Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-14

nothing of the matter, and of course were
unprepared for defence. Hence. his (Mr.
Adams) anxiety to get it before Il proper
committee. Mr.. Cousens had been before
this committee and had gone into all the
details, and the result of the committees
deliberations was before the House.
A petition had been presented this morn
ing authorizing the County Commissioners
to lay out road over the river dividing
these towns. The gentleman from Ken
nebunkport desires to get rid of that road
and the expense of bearing their share of
Biddetord n part of the territory of Ken
Strengthening the line only so far as COM
pelling the city of Biddeford to build this
bridge. The question had been referred
to the committee and they had decided in
accordance with the statutes and referred
to the next Legislature. He would not
take up the time of the House, for he
thought it would grant what he claimed
the rights of Biddeford under the law. He
wanted this matter to stand upon its own
merits.
Mr.. BtRNHAM said no man on the floor
of the House had more respect for the
gentlemen from Kennebunkport than he,
and if he thought he was asking the House
to put knife to the throat of the gentle
man or to his town he would take his seat.
Mr.. b. read from the history of Biddeford
to show the antiquity of this line. 1t was
established in 1859 and is the natural line,
being fixed by the God of Nature. 1t has
remained thus since its establishment. and
is the only portion which has never before
been called in question. No man has ever
had any trouble in knowing where he
lived, if he knew on which side of the
river he lived on. And now what is the
proposition before the House? If these
petitioners were to put their petition in
plain language it would be as follows
''Whereas there has been petition put be-
fore the County Commissioners, praying
them to lay out road, a part in the city
of Biddeford and a part in Kennebunkport,
we. desiring not to pay our share of taxes
in aid of said road, humblv pray you to so
change the town line between the town of
Kennebunkport and the city of Biddeford,
that the whole of said road shall come in
the city of Biddeford, and we escape our
taxes" This, he remarked. was the gist
of the whole matter. They ask the legis-
lature to do the county commissioners
work.
Mr. WATSON, as a member of the Com
mttee which had the matter in charge, said
the committee was divided, majority
being in favor of sustaining the law OF
1860. The merits OF dement's of the case
were not considered. He entertained then
and now the opinion that the committee
had right to 90 behind the law referred
to.
Mr.. SMITH of Parsonsfeld, as member
of the committee, stated its action. They
thought they had no jurisdiction in the
matter. but if the Legislature votes to in
struct then it would be different
Mr.. STONE said he had no feeling in the
matter; the petition presented by him was
presented as matter of courtesy The
sole question embraced in that petition rs
he understood it is whether this LegiSla-
ture will give authority to the county COM
missioners to cross that stream, and that
turns upon the legal question simply whe-
Their that is or is not a navigabe stream
If it is they will want authority to lay out
the road, if not they will not need such
authority. This matter did not affect Ken
nebunk, but he thought justice and fairness
demanded that the whole matter should 90
to one committee and be determined alto
gether. He did not think Biddeford
would be harmed by such course.
Mr.. WHIDDEN was of the opinion that
if Biddetord did not want the whole mat
ter referred to the same committee, that
the matter on both sides should go to the
next Legislature, when there would be
chance for proper notice and fair hearing.
At the suggestion of Mr.. BAKER, Mr..
COUSINS moved to commit the report, with
to the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. ADAMS of Biddeford, said under the
present stage of proceedings, he should
agree TO such reference.
The House voted to so refer.