Norwich bulletin., 1913-03-13
GISLATIVE LORE

There was a sort of general holdup on the automobile bills that were re- ported unfavorably by the committee on roads, bridges and rivers, in regard
 power of rear lamps, the speed of travel on highways, and stipulating that when all automobile reaches & point within 1000 feet of a schoolhouse that the rate of speed shall rot exceed five miles an hour. There was consid- erable discussion on the several bills, and especially the latter. by Messrs. Mcdonald. Thoms. Kirchberger and Mckee. The point of discussion was to table for calendar and printing. Mir. Mckee ridiculed the idea of print ing such silly act that required auto mobiles to slow down to five miles within 1000 feet of schoolhouse, whether the sehoolhouse Is occupied or abandoned. This remark brought out the house jester. Representative Kirch- berger, who said; "Mr. Mckee instead of being an old bachelor, an old, con flFrned bachelor at that, should see the light. What does he know about chil- dren and their dangers from speeding automobiles on the way to and from sehooif I would suggest that MT. Me
 Kee get hooked up to 6 good woman and raise a faIhiiy'
 HsPpessntative Haynes of Old Lyme was in the fioodlight for a time at Wednesdays sessien, when the com
 nittee reported unfaverably en his bill that increases the salaries of members of the house te S5o6, and that of sen atefs to S76b, by the constitutional Amendment route on four years course, Mir Haynes urged that in or der to give the matter proper eeAsid- eration he wanted the dlI tabled for calendar and printing. urging that the project was to lessen the cost of SerV- ing as a legislator. He asked many pointed queries, and being assured utr, i1.r- fR31 affG in Q legislature of 1911 and would be sub mttted later, the gentleman from Old Lyme subsided and the motion to ta- ble for calendar and printing was lost. The bill was rejected.
 An act making an appropriation for maintenance of the drawbridge over the Mantle river, connecting the towns of Waterford and East Lyme, was giV- en hearing Wednesday afternoon by the committee on appropriations. Rep resentative Christopher L.. Avery of Groton spoke in favor of the bill, which was presented by him. He explained that this bridge, formerly known as the old Rope Ferry bridge and later the more modern Mantle bridge, was for merly a privately owned toll bridge. was taken over by the state two years ago and made free to the public, the county to care for the bridge with the assistance of state aid. Two years ago the state appropriated s2,o0o to- wards the maintenance of the bridge as it's share, and now the county com n1issioners, who are in charge of the bridge, ask for & like appropriation, Extensive repairs are in progress, ana the draw Is opened many time a day and in order that 1t may have suoeess- ful operation these repairs are essen- tiaI.
 County Commissioner Moves stated that the state took over the bridge in 1907, and early in 1908 the property was turned over to the custody of the county. Naturally the owners of the to take possession, permitted he bridge to get in poor condition, and as re- sult the bridge was in bad shape when delivered by the state to the county. and fully S1 800 was expended in repair work, and the county paid the bills. Since the structure became 6 free bridge to the public there hna been g.