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

think the gentleman from Yarmouth
has read the bill very carefully. 1t
seems that the gentleman from Var
mouth when he wanted bridge so
| that he could get it out of Yarmouth
to Portland, they came here and we
gave them a nice iron bridge. Now.
we are only asking a little for the 9TH
er parts of the county, as to this via
duct it is part of the old bridge; it
is the old right of way. That is all we
are asking for is to put that bridge
back in the old right of way.
Mr.. SPEAR of South Portland: Mr.
| Speaker: When this bill came from
the table last week the motion was
made by the gentleman from Cumber-
land (Mr Moulton) to indefinitely post
pone, and at that time asked that the
matter be assigned until Friday of the
same week. I made a statement that
II had a proposition to submit to the
county delegation that seemed to be
satisfactory to the gentleman and to
the House. I made my proposition to
| the gentleman from Cumberland and
| to perhaps three or four more of the
delegation within 20 minutes, and it
was not favorably received, and drop
ped it. There was a county delega-
tion meeting called for that night which
I did not attend, but I notified the
secretary as to what my proposition
was Now, you are all aware that this
Portland bridge bill originally and the
amendment offered previous to Amend
ment "B' was not a bill of my einitia-
tive, and find that the parties Offer
ing the bill and the Portland delega-
ton and large percentage of the
county delegation have agreed on
House Amendment "B." House Amend
ment ga" was a very drastic PROPOSE
ton. 1t was that the county commits
sioners Should proceed practically
forthwith to reconstruct and rebuild
the bridge. I was not in favor of that
proposition. It carried another provi-
sion stating that the county shall pay
one-half and the railroad interests
should pay one-half. I objected to
that. I suggested in case the parties
missioners could still go ahead and
build and the proportional expense
should be divided by some justice of
the court sitting in equity after a
herring. The present amendment which
the gentleman from Portland desires
to have adopted is, in affect this. that
whenever in the Judgment of the coun-
ty commissioners public safety and
business demand the reconstruction of
the bridge then it shall be reconstruct
ed along certain lines There is the
only limitation or restriction in the
BILL 1t does not carry with it single
intent to shorten the life of the present
bridge. In relation to the property in
terests the present bridge is so low, so
near the surface of the water, that the
draw has to be opened at least four
times unnecessarily for once that it is
necessary. This amendment is moth
ing more or less than an enabling act
1t carries with it the authority to is
sue bonds to the amount of half a mil
lion dollars and reconstruct the bridge
along permanent lines, and only when
in the judgment of the county COM
missioners safety and business demand
it. My people recognize the fact that
Cumberland county is building a court
house, that Portland is building a city
hall. My people are not rich, my city
is not rich. We are not in any hurry
for the reconstruction of Portland
bridge, but conditions there are dan
gerouS, and it is a matter vital to the
protection of our families and vital to
the interests of our property, and when
this bridge is built it should be built
permanently and along permanent lines.
We fear nothing more or less than a
halfway proposition which ought not
to be attempted. We ask you to pass
this enabling act to give the county
commissioners authority to build this
bridge. We simply ask that when it
is reconstructed it shall be recon-
structed permanently and right.
Mr.. TRUE of Portland: Mr. Speak
er: AS member of the Portland dele
CATION. I hope the House will see fit
to support the amendment.
Mr.. JORDAN of Cape Elizabeth: Mr.
Speaker, I live out beyond this Portland
bridge in the town of Cape Elizabeth
that has valuation of about a million
dollars. II there is one thing which re-
tards our growth it is this Portland
bridge; and l am interested that when
that bridge is reconstructed it shall be
reconstructed along proper lines, and
for that reason I favor the amendment.
Mr.. WHITNEY Of Gorham: Mr..
Speaker, one Of the delegation from
Cumberland county l 90 not see why
we should not leave this measure to
some future Legislature to decide. I
hope the amendment will not prevail.
Mr.. Bisbee of Rumford, moved the
previous question.
The motion was agreed to.
The question being. shall the main
question be now put?
1t was agreed to.
The question being on the adoption Of
House amendment a.
The amendment was adopted.
The question being on the adoption Of
House amendment "B" to House amend
ment a.
division was had, and 60 voted in
the affirmative and 80 in the negative
SO the amendment was adopted.
The bill then received it's two read
ings, and on motion by Mr.. Rounds of
Portland. the rules were suspended, the
bill received it's third reading and was
passed to be engrossed as amended.
Unfinished business: An Act to make
uniform the standard relating to the
percentage of alcohol in Intoxicating
liquors.