The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-02-12
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FROM AUGUSTA.

| Tries "eie ihoIe enoien1 anu prosperous thar
small ones, and that States derived their i'm
portance from this fact. He illustrated hi.
| position by reference to several countries in
| Europe, and made it appear that weakness an6
| final destruction followed when the rights O
municipalities had been abridged and inter
tered with. lie made a comparison between
the several towns of Vermont and Massg chu.
sets, and alleged that the prosperity of the
former was due to her large aud p,pulous
towns. He said that the allegations set forth
in the petition for division had no force The
first specification set forth and the main one
appeared to be that Westbrook was too large
wealthy and populous town. Admit il. Is
it just and good legislation to make it apv.
thisg else? Ii so, divide it, The weight OF
evidence had been to show that grievance
which the petitioners might suffer were pros
pactlve. The spirit of those who favored d.
vision was apparent; at the present time there
was but little antagonism of feeling He
deprecated the purpose of the petitioners to
make warm work for the western portion OF
the town unless division was effected. A
diAislon should not be allowed for such unholy
considerations. The necessity of division was
not the handspring of action. Mr. Jordan, one
of the Influential movers for division, had
acknowledged that his motive was to check
the movement for setting off portion of
Westbrook to Portland; that his grandchildren
might not live to see the new town set off to
Portland. So that this division was instituted
for the purpose of checking the further growth
OF Portland, and stopping the liability that
might exist of any portion of Westbrook being
obliged to share in paying its proportion, lin
way of taxes Of any of the liabilities of the
city of Portland. He endeavored to show that
there was no antagonism of interest, and that
the troubles consequent upon over-crowded
town meetings were remedied last winter by
tue power granted to large towns to create
voting precincts. No community should seek
10 redress wrong by doing a greater wrong.
The line of paralion is maaifestly unjust
He showed more equitable line He said
That the motive was dollars and cents.
The common schools in town were now of
the first class. They exceed in duration those
of any other town in Cumberland County.
The amount OF money raised for schools was
only exceeded by eight towns The value in
vested in school houses was only exceeded by
four cities and towns. 1t was one of the first
in rank in graded schools. Still the petition
ers make it appear that one of their grievances
is that they want better schools.
Division would render necessary a new and
different Representative district. Contiguous
towns were ready and proposing to break up
their town lines.
MIR. Yeaton made an able and acceptable
speech, which was listened to with marked at
tention.
The hearing was continued this afternoon,
and the remonstrants announced that they had
put in all their evidence at o'clock The fol-
lowing persons were duly sworn and gave in
their opinions and reasons against division:
Leander Valentine, George Warren, Henry
B. Walker, G.. w. Hammond, Jonas Ray
mond. Jonathan Smith and Capt Chandler
Rackliff. The grounds stated was that there
was no good reason for division; that the line
to be established was an improper one, une-
quail and unjust, leaving more territory, larger
valuation and population in the eastern town,
which had also the advantage of a larger pros.
pective increase Jonathan Smith said that
he bad been moderator for twenty times, and
WITH one exception he had finished the BUSH
ness in one day. Capt. Rackliff stated that he
wanted to 60 off on to Portland, and be thinks
that division would defeat it. He said that he
had been beset by both sides, and that the
saccarappians had promised him that if he
would espouse their cause they would aid him
ia being set off.
Samuel Jordan was called by the petitioners
and gave testimony TO the noisy proceedings of
the town meeting; that while the citizens of
Saccarappa who were present were gentlemen
and amiable, there was large class in that
vicinity that they could mot control, and that
be found it necessary for his own safety to
seek refuge among his friends; that during tina.
exciting meeting there was so much ill-feel;ng
and diversity of interests, that in his judgment
peace and unanimity were Impossible.
EUening SeSSion.-S. G. Strout, ESQ, made
the closing speech for the remonstrants, which
occupied an hour and half. He was listened
to with much attention. Hon. Bion Bradbury
followed with an able argument in favor of
the petitioners in his usual concise and logical
manner. He left the question properly fin
iShed up in the hands of The committee at 10
o'clock. The committee then adjourned until
tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock, when an opin
ion will probably be rendered.
TAXATION OF INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Andrew j. Chase, ESQ, completed his re-
marks before the Committee on Mercantile
Affairs, and was followed by Com missioner
A. W. Paine, who treated the course of the
agents of Insurance companies with much Sc
verify. The remarks of the latter has given
rise to an unpleasant state of feeling. The
contest is carried on with an unusual spirit of
earnestness. Plentiss Loring, Esq, will make
the closing argument of the week tomorrow
morning at So'clock. The committee will give
one more hearing, next Thursday.
RAILROAD CONSOLIDATION.
The Railroad Committee had further hear
ing this afternoon. The Senate Chamber was
crowded, and Mr.. Stinchfeld of Hallowell
made an earnest speech against consolidation.
He was followed by Hon. John L. Stevens,
who met the argument of great monopoly by
a statement of facts which went to show that
in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where con-
solidation existed, there was no evidence that
the railroad interest was able to control cleo
tons, but facts were to the contrary; that the
New York railroads were owned and controlled
by Democrats; that the counties through
which these roads traversed were able to give
10000 Republican majority. He wanted unity
of action in railroad matters in Maine. 1t
would save the railroad interest thousands of
dollars. He did not believe that the normal
state of our road interests was war; The ex-
peIiehce of the last twenty years of railroad
strife had brought ruin upon the great enter
prises of the State. Cons olidation would re-
suit in peace, and would be the basis of a bet
ter security for building branches into every
section of the State. The guage would conform
to the narrow, which would do away with all
inconvenience, which was fully set forth by
him.
The committee adjourned to Tuesday after
noon, when by a mutual understanding and
agreement the arguments will close. The
friends of consolidation express a confidence
that the Legislature will pass well guarded
bill. The result is doubtful
Maine Legislature.