in car rying out the provisions of this act, shall be paid by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad com pany.
 The mayor of the city of Bridgeport is hereby authorized to borrow from time to time not to exceed in all the sum of $5O,OOO to enable the said city of Bridgeport to make the several pay ments as they shall become due and payable under the provisions of this act.
 Representative Marsh appeared in be- half of his bill and spoke in part as follows: ..
 'Tt is proposed to eliminate twenty five grade crossings in Bridgeport and much property will be effected. There is bitter feeling existing between the railroad and property owners in Bridge port. I have suggested that five disin- terested persons, most of them residents of Bridgeport. be appointed to have charge of the work. It would be a special court of arbitration to decide all matters arising, and to be appointed by the governor. Objection has been made because this commission would have so much power. The members of the rail- road commission and our judges are but men, and this commission would be the same. They ought to equal these gentlemen in ability, if not, they will not be qualified to compete with the New Haven railroad, which provides for themselves the very best talent that | is obtainable. The number on the | commission is to he five, so that at | least three could agree The salary of | these commissioners shall be $3,0O0 per | year, and they shall have clerk and a l It has been decided in | the conferences that the railroad shall | run under Park avenue. Now any | change looking to elevating the tracks | at this point would mean a great ex- pense, but if the people of Bridgeport | desired it I would agree to it. The | people of Bridgeport believe that this | work should be done at once, and they | would pay $25, ,000 toward the expense as provided in this bill. The law provides | that no town shall provide for the stock or bonds of any railroad, or loan it's credit thereto. The only proper meth cd therefore is for the city to pay for the land damages. Some believe that | should not meet any of this expense. If Bridgeport was a small town there would not be much outlay, but the city has grown around the railroad. The railroad will have to pay, but it will get it's share from the growth of the city in revenue It would be well for the rail- road if there were towns like Bridgeport Of 50,000 at intervals of ten miles all along the line of the New York road Section six allows two years for making .hese improvements, which seems like a reasonable time. We consider 1t most unfortunate that in the other bill that las been presented no amount of the outlay has been clearly stated. It is of equal importance that a commission of i've should be appointed so that when he work is completed there may be no possible disagreement about the dam ages or any appeal to bother the city. rLa Daop1e of RridpeDort ara verv de