Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-06-26
STATE HOUSE
Meeting o.va., $50 p NJ Wednesday. Jun. Is

Next Meeting Of osvsras, and ceu
The statement having originated
that . misprint had occurred In the
text Of the act ITO, Provide for Re-
pairing and Maintaining Portland
Bridge" In that date appears -
March "a. A. D. 1913. which should
have been March "a. A., D. 1919. In
spection was made on Wednesday Of
the original bill. which DISCLOSED that
tho date as printed was;correct. :
The bill as first Introduced, by
Rep. Allan Of Portland: did not con-
tain any date In the part Ia question.
The bin was referred 70 the com.
mittee on public utilities and later
recommitted. being sent to the COM
mittee on legal AFFAIRS FROM which
! it was reported in a new. draft by
Rep. Hinckley for the committee.
Tho bill shows that the date
March "a. A. D. 1915 was orig
inally typewriter, but later the ~
and the 1918 was written out in
longhand. It is understood that the
intention was to have the date
March "a, 1919. as the damage to
the Portland bridge had not &C.
| CURED previous to the date as it
appears in the act as passed. 1t was
House ,518. "a &, -
| The act authorized the county
commissioners to borrow money
temporarily and to issue therefor
negotiable notes to the amount Of
900 for repairs to Pier No. IS Of
said bridge: $4,000 for the cost Of
the ferry slip in South Portland:
100000 for reconstructing such ,por-
tons Of the bridge as the commits
sioners might deem necessary; and
500, 900 to refund certain temporary
notes of that county held by the
First National Bank Of Portland.
The emergency clause was attached.
The bond or note issue has been
delayed, it being stated that one OF
the commissioners efused to sign.
The difficulty was recently overcome
by certain county officials signing
the issue. The commissioner who
refused to sign. Charles A. Maxwell
Of Portland. gives his reasons as fol-
lows for his attitude in the matter.
as published in the Express:
County Commissioner Charles A..
Maxwell gives three excuses for re-
fusal to sign the most recent issue of
County bonds. Two Of his excuses
he says. invalidate the issue and his
third excuse is that he couldn't put
his name first. This third excuse
calls to mind this commissioners re-
fusal to sign important County doc
uments some time ago, when the
Legislature was in session, threat to
ask his removal by Legislature be-
ing made at that time. ....
In a nutshell Mr.. Maxwell believes
he should have been made chairman
Of the board because he was the sem
Tor member and having been set
aside in the election for head Of the
board. he objects to signing papers
until such time as his name be al
Logged to be signed first. e..
Mr.. Maxwell also says that author.
ization by the commissioners board
to Clerk Crockett and Treasurer
Halves to sign bonds to the amount
Of 100000 was in violation Of stat
ute.
The most vital Of Mr.. Maxwell's
points Of contention. however. he
says is in the wording Of the special
law, enacted at the last session Of the
Legislature. defining the methods
whereby the bonds are to be issued.
The language Of the alleged defec-
tive section as printed Is as follows:
For accomplishing the purposes Of
this act said County of Cumberland
through its commissioners, Is author
lied to borrow money temporarily
and to issue. therefor the negotiable
notes of the County Of Cumberland
and for the purposes Of refundins
the indebtedness so created and for
payment Of all repairs to pier No. IS
Of said bridge for which contracts
were made prior to March "a, 1918.
to the amount Of $4,000.
This pier collapsed. partially, Aug
ust 20. Ave months after the limita-
ton Of time fixed by the Legislature
for making contracts to repair dam
ages. 49,. 49,:
These bonds have been approved
by Charles D. Booth. attorney for the
First National Bank. which holds
4 them as collateral for temporary
loan Of around 100000. Pres. Brown
Of the bank says he relies upon adj
vice Of attorneys in all matters Of
law and that whatever Mr.. Booth
says these bonds or similar transact
tions Is sufficient for him. -.
Mr.. Booth this noon explained to
the. Express Advertiser that there
i,had been a misprint Of the act. which
was passed to read "pvtor to March
"a. 1919" -> T. -.