The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-20
MAHONEY STATES
 OBJECTIONS TO
 DISCONTINUANCE
Explains Why it is Unwise to be Off Win Harbor Line Before City is
 on With New.

Alderman Daniel Mahoney, Jr., whose | motion to table all ma tiers connected I with the harbor lines was sustained in the Common Council last night, made a statement this morning to a repre- sentative of the Farmer, giving his views upon the course that in his opin- ion should be pursued. .. He said: '.I do not deny that there may be two sides to this harbor ques- tion. I am far from impugning the good faith of those, for instance, who are afraid that a refusal to make the city lines coincident with the govern ment lines means a quarrel with the United States government though personally I do not take much stock in that notion.
 "Of one thing I am certain. No good reason can be offered to show that the city lines ought to be discon- tinued, before J,1e are ready with new lines. No good can possibly come from such a, course, and harm might come.
 While the city line remains where it is, the city is in possession. If it removes the line, without laying an other, it will abandon possession. If the council should afterward determine not to go out to the government line, the legal position of the city would be much jeopardized.
 Again, while perhaps the owners of the upland would not take the course to which will refer, they could, legal ly and legitimately, go immediately out to the government line. drive a. row of spiling along its entire distance, begin filling, and acquire a vested interest which the city would have to pay for. It does not need a lawyer to perceive that the legal relations between the parties will be entirely different if one of them is permitted to establish per- manent works.
 "The opinion given to the Connecti- ci1t PrnteotiUe ASSnCia tinro CTS this point. It is shown in that opinion that one legal situation exists if the city should desire to take the Naugatuck dock. and another if it wishes to make lines where no struc- lures have been erected.
 4 sI think the attitude of the Alder men in their-v vote last night was large Iy determined by views something like my own. They could not see what was to be gained by destroying the city lines out of hand, the more especially as the resolution of the majority call ed for a hearing upon new lines, May
 Here is a, matter that is going to- ward three years of age.
 What difference could a few days more make to any legitimate proposal?
 What sound reason could there be in favor of not waiting for the new line to be reported?
 'I submit that the minority resolu- tion embodies a much more conserva
 
 the matter.
 '"The minority resolution, which by the way had the approval of conser- va,tive members on both Democratic and Republican sides of the board, provides that a hearing shall be held on the same evening looking to the discontinuance of the city lines, and the location of a compromise line which represents an even break be- tween the city and the owners of the upland.
 Under this procedure the existing line would be discontinued and the new line brought into being in the same resolution There will be no aban- donment at any time of the rights that are carried by a city line actually in being.
 T am able to see the majority may believe that they are sure to carry their point in making the new city line the same as the government line, in which event the action of the up land owners, if they should take ad- vantage of the opportunity, would not matter.
 "'But this thing is going to be very close. The majority of the committee have so far not been able to muster strength to carry out their purpose have been backed by the great influ- ence that the mayor is always able to exert.
 'They cannot be sure that the coun- cil will do what they wish. After ob- taining public sentiment the council may even desire to retain the city line. What a spectacle the city would then present, in laying over again a line which it had abandoned with se- rious consequences to it's case.''
 ''Why do you favor a compromise?" was asked of Alderman Mahoney. Because I believe it is the best we can get" replied the Alderman. ~nnA1rn