The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-02-09
Representative Bridges Pre-
sents Measure to State
Legislature.
WOULD SAVE PEOPLE OF
CAPE COUNTY 100000
Bill is Said to be Opposed BY
Representative Oliver, Cape
Mans Nephew.

islature by Representative Harry ".
! Bridges, compelling drainage COM
! gari"s TO erect bridges across all high
,"ays intersscted by the drainage chan
ne:s, will be opposed by Representa-
tive Sloan Oliver Of Pemiscot County,
/ i was learned yesterday by officials OF
Cape Girardeau County. Representa-
tive Oliver IS 4 nephew Of r. L. Oliver
Of this city. The bill was introdced in
| The Senate by Senator Won Mays of
Scott County, and it i believed will
pass both Houses.
The bill, which was drafted by
Judge Edward d. Hays and Prescott
ing Attorney Caruthers. contains sew
| eral amendments to the law now on
The statute books. The most impor-
tant feature OF the new bill is the sec
ton which provides that the drainage
companies must erect bridges over
public highways cut by drainage COM
panies.
Several months ago the Supreme
Court affirmed decision of the Scott
County Circuit Court which decided
in favor Of the drainage company.
This decision compels the county to
build bridges over channels made by
the drainage company.
A similar suit was brought in the
Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court
and decision in favor Of the drain
age company was rendered by the
court. An appeal was filed in the
Supreme Court and will be acted upon
next April. This suit involves $780,
600 which the taxpayers will have to
provide to build bridges over the drain
age channels.
Representative Bridges has inform
ed several friends in the Cape that he
has taken up the matter with a num-
Der Of other members of the House
and has been assured b. them that
they would vote for the bill. He con-
tends that inasmuch as the expense is
caused by the drainage company, the
latter must bear this expense.
Representative Oliver IS a member
IF the committee to whom the bill will
be referred, but il is believed that
the remainder of the committee will
report favorably on the bill after
hearing what it means to the tax
payers.
Three sections OF the old law are to
be amended by the new bill. Section
IS, which deals with the Board of Su-
pervisors to levy tax on all lands
that derive Z benefit from the drain
age work and providing for the APP
pointment Of a secretary to fix these
.a2>es, IS the first that viii be affected
by the new bill.
This section is amended 80 az to
levy :: tax on all lands. railroads and
other property in the district to which
benefits have been assessed to pay the
costs Of the completion of the work"
including the bridges at the intersec-
ton OF public roads by the bitches,
eana,s, diversion channels ard flood
ways OF the drainage district.
within 10 days after dredge boat
OF anv other cxcavating machine shall
nave cut a ditch. canal. diversion chan
nel o. floodwav across anv pub!ic road. !
i Temporary bridge shall be construct
ed and maintained by the DRAINAGE dis /
trict at its costs; and with 90 days aft /
er TIE completion of the ditch. char /
mel or Hoodwav = permanent bridge /
:hou no constructed accorliro- % the !
pIans and specifcatio1s as hcreinbe
fore nrovided
"Said bridge shall he constructed by
said DRAINAGE district If It's costs and