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

a passing glace from some sections Of
this State. My purpose is to counsel ma
t,ire elaboration. If the provisions of the
bill are desirable and Just, it will not be
wanting my endorsement. My mind,
however. does not resist the impression
that the bill is crudely worked out and
ill-considered. Witness-the second word
in section one. "selectmen." Does It not
appeal to the members Of the House that
the words municipal officers" would
have been better in that place? Now in
dine five we find the word approaches. {"
1t Is naturally suggested in ones mind,
what are approaches? Does 1t mean that
part which is to be found between the
abutments? If not, what does it meano
On page two, beginning with line q, we
find: "All such bridges shall after the
first day Of July, 1907. be the property Of
the State of Maine. in consideration Of
said State maintaining and repairing the
same. and shall thereafterwards be
known as State bridges" Is that per-
fectly fair? think it is always Just to
consider matter Of city or Of a coun.
ty or of a town as we would consider a
matter pertaining to an individual All
of you know Of towns which have
DIluScS tIdl iltNe DttIl DULL Nv INaC
town or municipality. and the matter of
repairs and maintaining those bridges
would be extremely insignificant. Do you
think it is perfectly right and proper that
those bridges should be surrendered to tho
State Of Maine on the consideration and
for the consideration only that the State
of Maine shall maintain them and keep
them in repair?
The next item that suggests itself to my
mind is the item of expense. How much
is it to cost? The gentleman's amend
ment provides that 1t shall not exceed in
any single year more than one-half a
mill. 1t seems to me that that is an enor-
nous expense. 1t is something VIC should
consider with extreme care. Further, is
it not true that in a great manw places
where at the present time there are fer
ries, bridges would be asked for? Is it
not true that the matter Of political in
fiuence in a question of this kind is to be
considered? I am told that the city of
Portland pays about one-seventh of the
amount of the tax of the State of Maine
DO you think it is perfectly right and
proper that the city of Portland should
be taxed Cne-seventh of the amount
which would be necessary for the building
of bridges in a county like Franklin, for
instance, where they have great many
streams and a great many bridges? And
in the event of a flood do you think that
the city Of Portland, for instance. should
bear that part of the burden which
would fall to her under this bill? Now
would like to ask the gentleman from
Old Town if he has consulted with tho
highway commissioner in regard to this
bill, and is the commissioner in favor of
it az drawn:
Mr.. Weld don't think he has any
objection.
Mr.. DAVIES-Did he forecast at all
what it would cost? 1 ask the gentleman
from Old Town s. the gentleman from
Bingham.
Mr.. DONIGAN Of Bingham-He could
not tell exactly. He gave an idea of it.
Mr.. DAVIES-Nor: another thing that
it seems to me should be embodied here
is the matter Of a veto power on the part
of the highway commissioner Under this
bill the office of the highway commits
sioner becomes most important one;
and it seems to me, in an Office of that
kind which is to have so wide 4 scope.
and so many things are to come under
his jurisdiction, that it would be per-
fect,y proper to lodge in that individual
some veto po|er.
Now providing the State is paying
certain amount, as here indicated in the
bill. for the matter of bridges or for the
matter of expense. and the town is to
pay first and is to be recompensed by tho
State suppose a case where there hap
pened to be some difficulty over the
amount paid, and the State refused to
do SO. What then? Also this point occurs
to ne. that in negligence cases which ara
brought against the town for the purpose
of recovering certain amounts of money
for damages or for injury, does it not
occur to YOU that the towns might be
more liberal in dealing with its inhabi-
tants and persons who are well known
there. than they would in dealing with
strangers?
NY purpose was not to discuss the bill
particularly this morning; it was for the
purpose Of endorsing the motion OF the
gentleman from Portland.
TIE SPEAK ER-The Chair will state
that the Chair did not understand the
gentleman from Portland (Mr. To,mam
to make any motion. He said he objected
time.
MIR. TOLMAN-I introduced an orde"
Yesterday calling on the commissioner Of
highways for a report on bridges of %
feet and upwards. Now I ask that this
bill be laid on the table until we can get
that report from. the commissioner L
don't believe that the people want to act
in the dark; 1 dent believe this House
wants to act until they get that infor-
nation.
Mr.. THOMAS of Howland-Mr.
Speaker and Fellow Representatives:
am sure that any attempt at ora
tory on my part would utterly fail.
fact you will soon find out. but Mr..
Speaker. I could not sit here in this
House and listen to the opposition Of
fered by the opposers of this measure
without a voice in its favor. 1t seems
to me, gentlemen, that no bill that has
been offered in this House carries with
it the benevolent aid and justice to
poor towns in this State as does this
general bridge bill. and I am surprised
at the apparent selfish opposition that
is manifested by some of the gentle
men from the richer towns and cities,