Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-25
THE LEGISLATURE.
The Opening Of the Eighth
Week Of Session.
General Bridge Bill Presented BY
Majority Of Committee.
A Minority of Two Object to the
Measure.

dance. There was little new business
presented in either branch although
two or three very important measures
were introduced.
The general bridge bill was reported
by Senator Maddocks, representing a
majority of the committee on ways
and bridges. This measure has been
under consideration for several weeks
and several important changes have
| been made in the original draft. "A
resolve accompanies the majority re-
| port, which provides that the following
sums be appropriated for 1903 to carry
out the provisions of the bill: For pur-
| chasing bridges, $4,000; for mainte-
| nance, $4,000; for constructor of
new bridges, $4,000, and for purchase
of private and toll bridges, $4,000, max
ing a total of $4,000. For 1904 the
| sums appropriated are as follows: For
purchase of bridges, $4,000; for main
tenance., $4,000; for construction of
| new bridges, $4,000; for purchase of
private and toll bridges, $4,000, max
| ing a total of $4,000.
| A minority report signed by Low
of Portland and Jones of Corinna, OBJ
jecting to the bill and that it ought
l
reports were tabled for printing The
| full text of the bridge bill is as follows:
| Be it enacted by the Senate and
| House of Representatives in Legisla-
ture assembled, as follows:
Section /. The county commission
| ers of the several counties prior to the
| first day of June, nineteen hundred
and three, shall inspect and make a
list of all highway bridges fifty feet
or more in length, exclusive of neces-
sary approaches, and forming a part
of any legally established road in
their respective counties. Said lists
shall contain a description of each
bridge, stating it's location, length, the
material of which it is built, the foun-
dalton upon which it rests, and its
value, as of said first day. of June. In
determining the value of any such
bridge the commissioners shall deduct
therefrom any aid received from the
State, the United State, or any in
dividual, firm or corporation in the
construction and maintenance of the
same, said deduction not to exceed the
present value of said bridge. Said
commissioners shall, on or before said
irst day of June, file a copy of said
lists, signed by them, with the treas
urer of their respective counties, and
with the State treasurer Such lists
shall be the official lists of the bridges
to be taken under this act, and the
| values therein stated for iron and Stee
bridges, or any iron or steel span OF
any bridge, shall be the basis for al
| payments to the several towns an6
counties therefor. Such bridges shall
become, on said first day of June, the
| property of the counties in which they
are located, and shall be known as
: State and county bridges, and shall be
| designated by sign or number thereon
From and after said first day of June
the county commissioner shall have the
r supervision. repairing, maintaining
, building and rebuilding of such bridge:
in their respective counties.
Section 2. Two-thirds of the tota
value of the iron and steel bridges, OF
iron or steel spans of any bridge, il
each town. according to the list:
aforesaid. shall be paid by the county
to such town. in not more than ter
annual instruments, except as herein
after provided, beginning with the
year nineteen hundred and three, with
out interest on the unpaid install
ments. Said payments to the severa
/ towns shall be in cash and the count.
commissioners shall not offset agains
the county tax of any town thu
amount of such payment. Said com
missioners shall include said install
ment in their annual estimate, an(
said amount shall be assessed upoi
the county as are other county ex-
penses. One-third of the total value OF
the iron and steel bridges, or iron OF
steel spans of any bridge, in eacf
county. according to the lists afore
said. shall be paid by the State tC
such county in not more than ten an
nual instruments, beginning with tbs
year nineteen hundred and three, with.
out interest on the unpaid install
! ments. Said payment to the several
counties shall be in cash.
Section 3. Repairs on State an6
county bridges shall be made by the
commissioners of the county or coun-
ties in which such bridge is located al
the expense of said county or counties
They shall annually render to the
Governor and Council an itemiZed
statement of all money expended for
repairs under this act. The Governor
and Council shall authorize the State
treasurer to repay to each county one
half of the amount so expended I'M
less they find such expenditures ex-
orbitant and excessive, in which case
they shall order a repayment of one
half of such part as they find to be
reasonable. But no item of expendi-
ture for repairs shall be reducted OF
stricken from such statement until af-
ter the commissioners of the county
or counties shall have had an oppor-
tunity to appear before the Governor
and Council, or a committee thereof
and be heard thereon. When any
bridge, taken by county and the State
under the provisions of this act, is
wholly or in part kept in repair, or any
money or other thing is contributed to
town or individual, firm or corpora
> ton for the maintenance of such
bridge, under or by virtue of any
existing contract, or judgement or de-
cison of any tribunal, the county and
State shall succeed to all the rights OF
said town under said contract, Judge
ment or decision.