The Portland daily press., 1876-01-29
Especial to Press.l

Especial to Press.l
AUGUSTA, Jan. %.
The order of Mr.. Bass of Bangor relative to
the sale of the lands granted the state by the
general government, created quite stir in the
House to-day. No one objects to the fullest
Investigation, but the Republicans object that
such an indictment of the recent officials of the
state shall go out from the House. The PRESS
last summer published minute statement of
all obtainable facts relative to the sale of the
lands, enough to convince candid man that
there was no fraud and that the state sold the
land for as high price as large blocks of land
were bringing at the same time. Indeed, land
located under single land warrants was not
selling much in advance of the price paid by
the bidders for the. agricultural scrip. The
case of New York was different. Mr.. Cornell
accepted the lands for a college already estab-
lished. He located the lands himself or by his
agents in small tracts which were valuable,and
waited for the rise of the market, and for that
portion sold large price has been received.
On the other hand, against the advice of some
of the men charged by Mr.. Bass with bad
faith, the then trustees of the college urged the
immediate sale of the scrip. This was done
after advertising, and to the highest bidders.
The men in Maine purchasing the largest
quantities were Gen. Franklin Smith of Wa
tervile and VIM. x. Lancy of Pittsfeld, both
Democrats. They bid as business men, and
their bids being the highest, it was sold to
them. Bangor parties desired to buy guam
tity at lower price and their bids were reject
ed.
The Democrats were prepared for the order.
Mr.. Bass always eager to do anything of this
kind was only too willing to bring an indict-
ment against the Republican Executives of
1866 and 1868. Mr.. Powers only asked to have
the order laid on the table until after the morn
ing hour. He had the same purpose in view
as did Col. Porter, who desired to amend the
preamble. Mr.. Pike desired the same thing
that is, the amendment of the preamble. Then
a stormy discussion arose. Mr.. Talbot grew
ford in the face and thanked God that he had
two years since moved the state prison inves-
tigation. 1t would result in reducing the sala-
res of the officers to such an extent as to can
eel the $235S which it cost. Every Republican
who spoke declared himself in the most
emphatic terms for investigation. They only
wanted an hour to look over the resolve. They
did not desire to indict men who, whether dead
or living, have always been regarded as having
done the state patriotic and noble service,
while the leading speakers on the Democratic
side were doing anything else. They opposed
an indictment of the officials of the state who
stood for the Union while these Democratic
speakers and newborn reformers were de-
nouncing an abolition war and passing resolu.
tions in state conventions declaring the "war a
failure" and demanding truce. At this the
Democratic speakers tainted the Republicans
with Sinking. Gen. Anderson hoped that for
the good name of the state these rumors should
be declared groundless. The Republicans said,
let the investigation go on; let the guilty suffer,
but when you indct them, do it with the facts
before grand jury aud not by the declaration
Of House of Representatives who have never
heard the case. The Republicans maintained
their ground. An amended order would have
been offered by Mr.. Powers had not Mr.. Kee.
gan frittered away the time Of the House in his
parliamentary frivolity. But even while this
was pending, Mr.. Bass, knowing that Mr.
Powers had an amendment in his hand, and
even when Mr.. Powers appealed for moment,
moved to adjourn, which was carried. The
following substitute will be presented by Mr.
Powers tomorrow morning at the earliest pos
sible moment:
Whereas, The lands and scrip granted to this
state for College of Agriculture of Mechanic Arts
reported to have been sold at prices below
those obtained by some other states for similar land
Ordered: That Committee of seven on the part
of the House with such as the Senate may join, be
appointed foT the purpose OF INVESTIGATING said sales
persons and papers, administer oaths and report to
this Legislature.
But Mr.. Bass does not escape with this evil
dence of his insncerity. He declared in his
seat that it was said in the hearing of the state
college officials yesterday that one of the trus-
tees declared before the committee that had
not the land scrip been sold at prices below
its value by the state officials at the time, the
college would not be asking for funds Mr.
Phillips rose in his place and declared with
emphasis that no such assertion was made and
there was nothing which an honest man
could put such construction upon. Mr.. Phil
| lips took back the word honest and said fair
minded Mr.. Bass coolly replied that he had
heard it elsewhere. The Republicans are now
evidently more anxious for the investigation
than Mr.. Bass
The interest bill has been assigned for Tues
day at II o'clock, when Mr.. Haines and others
will speak.
From what can be learned, the Education
Committee will report in favor of the estab.
lshment of normal school at Bridgton.
Members of the committee say that the case
was so strongly represented that they would
not feel justified in putting it before either
house in an unfavorable light.
The prominent Democrats are caucusng to.
night in Mr.. Haskelrs room, which appears to
be headquarters. Such little conclaves are
held twice or thrice week.
There was breezy bearing this afternoon on
the petition of parties in the village corpora
ton Of Camden for authority to build hall at
the public expense, T. r. Simonton, ESQ.,,
appeared for the petitioners, and A. P. Gould,
Esq of Thomaston for the remonstrants.
The Judiciary Committee will report bill
providing remedy for injury to persons and
property by railroads in the hands of trustees
and bondholders. Also bill to regulate mu-
nicipal Indebtedness. Will report adversely
on bill to protect the rights of married women.