Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-07

way has q limited construction and
the word roadway" will obviate q
misconception and will include all
bridges whether in cities, towns or
plantations. The reason for putting the
words land constructor is to draw
line of demarcation where the county
commissioners can begin their work.
leaving out those bridges which are i'll
process Of construction, until they are
completed.
The second amendment which 1 offer
is the following:
Senate Amendment e to House Docu-
ment No. 119.
amend House Document No. 119 by
inserting after the 25th line of Section
and before the words "the expenses
in the 26th line, the word Section Z. and
REMEMBERING the lines in this section
from one to % inclusive
An examination Of the bill will show
the senators that evidently the numer-
al seven was omitted, because Section
is followed by Section and the orig
iaators of this bill and the authors OF
this bill have stated to me that the
numbering should have been so placed.
The next amendment which 1 have to
offer is the following:
Senate Amendment D to House Oocu-
ment No. 119.
Amend Section II of House Docu-
ment 1l9 by striking out the WORD
and" in the second line and ADDING
the words land bridge districts" after
the word plantations" in the same
line, 50 that the section as amended
shall read as follows: The Word
town" in this act shall be construed
as including cities. towns. organized
plantations and bridge districts
The next amendment which l have
to offer is as follows: Amend Sec
ton l by adding after the word bridge
in the 25th line the words all bridges
under construction on the first day OF
July, 1907 shall when completed be the
property Of the State of Maine. III con-
sideration of said State maintaining
and repairing the same, and SHAH
thereafterwards be known as Sta;e
bridges, as hereinafter provided.
All bridges, under construction on
| the first day of July. 1907, when COM
pleted, shall be the property of the
State of Maine in consideration of said
State assuming the repair of same and
shall thereafter be known as State
| bridges and this is to take over those
| bridges which are in process of con-
struction, after they are fully COM
| pleted.
| also offer the following amend
ment:
Amend Section in line 46. by
inserting after the word located" the
| words "one- third" and after the words
| certified" the following words land
| the town or towns in which said bridge
| is located shall also reimburse the
county for one third of the cost so GER
| tifi..,i so that the cost of new bridges
| constructed by authority of this sec
| ton shall be borne one-third by the
State, one-third by the county, and
one third by the town or towns in
which said bridge is located"
| The last amendment l will state was
| offered for the purpose of obviating the
criticism that has been advanced in
| both branches of the Legislature that
| there would be a wild scramble for
| bridges; and that the county commits
sioners feeling that the expense was
| to go to the State, would grant the re-
| quests of the municipalities indis-
| criminately; and it was hoped and sug-
| gested by my friends that something
| like this would be check upon any
| such action.
| In this bill we have before US for con-
| -. l..
| to place upon the state a public bur-
den that has been carried these many
years by the municipalities under com
| lulsiOn of law. 1t contemplatcS tho
care and maintenance by the state OF
bridges in public ways that are ovel
| 40 feet in length.
Bridges in the highways and streets
arc merely part of the street. way OF
highway itself. Nature has placed wa,
| ter ways in different cities and towns
and those cities and towns. before this
time, have built bridges over those wa
| ter ways and maintained them as q
part of the public way. When that pub
| lie way was dedicated for public use
the bridge as a part Of the street OF
highway became public property, a
public work dedicated to the use of cv.
cry citizen of our State. yes. dedicated
to the use of every person who had any
right to enter upon it. or go over it. and
ii could only be discontinued after Ger.
| tain procedure defined by our statutes
| Such highways with their bridges
have always been under the paramount
control Of the state which could by
statute. subject to constitutional Inn
litatioLs, determine when and where, or