The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-03-19
THE TOLL BRIDGES
Farley, Fuerth and Marvin
Win Out.
LEGISLATURE PASSES BRIDGE BILL
Commission to Act With Com
missions From Other States
to Acquire Toll Bridges
Over Delaware.

The agitation for the abolition of toll
bridges connecting Pennsylvania with
other States, has at length resulted in
the passage of an act by both branches
of the Legislature, and which has re-
ceived the Governors approval, author
izing the taking over of such structures
by the states of New York, Pennsylvania
and New Jersey. The text of the bill is
as follows
Whereas, The Legislature of the state
Of New Jersey has duly adopted reso-
luton authorizing its Executive to ap-
point commission to act with a like
commission from the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania for the purpose ofinquir-
ing into and ascertaining the probable
cost of acquiring the toll bridges across
the Delaware river b.tween the states OF
New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and
Whereas, There has also been intro
state of New York q resolution to the
same effect concerning toll bridges across
the Delaware river between the states of
New York and Pennsylvania, and
Whereas, His Excellency the Honor
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, has,
in his biennial message to the Legis-
lature dated January five, one thousand
nine hundred and nine, transmitted to
the General Assembly of Pennsylvania a
copy of message from his Excellency,
the Honorable John Franklin Fort, Gov
ernor of the state of New Jersey, sug-
gesting concurrent action by the State
of Pennsylvania for the purpose of in
quiring into the probable cost of freeing
such bridges, therefore be it
Resolved, by the Senate and House of
Representatives OF the General Assembly
that the Governor ofPennsylvania be and
he hereby is authorized and directed tc
appoint a commission on the part o
Pennsylvania, consisting of two members
of the House of Representatives and one
member of the Senate of Pennsylvania
to act with commission on the part o.
New York and commission on the par
of New Jersey, or either of them, whose
duty it shall be to proceed to ascertain
the number of bridges crossing the Del
aware river between the States of Penn
sylvania and New Jersey and between
the States of Pennsylvania and New
York, or either of them, the number o
which are vehicle and foot bridges Of
both, whether such vehicle and foo
bridges can collect tolls under thei
charters for the transportation of freight
merchandise, vehicles, animals or per
sons, and, If SO, to designate the sam,
and to ascertain the probable value o
all bridges entitled to collect tolls, tn
probable price for which such toll-bridg
es can be purchased, with view o
purchase, and report their findings t,
the Legislature of Pennsylvania, and
such toll bridges cannot be purchased
at price consistent with their value il
the opinion of said commission, to ascer
tain the probable cost of condemning, tn
same for State purposes and to repor
their findings to the Legislature of Penn
sylvania, and to ascertain those bridges
whether vehicle or foot, or both, whicl
are already free from toll charges, b.
whom owned and how maintained, ant
to ascertain if any charters exist TO
bridges that are not now actually con
structed or in course of construction
and to report their findings to the Leg
islature of Pennsylvania.
Be it further resolved, that the Cover
nor of Pennsylvania shall forthwith com
municate this resolution to the Governor
of New Jersey and New York.
And be it further resolved, That tn
sum of five hundred dollars or so muc
thereof as may be necessary is hereby ap
propriated to defray the expenses of tn
commission on the part of Pennsylvania
to be paid by the State Treasurer upo
warrants of the Auditor General to tn
order of the chairman of said commits
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