Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-16
Maine Legislature
CONTINUED from Page One)

bridge for the Maine Central Rail-
road, In order to get onto the
bridge at the Broad street site, 1t is
said, the Maine Central Railroad
would be obliged to build it's APP
proaches on a curve at a distance OF
700 or 500 feet into the river on the
Bath side, but as the need for a
bridge for the railroad has decreas-
ed rather than increased during the
past five or six years. the railroad
company does not care to expel q
money for this construction. 1t mas
been stated that the Maine Central
Company is willing to pay between
SIS. 900 and 500 900 yearly rental for
their tracks on the bridge, but II Il
IL obliged to construct its approaches
the company will considerably re-
duce its rental fec. 1t Is understood.
Thus, an attempt Is bein'; made to
find a sta better adapted for rail-
road use.
A question is raised b. some OF
those favoring the Richn nd lo1a-
ton as to how much wei; she
be attached to thu investi tons Of
| the new locations at Bath asrnuch
as it has been learned tina no ne"
torings are being made and that the
new sites are being conslt cred IN
relation to the borings made by the
Wooster Company for the Broad
! street site at Bath.
Governor Brswstsr's Message
The financial condition Of the State
will be the topic discussed by Gov
ernor Ralph o. Brewster in special
message to the Legislature on Wednes-
day of this week. Among the matters
! x,,i1I ,u1Otht
! edly be the shrinkage of the contin-
gent fund more than one million dol
| lars. the possibility that the State
may be obliged to make a temporary
loan at the close Of the present fiscal
year. and the unusual expenditures
during the last administration for
which bills are now coming In.
1t is predicted that the measure,
rather than being in the nature OF
criticism. will deal with the situation
I'm a constructive manner and suggest
remedies which, the legislature might
properly adopt.
| An. order for the Investigation OF
the expenditures of they previous adj
ministration is expected to be intro
duced in the legislature following the
delivery of Governor Brewster's mes
sage 1t is generally believed that the
legislature will pass the investigation
! order.
The scope of inquiry, it is under
stood. will deal with the whole ques-
| ton of so-called emergency expendi-
lures in addition to the particular
phase of their legality.
The measure now pending in the
legislature authorizing the increase
from 100000 to 100000 of the
| lob ho md conn.
Gil and the treasurer of State is au-
/ thorized to borrow is believed to have
been introduced with a view to pro-
vide for treasury conditions which
may exist by July next.
Time Limit for Private Legislation
The date for the time limit for the
| reception of matters of private and
special legislation, originally set fol
| Monday, Feb. 16, has been extended
so that the time limit for the intro
duction of such measures will be the
opening session for this week, at 4.3C
Tuesday afternoon.
New Highway Police Bill
! Definite action is promised in the
matter OF taking the State highway
police away from control of the high
way commission and placing it under
the supervision of governor and coun.
ell in an act to be presented the leg.
islature next Tuesday.
The joint efforts of Senator Arthur
l.. Roberts Of Lyman. Representative
| Edwin /. Littlefield of Kennebunk and
Representative Tobias l.. Roberts OF
Bar Harbor created the bill and In adj
dition the ideas of Senator Herbert
Il. Wadsworth of Winthrop were en-.
| listed. Senator Wadsworth has al.
ready presented bill aiming toward
similar purpose and this was given
[ hearing before the committee on ju.
dietary last Friday.
The measure Representative Little
field will present places the author.
| ity of selecting the highway police
chief in the hands of the Governor
and Council and he is to serve only
at the Governors pleasure. To pro.
tect, however. the opportunity OF us-
ing the apportionment of a chief as
a political football at the dictates OF
whatever Governor may come into
Office, the Littlefieid bill insists that
the chief may only be removed fol-
sufficient reasons and the right OF
appeal Is given the chief in the
event his summary discharge is at
tempted.
| Chief to Name Officers
|
| is left to the chief. He is empowered
to hire and discharge officers, the
right of appeal to the Governor and
Council applying also to the mer
, in the matter Of discharge. The chief
| is to examine the men personally
setting his own standards of fitness
No limit Is set in the Littlefield act
as to the complement of the force
this also being left to the discretion
of the chief. The men may be ap-
pointed to the duties of inspector oil
to motorcycle patrol duty but al
must be bonded to the extent Of 81.
600. The men are to enjoy the au-
thority Of deputy sheriffs in that
they may make arrests for any
crime or offense that sheriffs may
and they ara sworn to cooperate a,
all times with police departments oil
sheriff departments of the cities and
towns of the State and collect and
deliver to proper authorities evidence
or information as to all sorts of law
breaking. The chief Ia to be bonded
to the extent of 5000 and will serve
on salary, the amount of which Is
| left to the Governor and Council to
decide. The chief is to decide the
salaries to be paid his men.
| In order to make his proposed de-
partment in large part self support
ing Rep. Littlefield will simultane-
ously present an act requiring all
fines and fees collected for any pur-
pose whatever by members Of the
State Highway Police to be turned
back to the State to be applied to-
| ward support OF the department
purchase of uniforms and equipment
and salaries of the chief and his
men.
READFIELQ