The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-19
BEDDING FOLKS TO DISCUSS HIGHWAYS
 IN MASS MEETING
HIGHWAY COMMISSIONER BEN NETT WILL HEAR ARGU- NfENTS FOR VARIOUS
 THOROUGHF.ARE
Legislators Sanford and Stocking Are at Variance Over Merits of Con-
 tempIated Work.

Bedding, March 19-WhiIe Represen- tattves Sanford and Stocking pull to- gether on all matters relating to their party's legislative. program, they are at divergence on the issue Of Bedding State roads as might naturally be ex- pected from the fact that they live on opposite sides of the town. Last week they appeared as opposing counsel, aI- though not simultaneously, before the court of which Highway Commission CT Bennett is the sole and final judge, MT. Sanford being the advocate Of the LonetoWn and Putnam Park improve
 ments, and MT. Stocking of the two crosstown highways leading from this side westward to West Bedding and Georgetown. MT. Bennett gave close and courteous attention to their argu- ments and when they concluded made 1t plain that he retained an open mind on the subject. He said he did not wish to decide the case without full such information outlined a plan which seemed to the opposing advocates en- tirely satisfactory.
 In accordance with a suggestion made by MT Sanford he said he would come to Bedding and go over the sroads in question It was the com
 nissioner's own idea that he would then meet the townspeople in con- c1ave assembled and listen to what they had to say. From the amount
 
 nett surmised that a. succession of delegations. might come to Hartford to press their views upon him, and he thought the easiest and most satisfac- tory way for all concerned was the one described. Consequently arrange ments for his inspection and the sub sequent hearing to occur probably within the next few weeks will soon be made.
 The meeting will probably be held %I,- be free for all gabfest with lots of irrelevant talk and frequent interrup- tions as often happens at town meet ings. or whether the different sections will be represented by spolxesmen chosen to present their claims, is a feature yet to be determined The latter plan would doubtless be the most satisfactory. Whether the sem timent of the meeting shall be deter mined by vote or whether MT. Ben nett would feel that the result of such a vote ought to determine his decis- ion are other matters open to con lecture.
 If the vote alone were made the pre- vaf1ing consideration MT. Bennetts personal examination of physical and other conditions would seem to be su- perfIuous, and ewouId be>revertfng to policy which his predecessor abandoned as irnpracticable and un- wise. When MT. Macdonald began his official career he gave heed to votes of town meetings and appeals from rival claimants representing diff ferent sections. In consequence of recognizing this clamor of localities a mile stretch Of road was built here and another one there, a fragmentary and unrelated method of improvement which gave little benefit and came to be recognized all around the wrong way of doing things. Finally the commissioner changed to the plan of consulting only with se1ectmen and made it known that even their recom- mendations had no weight unless in accord with his policy of taking up no roads for improvements until those in course Of construction had been fin ished. The roads he did select were those connecting the centers of popu- iation. The hometown and Putnam Park roads were taken up in accord ance with these requirements, the first leading from the Center to Bethel and Danbury, and the second being part of the line from Danbury to Bridge port. Several years ago MT. Mac donald turned down our se1ectmen's recommendation to build part of the Bridgeport line in this town over the direct route to Easton Center, although this way was the shorter and the Sport Hill section of the line had a1- ready been. macadamiZed. Tn his opinion the route by way of the Black Rock turnpike was the more advan- tageous and large part of this line is now a State road. Had the com missioner adhered to his policy instead Of being beguiled through nisrepresen- tation into favoring the crosstown routes after he had made choice of those on the east side, the present complications and controversy never would have arisen. The east siders do not oppose the construction of the crosstown roads; they only ask that the half completed jobs on this side be carried through before other work is taken up.