The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-01-27
HAvRE DE GRACE BRIDGE.
Bill in Maryland Legislature Proyid-
ing For State Ownership.

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Urging passage of the measure
for State ownership OF the Susque-
hanna River bridge, from Havre de
Grace to Perryville, over which
daily pass from 800 to 1000 auto
mobiles and trucks between Phila-
delphia, Baltimore and Washington.
Senators Tydings, of Hartford coun-
ty, and Cantwell of Cecil, declared
on Tuesday that many motorists be-
tween Baltimore and Philadelphia
now make detour by way of Como
wingo bridge to avoid the heavy toll
charges.
Should the bill to take over the
bridge pass it is proposed to estaD-
lish the Susquehanna bridge loan.
Tentatively, the figure is fixed at
maximum of 100000. In fixing
this figure, however, Senator Tyd-
ings stated that sum was to be re-
garded only as one under which tbs
price to be paid by the State must
come, SO that the bond redemption
feature could be met. If the figure
were placed at $350,000, for in
stance, he said, the Legislature
might be presumed to be seeking to
regulate the price, Whatever the
ultimate price determined upon, the
bonds, under the measure, will be
redeemed at the rate of $4,000 an
nually. Interest on bonds and main
tenance of the bridge will be met by
the tolls. AS soon as the bonds are
redeemed and the interest ceases
the tolls are to be lifted on every
class of vehicles. The bond re-
demption is to be met by local tax
required to be imposed by each
county and by Baltimore city of one
third of cent on 500. Control
and regulation Of the span is def
initely and finally taken away from
the Public Service Commission by
the bill.
Following are the maximum toll
rates fixed in the bill: Passenger
automobiles, single trip Irrespective
OF number of passengers), IS cents;
one-ton trucks, 80 cents; two-ton,
30 cents; three-ton, As cents: four
ton, so cents; five-ton and over, 81.
The maximum toll feature OF the
measure is one Of its important
angles. The State roads committee
may reduce toll charges as 1t sees fit.
There will undoubtedly be a sharp
fight over the measure in which OPP
posing Democratic factions in Har-
ford county will engage. One ele-
ment supports the present owners or
the structure, who include the heirs
of the late Murray Vandiver, Demo-
cratic State chairman, who with
other Havre de Grace men secured
control of the bridge for the sum of
$500 from the Pennsylvania Rail-
road when the latter company built
its new structure.
There is growing sentiment among
members Of the Assembly to put
racing-or rather race track betting
up to the people" by means of a
referendum to be Incorporated in
bill. So far as prohibition enforce
ment is concerned there is doubt as
to whether a measure OF this sort
could be subject to referendum as
the Constitution debars it being In
voked where laws dealing with the
regulation of the liquor traffic are
involved.
On blanks spread throughout the
State by the Maryland Anti-Race
Track Gambling Association petit
tions memorializing the general
Assembly to abolish race track bet
ting began to rain upon the House
Tuesday. The petitions, many of
them containing hundreds of names,
came from church congregations,
Sunday schools and bodies Of voters
in every county excepting Baltimore
city, Hartford, Anne Arundel or
Prince Georges, where racetracks
are located.
Delegate Cook. of Baltimore city,
introduced a resolution petitioning
Congress to submit to the several
States the question of repeating the
Eighteenth amendment. 1t was re-
ferred to the House Temperance
Committee, Of which Cook is chair
man and in which the "wets" have
one majority.
Lines are being drawn for a bitter
fight between insurgent and regular
Democrats over the two greater rep
resentation bills for Baltimore city.
A number Of county members Of the
House headed by Delegate Roberts.
OF Prince Georges county, have come
out openly against the measures.