Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-13
PEN0BSCOT COUNTY CAMPAIGN
OPENED WITH R0USING MEETING
AT REPUBLICAN HEADQUARTERS
125 Committeeman Attend at Bangor Chairman Parhhurst
Presides-Tarif Receives General Denunciation
ALI rounds for Confidence

Representation time. The indigna-
tion shown at the meeting when the bill
was explained showed beyond a doubt
what the feeling will be when people
misinformed and deceived in regard to
this bill are told the truth. Honest
people do not like deception and reac-
ton is already in progress which will
not only result in winning back all those
estranged by the mileage bill deception,
but many others who prefer to be affil-
lated with sincere men not given to de-
ceit for the sake of winning ballots. It
Is evident that many people in Maine
st'l believe bill was passed by the
Legislature calling for a two-cent mil
cage; when they find out the truth,
when they learn that no bill was ever
introduced into the Maine Legislature
calling for a two-cent mileage and that
the bill last winter provided only for a
5Oo-mile mileage to be sold at the same
rate at which any 1000 mile book for sale
by certain road should be sold. they
will be righteously Indignant Were the
mileage bill in force as law today, the
Maine Central railroad could sell its 500
mile mileage for 10 cents a mile without
breaking the law. or it could sell a 1000
mile mileage for 10 cents per mile so
long as it continued to sell the 800 mile
mileage.
Afternoon Session-Governor Haines,
The afternoon session opened at about
2 o'clock and was presided over by Sem
ator Taber Bailey of Bangor. He intro
duced the Governor In few words and
"a cordial applause greeted him. The
Governor said 1t had become apparent
at the morning session that there were
some things the committeeman present
would like explained and he would be
very glad to enlighten them. First he
told them about the highway law. He
explained that the highway operations
in Maine at the present time are con-
trolled by law and not by any policy or
choice of his. The new Maine highway
law places most of the responsibility for
the laws operation in the hands of a
highway commission composed of three
men. In choosing the men for this COM
mission the Governor chose a Democrat
urged upon him by the members of the
great Maine Automobile Association,
representing the men who pay the II
censes making the $1,000, 900 fund possible,
a man enthusiastic and well versed in
road matters; another approved by the
Changers OF Maine and representing well
the large Board of Trade bodies of the
State; and third man fully acquainted
with the employment and handling of
men, especially engineers. capable of
coping with any situation that may arise
since he has been successful in railway
work on a large scale. This commission
Of three men. composed of two Republi-
cans and a Democrat. has done efficient
work in the performance of it's duty in
working out the provisions of the high
way law.
The Governor explained the provisions
of the highway law. He told his audi
ence that the law is fashioned after the
best highway laws yet drafted by men,
that it conforms with the best principles
of the famous highway system of old
Rome. modern Germany. modern Eng
land. and all sections of the world and
of the country in which highway systems
have been long tried and well perfected.
The State roads are to be built entirely
from the proceeds of the 100000 bond
issue, the interest on which Is to be paid
with the funds coming into the treasury
from taxes on automobiles The work
on the State roads will be begun in every
county at once. The law requires that
a stretch of seven miles be built in each
county along route passing through no
towns of more than $500 population.
These seven mile stretches must be COM
pleted before new pieces are begun. He
showed a map of the Maine highways.
There are $500 miles of highways in
Maine, and the proposition to make
good roads of all of them is tremendous
A beginning is to be made under the new
law. Michigan had our old system of
it for a system of State roads, leaving
out altogether the State Aid plans.
Maine has done better than this, for her
State road plans are supplemented by
her State Aid plans making nearly
s40o, 900 available for State Aid roads in
the coming season.
A year ago this month Governor
heard that the federal government had
several thousand dollars available to
put with several thousand dollars appro-
priated by some State In the building of
sample post road, he looked up the
proper officials and suggested the sample
road be built in Maine. The proposition
was accepted and the Governor returned
to Maine, leaving Lyman Nelson of the
Highway Commission in Washington.
Shortly the council voted to use 100000
to go with the fedora. governments
$4,000 in the building of this road. A
course approved by federal engineers
between Brunswick and Portland was
chosen and It was decided to build the
road on that course. Then some one
thought they would play politics bit
and intimated to the authorities at
Washington that the statements made
in regard to the proposed route were
false, that the route did not lay through
farming section, and that a boat ran
from Portland to Brunswick so that the
road was not badly needed Word came
to Governor Haines that the federal aid