Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-02-15

in the waters of Maine; an act to incorporate
a fire department in West Waterville Viii
lage.
On motion Of Mr.. TIrcoMB, the order re-
lating to referring all matters for educational
appropriations to the committee on Finance,
was taken up.
Mr.. CARLETON moved to amend the order
by inserting petitions &c, for aid for roads
and bridges" which was accepted by Mr.. Tit
comb
Mr.. PERRY of Oxford thought it was plan
to kill all the bills for aid to schools, without
regard to merit and he was opposed to the
order.
Mr. TIrcoMB explained that his intention
was to find out whether there was enough
money in the Treasury to pay all these bills
which have been presented. If all the bills
for aid were to pass without some dlscrimina-
ton, or some sort of barrier, the treasury
will soon be dry. He believed the most of
these appropriations unnecessary, and I'M
called for, and that what the State had to
give should be given for the advancement OF
the common schools.
Mr. PERRY remarked that it seemed that
these matters were to be considered by the
committee on Finance, in reference to the
money in the Treasury, and not in reference
to the merits of the bills. 1t was well to
look after the Treasury, but how was the
committee on Finance going to pass upon
the merits of these several propositions? He
believed the House was competent to decide
upon these questions, and decide them upon
their merits. They are reported from the
committee on Education for the consideration
of the House, and it will decide what should
pass and what should not.
Mr.. TITcoMB remarked that the Chairman
of the Committee on Finance was a member
of the Committee on Education, and therefore
! the Finance committee would have posses
sion of all the facts in regard to matters
which came before them.
Mr.. kEEGAN did not care particularly about
the order, but if the rule was to be adopted in
this case, why not make it a rule that every
matter shall be considered by two committees
before it can come to the House?
On motion Of Mr.. PIKE, the matter was Ia
bled.
Resolve in favor of building a road in Sill
yer Ridge plantation in Aroostook county,
was taken up.
| Mr.. PIKE understood that this proposed
road was through proprietors' lands.
Mr.. RANDALL remarked that it was the
eastern half of No. ., Range I, and it was not
proprietors' lands.
Mr.. PIKE read from copy of the deed
from the State of Maine to the European and
North American Railroad Company, in which
land where this roads proposed was described.
The proposition now was, that the State, af
ter having conveyed this land to this railroad
company, shall appropriate $4,000 to build
road across it. This railroad company has
deed Of all the public lands, and he was op-
posed to the State paying for the building of
roads through them.
Mr.. RANDALL said that the European &
North American Railroad Company did not
own all the land in Silver Ridge for he
owned some there himself, decided to him in
1860. There are settlers there who also
own land, and they are suffering for road
1t has been the policy of the State of Maine
tor the last twenty years, in order to settle
her public lands, to offer inducements to the
people to so there and cultivate this wild
territory. We have gone there and suffered
all the hardships of a frontier life. He de-
scribed the locality and the great need of this
road, and he trusted that the resolve would
pass.
Mr.. PIKE gave history of the proceedings
of the European 4 North American Railroad
Company's endeavors to get possession of the
public lands of the State, and said that they
had succeeded in getting a deed of whole
million of acres.
Mr.. KEEGAN thought the proposition that
had been advanced, was that because the
lands had been given away to this company,
nothing should be done to help those settlers
to get roads.
Mr.. PORTER introduced some statistical in
formation in regard to the lands given away
to show that the land got by the European
Railroad Company was not as much as had
been stated, and not of so good quality.
Mr.. WINsLow spoke in behalf of the people
who have settled in Aroostook county lie
believed the State would vindicate its right to
the land there, and he believed these people
should not wait for their roads. This was a
meritorious case, and he hoped it would pass.
Mr. STEVENS favored the resolve. The
people were invited there by the State, and if
the State has been cajoled out of those lands
it is no blame of those who live down there
Mr. PALMER did not believe the European
& North American Railroad Co., was going to
steal all the public lands in Aroostook county,
but he thought the State could take care of
that matter. He thought it would also take
care of their settlers down there, and he
hoped the resolve would pass.
Mr.. PERRY reviewed the action which Leg
slatures had taken in regard to granting aid
to the European & North American Railroad
Company. He believed he should vote for
the resolve though with extreme reluctance.
Mr. RANDALL said if the House refused to
pass the resolve it would be a virtual
that this railroad company
has good title to that land.
Mr.. WILSON of Thomaston remarked that
while this matter was in controversy, whether
the State had been robbed by this railroad
company or not matters for appropriations
could be suspended. After this question is
settled by the courts, then legislation can be
had in regard to building their roads.
The resolve was indefinitely postponed G5
in favor and AZ opposed.
On motion of Mr.. WILSON,
ORDERED, That the Land Agent be request
ed to furnish this House with the copy of the
deed of the State to the European & North
American Railroad Company, and that five
hundred copies of the same be printed for the
use of the House.
Mr.. PALMER introduced an order request
ing of the Governor the return of bill an act
relating to cases where demurrers are over
ruled.
motion was made to indefinitely postpone,
which was lost, SO in favor, and 81 opposed.
The order was then tabled.
Adjourned.
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