Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-15
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Remarks or Mr.. Berry OF Damariscotta,

kemUTkS vi Mr. bcrTJ VI DOudTlSSVNos
In HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,, March II.
liz a and 70 sss % che &c the Of
Washington.
Mr.. BERRY said:
Mr.. SPEAKER:--I had hoped l should
not find it necessary to occupy the time
bf this House during this session: for it
IS no easy task for one unaccustomed to
public speaking and with little experience
in legislation, to attempt to claim the at
tention of SO large body of men, who.
as they draw near the close of long ses-
sion, are anxious TO finish their labors and
adjourn But, irksome as the task is,
cannot so far forget my duty to my con-
stituents, knowing their rights are endan-
gered by an attempt to wiring from this
legislature an unjust act, as to keep silent
and permit the attempted wrong to go un-
rebuked. You are asked for the fifth
time, for there have been four previous at
tempts to do this same thing, which has
always shared the same fate as can but
believe this will share at your hands) to
take from the little town of Somerville
Containing but no polls. and $50, 6S5 of
valuation, the smallest town by half in
the county of Lincoln, one-seventh of its
population and valuation, and annex the
same to the town of Washington in anotl-
er county, containing 1929 polls and $685.,
S57 of valuation, making the difference
after the division of 1927 l72 in valuation,
and 249 polls. This town of Somerville
! (Which is one of the class have the hon
or to represent) is the smallest and poorest
town by all odds III our county. The
great town of Washington not having the
fear of God before her eyes and unmind-
FIJI of one of the ten commandments, which
says, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors
OK, &c, has attempted to seduce some of
the virtuous people of Somerville, to ADAM
don their old associations and unite their
fate with them, regardless of the serious
consequences which must inevitably fol-
low such step to the remaining people
of Somerville. Fifteen tax payers of
Somerville petition you to set them OFF,
ninety-seven demonstrate, more than six to
one--just half of this committee have re-
ported this bill, House Document 1l6
But not satisfied with dividing what would
seem at glance to be almost indirisidle-
they have attempted to apportion the debt
by rules unknown to any arithmetic which
crer studied.
The testimony before the committee
showed that from one-fifth to one-tenth of
whole property of Somerville would 60
off by this bill, and the committee have
called it one-twelfth.
The debt of Somerville, as appears by
the sworn statement of the Selectmen
which l will read. is $l0,30l.l4. By
sec 9TH Of the bill, $500 is required to
be paid to Someryille, when it should have
been 81 All 90 to have been their just pro-
portion. What reasons or grievances are
complained of by the petitioners, why this
wicked act should be done? All that l
have ever heard is because the dividing
line runs through some of the farms. |
Now If that is sufficient reason for a d.
vision, why not take off a slice from the
large town of Washington, and put it on
to Somerville. 1t would not only help to
equalize the towns of Somerville and
Washington, but the two counties of Knox
and Lincoln; for Knox county has almost
double the valuation of Lincoln, as you
will see by examining the printed list from
the valuation commissioners.
But. Mr.. Speaker, this division will
change county lines. and carry the balance
on to the wrong side, from the small to
the large county. Now am led to be-
lieve that this is not so much the desire of
the Is petitioners as it is the artful schem-
Jug vi tIc ClLlLcuS vi w lOI
one fact is so significant here, that unless
member of this House that there was
design in it. The towns of Hope and
Washington are classed together, and here
tive first from one town, and then the 9TH |
er. but last year Washington was repre-
scented by one of her citizens, and this year
tho co,,,p 10 raturpad I kroxy
this may be explained by the well known
fact of the great popularity of the gentle
man with all who know him; and no one
appreciates it better than myself, for we
are warm personal friends, and could
greet NO man from that class more cordial
" than him. yet the fact that he was re-
turned is ut least suggestive that this act
of violating the sacred soil Of Somerville,
was at least contemplated early in the
season by the citizens of Washington
and had they not been prominent in this
matter the Is petitioners would never have
troubled this Legislature. understand
the committee on division of towns to say
that Somerville ought to be divided among
the towns adjoining her, as she is too small
and poor to maintain her corporate exist
ence. If that is their opinion, fully agree
with them; but the distribution ought all
to be done at once, not by piece meal. in
the manner in which they have begun.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, am so well salts
fed that this House will not do this great
act of injustice to a portion of the citizens
of this State, with the precedent which we
established a few days ago in the case Of
the division of Westbrook, will occupy
no more time ia arguing this case, but
briefly sum up my objections to the pas
sage of this bin as follows:
1st Somerville ought not to be made
smaller in territory, unless she becomes
wholly absorbed by other towns. If this
piece is set off, You may expect she will
call on the State to aid her in supporting
her roads and bridges. She cannot do it
alone without subiccting her citizens to
burdens unusually heavy compared with
other towns.
I'd. There is no cause for this set off.
There is twice the reason to annex part of
Washington to Somervilc than to do this
act.
Sd. The conditions in the bill are not
inst and equitable. Instead of paying
$500 they ought to pay $500, for they