Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-01

date all of the Cumberland delegation.
The gentleman from Cumberland has
told us that nearly all of the Cumber-
land delegation are opposed to having
this bridge built. 1 want to say that 80
per cent. Of the tax paying public down
there are in favor of this bill as amend
ed
The SPEAKER: The gentleman from
Cumberland moved to indefinitely post
pone but prior to his motion the gentle
man from Portland (Mr. Rounds) Of
fered an amendment The motion to
amend has precedence over the motion
to indefinitely postpone.
Mr.. GRANT Of Freeport: Mr.. Speak.
err, last week the gentleman from Port
land (Mr. Rounds) was shouting for
economy and did everything he could
to defeat the building of City hall on
the ground of economy. Now here is. a
bridge that is not needed and accord,
ing to the best authority will moi. he
needed for some six years and it Will
cost million dollars; and this same
gentleman now wants the county of
Cumberland saddled with that bill. He
said last week that he did not want to
build City hall because it would be a
monument to Mayor Leighton, and he
is asking you by passing this bill to
build a monument to himself that. will
cost million after Cumberland coun-
ty has just completed million and a
half dollar court house. Monday night
at our session this same gentleman
said that if some people keep on they
will have Cumberland county bank
rupt. Now this bridge that they are
asking to have built is not only the
present bridge but seven hundred feet
more into the city of Portland and
enough higher to extend over the
tracks of the Boston & Maine and
Maine Central Railroad: and the peo-
pie outside of the city Of Portland have
got to help maintain that bridge after
it is built.
We do not need this bridge at the pres
ent time and it will be six years before
we do need it, and why not let some fu-
ture Legislature enact this law? have
not the slightest doubt that my friend
from Portland (Mr. Rounds) will be here
two years from now and can get this bill
through if necessary; and I am going to
predict, as was predicted last fall when
he was elected, that if he is here he will
be heard from. daughter) My people
living in a country town oppose this bill.
and I understand that a greater part of
the people in Portland oppose this bill.
The county commissioners are to man
opposing this bridge bill. I learned a
good many years ago that it was good
rule not to cross bridge until you come
70 nj r In b1rf Jl-ha q
same rule will work we'll today, not to
build the bridge until we need it. This
is the first time I have occupied any
time on the floor and asked any favors of
this house, but I do hope you will be
reasonable about this matter and vote
with us to indefinitely postpone this bill.
(Applause.)
Mr.. MARSHALL of Portland: Mr..
Speaker, I realize that Portland has oc-
cupied a great deal of the time Of this
House. (Applause.) The amendment Of
fered it seems to me is reasonable. 1t
puts no burden on the county. 1t simply
provides that in case of any accident, in
case it should be demonstrated that
new bridge was Immediately needed there
by reason of any accident which should
occur, that then the county commission
ers have the authority to go ahead and
do the work promptly. The amendment
offered is very different from the original
bill. I think the original bill did not meet
the general appreciation OF the Portland
delegation; believe the amendment does.
Mr.. Rounds offered House Amendment
3.
Mr.. DAVIES of Yarmouth: Mr.. Speak
er, Portland is large city (applause) and
very influential city (applause) and
think that the very able representatives
from that city who come here do not in
tend that the city shall lose any prestige
(applause) on account Of their being here.
(Applause.) But there is another consid
Grafton. Portland is not the only town or
city in Cumberland and this is a cumber-
land county matter winch involves the
sum of million dollars; so think it is
best that we should go ahead to the con-
siderations which lave been offered on
both sides, weighing the matter careful
ly, and then doing justice as we see it.
believe the matter is one which should
have gone to the Cumberland county del
egation for consideration. I do not intend
to suggest at all that the matter was not
fairly and honestly acted upon, but I do
feel that it is q matter winch the MEM
bers of the Cumberland delegation would
know more about and could decide more
intelligently than the committee to which
it was referred.
Now the bill provides for the recon-
stMcton of Portland bridge. Could there
be anything more simple or appropriate
than that? But there is tackled onto the
bill provision that the rest of the coun-
ty shall pay for viaduct that goes from
Bracket street to the bridge, and l can
hardly see why the county should do
that. AS has been suggested by the gen.
tleman from Freeport, Cumberland coun-
ty is building a court house and there
have been enabling acts passed by this
Legislature thus far providing for the ex-
penditure of $950,O0O. and I do not think
that anything has been done yet on the
inside of the building. The city of Port
land pays 60 per cent. of it. or there
abouts, and the county pays the balance
Now we are poor in Cumberland county
outside of Portland, and in addition to it's
other OUTLAWS Portland wants to hook on
about million dollars for bridge and
is going tn ask tho Conpfv 70 nav half of