Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-06


ROADS, OF course. pay none of this and
II Is divided by the whole State valu-
ton outside of that. Consequently.
each county now pays one,half a mill.
we appropriate the money we have
before, us. The people feel that we
should have something to equalize the
taxation on bridges; and well I be-
lieve they may feel this. It is not con-
vineing to me that the county of Wash
ington should support bridges in York
county, nor that York county should
DO SO in the county of Washington,
where we hardly pass aver those
bridges. This county bill may not be
protection. but the counties use these
bridges to greater extent than any,
one else, and the county I believe
should support them. 1t seems to be
equitable because the counties that ara
of the least population have the most
Wild lands, and that takes in all the
Wild lands of the State and they have
10 contribute towards the support of
these bridges. In the thickly popu :
lateu portions of the State, we have
the cities, and the cities in those coun-
tics have little wild lands and thev
should be made to take care of those
bridges. So it seems to me that this
county Dill comes as near equaliZing
the tax as 1t is possible. I would say
as to this bill that 1 have no idea how
It IS situated in the Senate as to
passage, as I have not canvassed this
roint; but I believe there is a demand
for it and / hope, Mr.. President and
Gentleman, it will have your consid-
Grafton
At the proper time I am ready to
adopt the amendment which has been
suggested by some of the members OF
this body, which would allow the towns
to support one-third of the whole
bridges. As the bill now reads, the
county takes all the bridges from %
1eet up absolutely, and from 10 feet
&c 70 feet the towns support one third
1t is possible that it would be more
equitable and that it would be handled
with greater care if the towns were
obliged to support one-third of all the
bridges, both on construction and re-
pairs.
Mr. MULLEN of Penobscot: Mr.,
President and Senators: L have d
communication here from the commits
sloners of the county of Penobscot and
the citizens of Penobscot; and they
protest against this bill The cities in
the large counties also protest against
this bill-the city of Bangor especially
claims that it would be a hardship
to them inasmuch as they have many
bridges within the city limits, so to
speak According to the charter of the
city of Bangor. those bridges. of course
are the Immediate care of the city Of
Bangor; and our people over there say
that under this bill, as it now reads.
they would be afraid of great trouble
and damages. They say, and they
claim with their organization and
municipalities, they are better able to
determine and to take care to build
the kind of bridges they need, and BET
ter prepared to construct them than
parties from the outside; and they
say again, as l have just said, that
they object because, in case OF acct
dent or the becoming defective. any
bridges requiring immediate attention
they would be liable; and they look
upon it as very great question. They
think legal question is involved; and
the city charter gives the exclusive
control to them of the highways in
would deprive them of that control;
and they even say; here is a great
legal question, the city Of Bangor pays
more than one-half of the county tax
of the county of Penobscot, and they
feel as though they ought to have
something to say; and the county COM
missioners themselves request that. If
this bill is to be considered at all, that
it should be recommitted and the sew
eral counties of the State given a
chance to be heard. With these few
remarks | leave the matter in your
hands
Mr.. MACOMBER of kennebec: Mr..
President: l must confess that | do
not know whether am for. or against
this proposition. 1t comes before the
Senate in rather a peculiar way. IT l
UNDERSTAND Alright, the bill which was
considered by the committee on ways
and bridges was the Donigan bridge
bill: and a large majority of that COM
mittee reported in favor OF that meas
ure; and that this bill comes as min
ority report from that committee; ana
it seems to me that, under these con-
ditions the whole committee and those
people who will be interested in the
passage of a county bill have not had
an opportunity to discuss the merits
of that bill as they should; and l think
the suggestion of the senator from
Bangor is entirely proper. that this Dill
should be recommitted to the commit
fee. where everybody would nave
chance to be heard, and out of it some
proper bill should come. | move that
II be recommitted to the committee
on ways and bridges.
Mr.. HAMILTON of York: MI.
President and gentlemen: 1t seems
to me that this should. now be dlspos-
cd of. Ever since I have been mere
we have heard nothing but bridge.
bridge bridge and the taxation 81
state lands. We started in with the
Donigan bridge bill and he presented
it very eloquently; and now it is TINS
bridge bill. We have disposed OF the
Donigan bridge bill. Now, let us DIS
nose of this so that we can nave our
minds composed to attend to other
matters. ..;.,,
The question being upon the motion
of Mr.. Macomber of kennebec that .he