Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-12-16

provides Tor an appropriation of $4,000
IN the year 1915 for use within the
years 1915 and 1916, whereas it was
! doubtless intended that half this sum
should be available in each of the years
1915 and 1916. Without some provision
by the Governor and Council the Sana-
tor1a could not draw against this APP
propriation in the year 1916 as the re-
solve is not drawn in words providing
I Tor the intended and customary method
of appropriation.
Grade Crossings
Chairman Cleaves Of the Public
Utilities Commission appeared before
the Governor and Council asking au
thority to attend under the expense of
his department an important meeting
in Boston. The authority asked is nee
essary under a rule of the present
Council. Chairman Cleaves explained
that the New England railroads. 1t the
suggestion of the American Railroad
Association, Al recent meeting took
UP the discussion of the problem Of
proper protection for grade crossings
The New England railroads committee
~
ton will meet in Boston soon and an
invitation has been extended to a rep-
resentative of each public service com.
| mission in New ENGLAND to attend
Maine has 1907 grade crossings,
Chairman Cleaves said, and it is I'M
possible to abolish any considerable
| number of these within the near future
| At present $4,000 is available for abol-
fishing grade crossings and $4,000 Of this
sum has already been appropriated for
the States part of the expense involved
in doing away with Blind Crossing"
in Bath. 1t is very necessary. then,
Chairman Cleaves believes, that more
adequate protection should be pro-
vided for grade crossings and that there
should be uniformity in the method Of
protection, not only in Maine but
throughout New England. He points
out the fact that automobilists travel
ling across New England find all man
ner Of projections or intended protec-
tons and as these are not always self
explanatory they do not protect all
from the danger of the crossings. He
commended the automatic fagmen"
systems of protection which are much
used in Massachusetts together with
the gong system. Six or more red
lights constitute the automatic flag
men" and these lights are so placed
that when they light one after the
other at rapid intervals they give some
thing of the impression of a waving
flag The Council deemed his errand
to Boston important and the order au-
thorizing the trip at the States ex-
pense was passed.
The Warrant Problem
At the afternoon session there was
a very important discussion of official
warrants. 1t has been the custom for
many years to advance sums required
for the immediate payment of bills
without the issue of a warrant and to
include these sums later in the war
rant as assembled for the action of
the Governor and Council Except this
had been done, it would have been i'm
possible for the treasurer of State to
take advantage of any discounts and
much hardship would have been i'm
posed in many cases where creditors
of the State needed their money. Treas
urer Newbert does not like this sys-
TEN. and he can hardly be blamed for
not liking it as all the responsibility of
these advances must rest upon him
personally. From the day he advances
moneys until the day the warrant is
passed. he. of course. is alone account
able for the amount SO expended. He
recently called the attention Of the