The Portland daily press., 1876-02-17
BY TELEGRAPH.
FROM AUGUSTA.
Legislative Matters.
The Defeat of the Bridgton Normal
School BiII-The Land Scrip Investiga-
ton, etc.

The Defeat of the Bridgten Normal
School BiII-The Land Scrip Investiga.
ton, etc.
Especial to Press.l
AUGUSTA, Feb. 16, 1876.
The defeat of the Bridgton Normal School
bill in the House will not surprise those of its
friends who have intellgently observed the &C.
ton of the Legislature on all questions where
expenditures are called for, particularly to give
existence to a new institution. The vote was
larger than was anticipated. Last year, the
measure had not over twenty votes. This year
it gets So with several of its friends absent,
The friends of the project have good reason to
presume Mr. Chase, who represents Bridgton,
has labored faithfully for the measure. The
remarks of all of the Cumberland delegation
who advocated the measure, contained reasons
enough for the establishment of the school.
Chase of Bridgton, presented the case canddly
and backed statements with figures. Gen. An
derson's argument was good one. Mr.. War
ren's remarks were clear and forcible Chase
of Standish, made his first speech of the ses-
sion. He looked at the question from the
standpoint of an old teacher, and made several
strong and practical points, which were put
with force.
DR.. Jordan telegraphed the Land Scrip In
vestigating Committee that he did not receive
his notice to attend until Wednesday morning
at o'clock, after the train had left, and could
not get to Augusta to testify Wednesday even
ing. The Doctors notice was sent to the office
here Monday night after the session of the
committee. 1t evidently takes long time for
letter to go from Augusta to Bangor.
The College Scrip Investigating Committee
continued tonight. Mr.. Brown continued. He
said that he considered college scrip better than
ordinary land warrants to locate on railroad
lands He said he could not say whether he
paid over 60 cents for land warrants in 1866
Nathaniel Wilson of Orono testified that in
April, 1866, after the sale of the land, he wrote
Gov Cony asking if any of the land remained
and how of much which could be purchased for
30 or 81 cents. He was limited to purchase for 70
cents by the parties interested with him. He
was friend Of the college and wanted to real
ize as much as possible for the scrip. He was
once trustee. He resigned in order to secure
harmony at home so that Orono would vote to
convey the college farm to the state. He is
an unhappy martyr. He said he was a firm
friend of the college, always had been, was
willing to labor for it. When he learned how
low the lands were sold in March, 1866, be
wrote to Gov. Cony to see if any of the land
remained to be sold at 30 or 81 cents. 1t sold
at from "a to 81. There was none He would
have paid 70 cents to get it, but as the cham
pion of the college he would rather take it at so
cents an acre. Still he always stood by the
college.
Gov. Coburn testified that be never purchas-
ed an acre of the college scrip; he did not want
any at the price at which the first was sold.
He was buying land warrants for locating tim.
Der land about that time. He thought the
market price was got for the scrip at first sale.
de purchased about $4,000 acres about the year
when the scrip was in the market. He paid
about 60 cents an acre for land warrants in 1866,
rather below thar over that figure. He sold
occasionally for single location for from eighty
cents to one dollar. He considered land war
rants worth about quarter more than college
scrip for location. He said the price received
for the last lot was that ruling the market.
q. X. Harmon of Portland, testified that he
had been dealer in land warrants for years.
He gave scale of the prices of land warrants
from 1860 to 1869. In 1866, the date of sale of
college scrip, the price of warrants was IS cents
an acre. College scrip never approached the
value of land warrants until 1870, when Con-
gress extended an advantage to pre-emptors
who purchased the scrip. 1t was worth fourth
less than warrants. He negotiated the sale of
the scrip sold in 1870 for a western party. Mr..
Harmon showed a thorough knowledge of the
Western land business
The testimony of l. r. Clark of Bangor, was
immaterial.
w. K Lancey of Pittsfeld, next testified
that he and Gen. Smith got $4,000 acres He
thought he was to have the rest but didn't get
it. Ne one but himself had any interest in the
purchase. He was locating timber lands. His
impression was that the land warrants were
selling for little over 60 cents when he got the
scrip. He considered warrants worth fourth
more than college scrip because at the time he
purchased the best timber land could not be To-
Gated with scrip. Mr.. Brown suggested ssve.
raj questions to member of the committee,
but Mr.. Lancey held bis first opinion.
Mr.. Lancey Is politically classified as rabId
Democrat. Mr. Wilson is of that faith, and
testified incidentally that Hiram Ruggles told
him that he got 5000 acres. On the whole, it
was very disagreeable evening for part of
the committee, who thought they had struck
political bonanza.
The House consumed the whole afternoon In
considering the Bass election bill. The first
demand was for more days to enroll. 1t is said
that Councilman Cushman was the official who
counted 200 voters outside and off the list whom
the books were closed previous to the Septem-
Der election. Those who opposed the bill did
mot care to defeat the part OF the bill giving
two more days. but the sections requiring AL
dermen to BIZ in session election day for the cor
rection of lists. The thought that the Demo-
cratic speakers put different constructions on
the section, led member to say that more ras-
cality was concealed in the ten lines embracing
IL than In measure he had ever seen. The DEM
ocrats occupied three-fourths of the time, and
undertook to gag Cleaves down with cries of
question when ne got the floor for single re-
mark at the close, as the bill was passed to be
engrossed. 1t provides that Aldermen ia cities
having over 5000 voters shall hold sessions five
days preceding an election.
At the rate business is now being dispatched
IL would be well for members to make arrange
ments for board at prices charged those who
stay the entire year in Augusta. s.
The President yesterday signed the Centen-
NAL bill with pen made of quill from an
American eagle.