The Republican journal., 1917-04-05

as also all detour signs: so that said
section as amended shall read as follows:
Section 6. The commission may from
time to time make and shall enforce rules
and regulations relating to construction
and maintenance OF all State and State
aid highways and relating to the man.
hearings and the administration Of its
office. powers and duties subject to the
provisions of this chapter; and shall. with
the approval of the governor and council,
direct the expenditure of all moneys for
construction and maintenance Of all State
and state aid highways. The commission
may from time to time purchase, lease or
hire all machinery, tools, implements and
property necessary for highway engi-
neering and construction and for the ad-
ministration and execution Of Its duties,
and may contract for such labor, ma
terials and property as It may deem nee
essary for the examination, building and
construction Of State and State aid high
WAYS. The commission may be consulted
by and shall without charge advise mu-
n1cipal officers and road commissioners
on the subject Of construction and MAIN
and State aid highways all guide posts
shall be. Of such reasonable FORM height
and design as the commission shall desig
nate. Whenever 1t becomes necessary to
close State highway to travel on ac-
count Of construction, before such State
highway is closed the commission shall
establish the most practical detour road
around the State highway to be con-
structed, have the same properly signed
at all intersecting roads or streets in
dicating the principal town or city in
either direction and cause the detour road
to be put in proper condition to Withstand
the travel and maintain In such condition
until the State highway being constructed
is open to travel. II the commission reg
lects to so sign, establish or maintain
such detour road the same shall be done
by order Of the governor and council.
Whenever practical the travel shall be
permitted to pass over a State highway
under construction and the commission
shall then cause to be erected the follow
ing sign at either end of the construction
work: state road under construction
Pass at your risk. Maine State Highway
Commission Upon completion of the
State highway the commission shall cause
the immediate removal of all such signs
as also all detour signs. In all State and
State aid highway construction and main
tenance the commission shall have the
powers of municipal officers conferred by
section twenty-six of chapter twenty-five
of the Revised Statutes relating to con-
struction and maintenance of bitches and
drains. The commission shall whenever
practicable give preference In employment
to the Inhabitants Of the town in which
such highways are located.
Section g. Section seven OF said chap
ter twenty-five is hereby amended by
striking out after the word tissue in the
tenth line the following: herein pro-
vided for, and the proceeds of the aggre-
gate of such bonds and inserting in
place thereof the following and the
fund for the construction of State high
ways herein provided for and such pro-
ceeds of the aggregate of such bonds
and such State highway fund so that
said section as amended shall read as
follows:
Section T. The commission shall lay
out construct and maintain a system of
ytoto bieJby
as herein described, and the expense or
constructing such state highways shall
be borne wholly by the State, except as
otherwise provided in section twenty-five
The commission shall be sole arbiter OF
the designation of the State and State
aid highways, but shall. as to State high
ways. after reasonable notice by publca-
tion give all parties interested an oppor-
tunity to be heard thereon before COM
mencng such construction. Except as
provided in section twenty-five, the con-
struction of State highways shall be pal
for wholly from the proceeds OF the state
bond issue and the fund for the con-
struction of State highways herein pro-
yided for and such proceeds of the aggre-
gate of such bonds and such State high
way fund shall be expended equitaoly
among the various counties.
Section s.. SECTION ten Of said aid chap 5,.
Inserting after the word approve in
the twenty-eight line, the following:
The commission may, however. with
the approval of the governor and coun-
ell, let contracts for State highway
construction or do the same for. and IN
behalf of the State without advertising
for bids if the same shall be for the
best interest of the State, so that said
section as amended shall read as fol-
lows:
Section 10. The commission shall
have full power in the letting Of all con
tracts for the construction of ali State
to nj highways except
where herein otherwise provided The
commission shall make all surveys
plans, estimates, SPECIFICATIONS ana con con :
tracts for all proposed work. and shall,
except as otherwise provided IN inns
chapter. advertise for bids for the same
in two or more PUBLIC newspapers print
ed wholly or in part in the State; also IN
one public newspaper printed wholly or
in part in the county where the pro-
posed work is to be done, if any such
newspaper is so printed in such
county; such advertisement shall state
the place where the bidders may ex--
anime the nlans and specitieatlons, and
such work will be received by the com
mission Each bidder must accompany
his bid with a certified check, payable
t. the treasurer or state; for ten per
guarantee that if the work is awarded
to him he will contract with the com
mission for, its due execution; such
tive unsuccessful bidders. The check
of the successful bidder shall be re-
turned to him upon the execution and
delivery to the commission of his con-
tract and his bond with sufficient sure
ties, in terms satisfactory to the COM
mission for the due execution of such
work All bids so submitted shall he
publicly opened. read and posted at the
time and place stated in such advertise
ment The commission shall have the
right to reject any and all bids if in its
opinion good cause exists therefor. but
otherwise it shall award the contract
to the lowest responsible bidder Any
town may submit bids for State and
State aid highway construction within
it's limits and shall be subject to all
requirements prescribed for other con-
tractors, except that no bond need be
required of It, If all bids for work
under this chapter are rejected. or If no
bids are received. the commission may
which the governor and council APP
prove The commission may, however,
with the approval of the governor and
council, let contracts for State highway
construction, or do the same, for and in
behalf of the State without advertising
for bids if the same shall be for the
best interests of tie State. The COM
mission shall have full power in all
matters relating to the furnishing OF
bonds by the successful bidders for the
completion of their work and fulfilling
Of their contracts, and for the protec-
ton of the State and town from all
liability arising from damage = or in
jury to persons or property. The COM
mission after making surveys, plans
and estimates for proposed construction