Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1935-04-05
FROM OUR
EXCHANGES
BILL TO AUTHORIZE BAY
BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

One of the bills before the Legisla-
ture last week was No. All, which was
amended to great extent and which
creates the Chesapeake Bay Authority,
providing for its powers and duties,
authorizing it to construct bridge
across the Chesapeake Bay, including
the approaches thereto, and to main
tain and operate ferry across the
Chesapeake Bay and to charge tolls
thereon, and to issue bridge bonds for
a sum not exceeding ten million dol
lars for the cost of said bridge payable
out of revenues only. Also the bill
authorizes the Authority to issue fer
ry bonds in a sum not exceeding one
million two hundred thousand dollars
for the cost of acquiring the ferry;
and to condemn or otherwise acquire
land needed for the construction of
said bridge and approaches and for
its other corporate purposes; and to
issue bridge approach bonds in an
amount not exceeding five hundred and
twenty thousand dollars for the cost
of the construction of said approaches.
The Authority was empowered to
provide for an annual tax consisting
of such part of the gasoline taxes as
shall be necessary to meet the deficit
in the others provided in the act to
pay the interest and principal of ferry
and bridge approach bonds as they fall
due, and to provide that such annual
tax shall not be repealed, diminished,
or applied to any other object until
the bonds and interest have been fully
discharged.
This Chesapeake Bay Authority
shall consist of S. Bonsal Brooks,
Emerson C. Harrington, and a third
member to be appointed by the Cover
nor. The terms of the original men,
bers shall be for six, four and two
years respectively. All terms suseb-
quent to the first term shall be for
six years. The first term shall begin
June 1, 1885.
All appointments to the board, other
than those named in the act, shall be
by the Governor. Any vacancy in the
board by death, resignation, or other
wise shall be filled for the unexpired
term by the Governor, The chairman
of the board shall be appointed by the
Governor.
Until funds for expenses are avail
able from moneys borrowed by the
board or from revenues from the pro-
jects, it shall be the duty of the State
Roads Commission to furnish quarters
for the board and necessary clerical
assistance.
Upon the purchase and operation of
the ferry by the board, the chairman
shall receive salary at the rate of
$500 annually, and each of the other
members a salary at the rate of 81 ,250
annually. Upon the making of con-
tract by the board for the construction
of the bridge, the salary of the chair
man shall be $4,000 annually, and of
each of the other members $4,000 an
nually.
In the event that no contract for the |
construction of the bridge is entered
into within period of two years from
the passage of the act, all Of the rights !
powers, duties and obligations of the
board with respect to the acquisition,
maintenance, and operation of the fer
ry, and the payment of the debt SER
vice requirements of any bonds issued
for the purchase of the ferry shall be
taken over, and shall thereafter be
exercised and performed by the State
Roads Commission.