The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-05-11
HAD LIVELY TOWN MEETING
And Voted in Favor of Raised Bridge
 Over West River.


 Over West River. The Orange town meeting Saturday afternoon at West Haven town hall was lively one and resulted in a vote to build fixed raised bridge, fifteen feet in the clear, over the West river at Kimberly avenue.
 The vote was precisely the same in effect as that passed by the board of aldermen of New Haven, and is as fol- l lows:
 "Voted-That the selectmen of the 1 town of Orange be and are hereby au- thorized to construct, in conjunction with the city of New Haven, a fixed 1 raised bridge over West river at Kim berly avenue, fifteen feet above mean high water in accordance with the or der of the secretary of war" Fully 800 citizens attended the meet ing, which was called to order at S:30 l o'clock by Clarence E. Thompson, the ! warden, A. E. Maher, being absent on other business. George H. Thomas, ] the town clerk, acted as secretary and as soon as the session was called to or der he read the order of Secretary of ! War Elihu Root for a raised fixed bridge and also the vote of the New Haven board of aldermen favoring such a structure.
 The debating quickly commenced. l Charles Newman wound up speech by saying that a new bridge was needed, no matter whether it was raised, lift or drawn.
 E. s. Thomas offered a resolution for the raised fixed bridge. Here a question arose as to the real meaning of the calling of the town meeting. Chairman Thompson stated that it was his understanding, accord ing to the call, that no bridge but raised fixed bridge could be voted upon. Prosecuting Attorney c. K. Bush ar gued somewhat indefinitely for the rais- ed bridge and James Gardner Clarke made a motion that the whole matter be put over to a town meeting to be held two weeks from Saturday night, when all the voters of the town could be present and not merely those let loose by two corporations to vote cer- l tain way.
 Intimation was made during the de- bate that gag rule was being applied, and to this Attorney R. J. Woodruff replied that there was no gag rule in the matter. It was not reasonable to presume that the New Haven alder men would vote for fixed bridge un- less the question had been fully con- sidered. New Haven had asked Orange for an expression of opinion. and it was not any more than fair that it should be given either one way or another.
 Here Attorney James D. Dewell asked permission to speak. He was challenged as not being citizen of Orange, and to this he answered that he appeared for taxpayers. After it was voted to hear MT. Dewell he said: Tt is a serious question in many minds whether the vote of the board of alder men of New Haven is worth anything. So far as I can learn, the secretary of war has overstepped the law and be- lieve this a fair matter to leave to the voters of Orange to decide whether his order is in conformity with the stat utes." Attorney Bush declared that he did not think the meeting capable of judg-
 
 Root was an eminent lawyer and he be- lieved the war secretary knew what he was doing.
 Judge Bryant entered the debate by pointedly asking MT. Bush's opinion as to whether he thought Secretary Roots order called for fixed bridge. To this MT. Bush answered yes, and Judge Bry- ant begged to differ with him. After H. H. Richards and Charles W. Neuman had expressed their views on the matter MT. Bryant spoke against fixed bridge.
 Dr. Barnett in a we'll delivered ad- dress declared that he did not be- lieve the action of the New Haven aldermen represented the feeling of the citizens of New Haven, and he made a motion that the whole question be left to a special election of the citizens of New Haven.
 James Gardner Clarke at this june ture caused a sensation by reading a petition for a lift bridge signed by At torneys Bush and Bryant, the object