Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-07

void.
The good roads bill drafted by State
Highway Commissioner Paul ID. Sargent
came lp fer discussion before the com
mittcc on highways and bridges HcInes
dav afternoon and filled the Senate
chamber to Overlooking with those inter
csted in the act. AS was expected by
Commissioner Sargent. sharp opposition
d .vtlopcd from the cities. which, under
his proposed system of Il mill tax, are
compelled TO contribute more toward the
cause OF good roads than is expended
within their borders by the State.
Several gentlemen vino represented the
fCa-ds Of trade in the larger cities APP
pearcd and spoke for the principle of
good roads legislation but would rot en-
dorsc the mill tax rate. claiming that it
was too much of 2 burden to the cities.
F. Y. Turner of Auburn was first and
foremost in taking this view of the sit
uation. though he did not represent any
board of trade or other organization.
w. 7. Haines of Watervilie. who spoke
for the State Board of Trade, was for
| the bill unqualifiedly. stating it as his
| opinion that every dollar spent in the
outlying districts of a city for good roads
was net lost by the city, but came back
| to them with interest.
| There was such a spirited discussion
of the bill that it is not unlikely that
majority and minority reports will be
made in the House and Senate and the
! bill vii! be the subject Of sharp debate
| in these two branches.
| When the meeting was called to order
| Will Il
Clark of Eden requested that the hearing
be postponed. stating that he represented
| the selectmen OF Eden. Mayor Pierce OF
| Fangor and Mayor Clifford Of Portland.
who desired to be heard but could not
| be present There were so many other
| present who wished to be heard ana
! were prepared that the committee de-
| clined to postpone the hearing.
| Commissioner Paul D. Sargent was the
| first to be called. He explained that this
| bill which he had drawn was NOT original
| with him, bat was the result Of careful
| study Of tie laws of othe9 states and
| the way that they had operated Fur
| hor he said that the bill was designed to
| improve and make permanent the main
| arteries Of travc1 through the State. the
| choice of which roads in the several
| to tire discretion of the county commits
| sioncrs. The bill makes it incumbent
| uoon towns to set aside certain portion
| Of their regular appropriation for high
| way Improvement, for permanent roads.
| To this lis to be added State aid at the
| rate of 81 per $1,000 of valuation in some
| of the poorcr towns to 1925 per $1,000 of
| valuation in some of the weather. cit
l ,nI, ln Not Il
| is derived is raised by means Of a tax
Of one mill for every 81 of valuation. Tho
| fifth section Of the bill makes it incum-
| b,nt upon the town to receive the all.
| to increase its regular highway appro-
priation by orc-kalf the amount of the
! sur, set aside for permanent roads under
| the act. The bill provides also for the
| crcplnymcni Of special engineers to over
| s"c tho wcrk done under the provisions
of the act.
| When commissioner SARGENT completed
! his explanation of the bill. hr WAS sharp
" cross examined by y. $. Clark Of Bar
! IfIrl.or as to how Bangor would rare.
II developed that Bangor would pay the
state sl9o61 and get back S3,13 Mr..
Clark then took up Portland and found
! that that city. too. would pay out moro
than it would receive.
Hon. w. T.. Haines of Waterville then
took the floor in behalf Of the bill and
| made a ringing speech in its favor H'
communicated Commissioner Sargent very
highly on his work in its draft. He de-
clared that both political parties had ad-
yocated good roads legislation and the
equalization of taxation, and said that
he was considerably surprised to hear
it whispered in the lobby that the cities
were going to kill the bill which, by Its
mill tax and other provisions, takes from
the cities and gives to the towns. Mr.
Uaines explained that the movement fol
better roads had started when he was
| member of the Legislature in 1898 an'
had been diligently urged upon every
LEGISLATURE since until the I'D Legisla
ture nassed the identical bill of 10 year!
before "This is a question of econom
les" said Mr.. Haines. and the ques
. tion is how to have 100000 people pay
most fairly for 25.COO miles of road.
F. Y. Turner of Auburn vigorously op
| rosed the measure. He favored the New
{ York law.
Il r X. Stetson of Bangor. speak
ing for the Bangor Board Of Trade
said that the Bangor delegation had beef
| urged to vote in favor of the bill, bu
that possibly the members didn't realiz'
the expense that would be put upon tn
: city They did. however, realize the Den
efts to be derived from good roads.
Il f. NJ. Blanding of Bangor spoke in IA
vor of the principle involved.
y. J. Callahan of Lewiston, pres
id,nt of the Board of Trade
said that his recollection OF tn
vote Of the State Board of Trad
at Bangor was that it favored
one-half mill tax. He believed in NOR
modest beginning thar s723,0Oo the frs
. year.
l Hon. NJ. NJ Merrill of st. Adams close
the afternoon with one of his character
2 istic sneeches. favorirg the measure.
t.
..licl IL L II