Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-20

which will be called for. 1t is not for
the large cities of this State that
plead, it is for the little towns, little
rocky road towns where they jump and
jolt over the rough roads to get to these
thoroughfares; and 1 submit that this
State will he more prosperous if we
would fix the country roads where our
common folks live than to fix the
bridges in the thoroughfares. AS tray
ell over main road and cross road, for
one l prefer to have a decent road and
be jostleG over a bridge than to be jos
tied for miles over the rough roads and
then go over q sand-papered and plan
ed-down bridge. The county commits
sioners are the tribunal which you face,
whether we shall make bridge across
the Kennebec or the Androscoggin Or
the Penobscot. 1t is true that you refer
it to the commissioner of highways, but
where shall he get his information as
to whether that bridge is necessity or
not: 1t is from the county commits
sioners, I submit, of that particular
county; the people who are directly in
terested in that particular bridge are
the ones where you get YOUR inforna-
the inclination to say that he would not
build a bridge in Kennebec if the
county of York paid the bills, or vica
versa? You know, gentlemen. as well
as I know that there would be no end
to the expenses which would be placed
upon the bridge commission. In this
amendment you can see the spirit OF
the bill. This is the third bill practi-
cally which has been produced here.
Did you ever think that two years
hence how easy it might be to repeal
the amendment whereby half a mill
only could be assessed? Did you ever
hear. gentlemen, of anything being
passed by the Legislature of this State
when in future years you have it sad
dlcd upon you and you cannot get
from under it? In common fairness
submit that we are wrong in passing
this bill or any other bill which carries
an appropriation of a large or small
amount unless we are i'll some respects
coGnizant Of what it will cost us. sub
nit for that reason and for that reason
alone that this bill should be indefi-
House at the present time. 1t is admit
it will take three or four months even
for the trained commissioner of high
ways to ascertain in any degree what
appropriation this bill would call for for
the repairs and maintenance of bridges
other than the number of new bridges
which it must be necessary for us to
build under this bill.
Mr.. BLANCHARD of Auburn: Mr..
Speaker, l am surprised at this time at
the discussion which is going on in re-
gard to this question. The date of the
introduction of this bill was January
18th. l submit to you as being compe-
tent men to judge that we have had
ample time to discuss the important
provisions of this measure. If it We're
necessary for US to rely on any report
of the commissioner of highways. why
did we not earlier in the game propose
such q measure? / submit that this is
merely q form. in a stealthy manner il
YOU please, Of delaying action and for
virtually postponing for this session
any action upon this bill.
1t. was my pleasure to serve as one
which this important measure was re-
ISITSu DuIluS the time tiidL tHlS VII
was in the hands of the committee, so
far as is known to me, no opposition
was made. Our committee have report
ed i: and considering the great number
Of bills that are row under considera-
ton by the committee believe it is I'M
fair and unjust to defer action longer
upon this measure. whether you are for
or against it. / ask only that you act
upon it at this time on the ground that
you have had ample opportunity for its
consideration.
The SPEAKER: The Chair will say
that there is a rule of this House which
says that no member shall speak more
than twice upon a matter. We have
been quite lax in regard to the rule
Without unanimous consent OF the
House member cannot speak but
twice.
Mr.. GOODWIN would ask the
gentleman from Auburn (Mr. Blanch-
ard) if he can give us any information
in regard to the number of bridges
over 40 feet in length, the number OF
toll bridges affected by this act and