The Portland daily press., 1876-02-16
FIFTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE,
Especial to the Press.l
SENATE.

Especial to the Press.l
SENATE.
AUGUSTA, Feb. 49, 1876.
The Senate was called to order at 10 o'clock.
The House papers we're passed in concur
ence.
The bills reported yesterday were read and
assigned.
The interest bill came up on its second read
ing and was assigned for Thursday morning.
The resolve to build a bridge across the Ken
nebec river at the Forks was assigned for to-
morrow.
The resolve laying tax upon the several
counties of the state, came up on its passage
to be engrossed. On motion of the Senator
from Washington, the resolve relating to that
county was amended so that the tax on that
county be reduced from $15, 900 to $40 900. He
stated that they have something over $1,000 in
the treasury now. The resolve as amended
passed to be engrossed.
The resolves in faver of the Bangor Orphan
Asylum and the Portland Female Orphan Asy.
lup were tabled on the instance of Senator
Swasey.
The report of the Committee on Gubernator.
ial Votes was taken from the table The report
was accepted.
The resolve in relation to Lakeville planta-
tion was taken from the table and put upon its
passage to lie engrossed. Senator Swasey
stated that the money was sent by the State
Treasurer at their own risk. The vo'e was
taken and resulted in the resolve passing 20 be
engrossed by vote of 20 to o.
The Lubec fish bill was taken from the table
and put upon its passage to be engrossed. The
vote was taken by yeas and nays, and it was re-
fused passage by a vote Of II yeas to Is nays
The act was then indefinitely postponed.
The calendar of matters upon the table was
called The resolves granting land to settlers
of Aroostook county were taken up. Senator
Swasey thought the Legislature should estab-
lish some rule by which it should stand He
thought that many of these cases were those of
| land spectators trying to get possession of the
lands. If the settlers make out good case,
give them the land and waive further settling
| duties If not, then refuse if. SENATOR Hask-
| ell seconded the idea.
One resolve in favor of Byron Kimball was
| indefinitely postponed. On enc of the other
resolves Senator Donworth made some state
HleulS IeSdIuinS tIle uIiilty OI granting tneSe
lots Many of them are swamp lots adjoining
the home lots, thus useful to have for fencing
and water privilege. He also explained some
of the duties required under the settling act.
They are required to clear Is acres, do $50 worth
| of road labor, build a house and actually live
upon it. Gentlemen, they do the read labor,
L build the houses and live therein, and they
ask for the suspension of further settling du-
| ties and get their deeds for the land.
The resolve in favor Of Crystal plantation
was taken up, and Senator Swasey moved its
| indefinite postponement The resolve calls for
| $500 to be expended on the roads. Senator
| Swasey then addressed the Senate on the ques-
| ton. He represented Aroostook county as fl
nancially in the best condition in the state, fol-
| IT'S debt IS in less proportion to its valuation.
| He was in favor of Aroostook county, had a
| pride IN 1t, but he did not think they had any
more just claim for aid than the poor towns
| and plantations in the northern portion of OK.
| ford, Somerset, Franklin and Penobscot coun.
ties. He gave some figures regarding the ap-
preparations already made for that county, and
certain towns in it. The motion to indefinitely
/ postpone was lost. Yeas H. NAYS Is
Resolve in favor of the town of Frenchyile
| ito appropriate $500 for a brdge) was taken
| from the table. Senator Swasey moved the in.
| definite postponemment of the resolve Sena.
1 tor Donworth stated that money was the
/ scarcest commodity in that part of the country
| The probability is that there is not money
| enough IN the town to build the bridge Any
| thing is taken as currency, buckwheat, cider,
shingles, etc. Last year the failure of one firm
in st. john, (Jewett & Pitcher) took practi