Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-01
tic bkIDCf bill
sS1..I Il
Providing For State Own
eTship Is Heard.
Report Of the Council Finance
Committee Submitted.
Investigation Of the State Superin.
tendent Of Schools,

reaching bills that has been presented
this term, came up for hearing before
| t he committee on ways and bridges
thursday afternoon. 1t is the bill in
troduced by Representative Albert F.
Donlsan of Bingham, providing that
the State become owner CT all the
bridges over 80 feet in length and that
the county commissioners of the sever
al counties shall have the power to de-
eide ON the ACCESSIBILITY of building new
bridges. The bill further provides that
whenever a person or any property
sustains damage on one of the bridges,
suit shall be brought against the town
in which the accident occurred and
that the town shall look to the State
for reimbursement.
Rep. G. c. Weld of Old Town en-
| dorsed the bill heartily, stamping it as
| the key to the whole good roads prop
osition.
Rep. Elisha w. Pike of PASSPORT stat
ed that the sentiment of Washing
ton county was practically unanimous
for the bill, and that the bridges
should be considered before good
roads.
Mayor Russell of Gardiner said
that the people of his section We're vi
tally interested in the bill, for people
of other counties, even Lincoln county.
used the bridge across the Kennebec at
Gardiner more than they did.
The Hon. Henry Hudson of Guilford
| said that he had always been in favor
of having the bridges supported by the
State. He came from a county where
a large part of the valuation is in wild
/ nd = hat
such a way as this was the only one
which would distribute the burden
equally. He was surprised to learn that
this bill was in the interests of the
cities and larger towns. according to
the views of some of the smaller towns.
He was even willing to go farther and
| advocate State ownership of the high
| ways.
1 The Hon. NJ. l.. Merrill Of st. Adams
| gave it as his opinion that the princi-
pie of the bill was right, that things
II that are a benefit to the whole STATE
should be paid for by the whole State.
i He suggested that the less that we
have to do with the county commis-
,ioners the better for it would be
more businesslikc to handle the mat
ter direct from the office of the high
II L
! said he, that he is no carpet official.
but one that will work and one that IS
more capa BILE and better fitted to do the
II work than the county commissioners.
Don't leave the number of bridges
to be built to the county commissioners.
II They will get all they can ana the
State will pay the bills.
Mr.. Dongan in reply to Mr.. Merrill
/, n IL
ably. but he believed it to be tight in
principle.
The Hon. 0. y. Clason Of Gardiner
spoke for the bill and also advocated
state support of the highways.
Judge Goodspeed of Randolph report
ed that the people of his town were
unite for the bill.
REPRESENTATIVE Weld of Old Town
rose again to say that the safety OF
the travelling public demanded there
should be someone to pass upon the
safety of the structures.
| Ex-Mayor Freeman Patten OF Gardi-
ncr said that his city had carried Dig
burden for years and ought to be re-
| lieved.
| Representative Pike of PASSPORT ad-
vanced the opinion that the county
| commissioners of one county Wouid
out do the county commissioners OF an
other county in securing bridges ana
therefore on the ground of economy
the whole matter ought to be left with
| the highway commissioner. 1t would
be better. according to his idea, to
leave the question of whether or not
| the necessity of a bridge exists with
committee of three consisting memhers
Of the Governors Council and the COM
missioner of highways. This commits
sion should also have charge OF the
matter of settling damages for under
the plan suggested in the bill 1t would
practically suing the State over the
shoulders of the town.
| Representative Donigan closed the
| discussi,n by asking for two hours in
which to make certain changes in ms
hill, to conform with the suggestion
made and then left it with the commit
| tee for action.