Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-15
NO.. A.

scholars receives is of all the money paid to
teachers. She has also 81 scholars attending
school in the lower wards at the present time.
The entire amount expended for school hous-
es. high school house and all. in the six low
er wards since the incorporation of the city
in 1884, is S,073, while in Ward alone
during the same time there has been expend-
ed for the same purpose the sum of Sl3, ,050,
or more than ! as much as in the entire bal
ance of the town.
In respect to highways. there are III miles
of streets. IL miles of which are located in
Ward l. and are maintained at the expense of
the city. Ward /, in the years II and rs
had expended on its streets 10 of the entire
amount of money that expended upon
streets. In ~ and 20 more than | part of
all the money expended on atreets was ex-
pended in that Ward Heavy teaming is
done over the roads leading from that Ward,
their loads averaging from TO tons
| desire to take up the attention Of the
House but few minutes more. | want to
ask you one question, gentlemen. | want to
ask the gentlemen of this House if the people
of that ward would not still continue to hold
and ENJOY to the largest extent, as they do
now, every one of the privileges which exist
in the six lower wards-the benefits of the fire
department, benefits ofthe police departments
benefits of grading and sewering and lighting
the streets everything of that kind if they
are set off! If they would not still continue
to enjoy them from the very nature of things.
from its close connection. one part with the
othcr-if it is not absolutely necessary that
they shall still continue in the future to use to
the same extent those privileges that are now
paid for in common by us all. There can be
bnt one reply. And if it is not right and just
that they should pay their share and not be
set off into an independent town and leave us
to maintain for their benefit, but at our ex-
pense, these privileges in which they have u
common interest with us all?
There is only one other point to which I
wish to call your attention. and then will be
through. These gentlemen complain of be-
ing taxed unequaly. for the support of these
matters in which it is said they have no in
terest. And this state of taxation has gone
on ever since the incorporation of that city
! Well, now, gentlemen. don't you believe that
if there was a farmer in Ward Z who thought
he was being taxed out of proportion
that at some time other the assessors
would have heard of it in the shape of a
petition for abatement, and If abatement
was refused. that the county commissioners
would have heard of it in the shape of an an
peal to them? And yet it is not to be found
upon the record that any one of these farmers
ever made an application for an abatement,
and not a single instance has been found in
the course of the ~ years that an appeal has
been taken to the commissioners by any per-
son living in that ward. l say it is an infer
ence, and strong one, that this House has a
right to draw, that no grievance of the kind
exists.
Now, much the greater portion of these
quarries is owned in the lower wards. And
it is proposed that Ward shall go out very
Itaflv md tnl arrin al,
the basis of the business of Rockland, and
make the nonresident owners of that PROF.
erty pay in taxes the expense of running
that little country town. | think when any
such proposition as that is put before the
House they can see what it means.
When Rockland and Thomaston were sepa-
rated, they were divided so as to give to
Thomaston the share of the quarry property
that properly belonged TO her. Ii was divided
so that Roekland should not be allowed to go
into Thomaston and scoop out the whole Of
the property that existed there. But these
farmers, God save the mark, propose to scoop
every pound of rock away from us. And l
put that to you whether that is fair propO-
siton to 90 down with this House.
serious question occurs. how is it going
to be possible to divide up the liabilities of
the town? | submit it to the consideration of
the legal gentlemen of the House. How is
it possible to divide and apportion the con-
tingent liability for S755. 300? These people
have got to help pay it. The interest is
paid from year to year in varying amounts
depending upon the requirements of the road.
They began with small sum. They have
now increased to some thirty odd thousand
dollars year. The prospect is that in the
end we have got to pay the whole. | put it
TO the gentlemen, upon what basis are YOU
going to divide up the liability, incurred on
account of this road, which is wholly con-
tingent?
You will perceive, gentlemen, that the bill
proposes, if constrne it correctly, to release
the Inhabitants of Ward and their property
from liability to the holders of those railroad
securities, and to have the new town assume
their proportion, and secure the same to the
city of Rockland, and not TO the holders of
the bonds These bonds are issued bv the
railroad and indorsed by the whole city. 1t
il now proposed, By the terms of this bill,
if understand it right, to release the inhabi-
tants of Ward T. by their securing to the city
of Rockland, their proportion of the same.
| ! don't think that can be done. | don't
think the legislature can interfere between a
creditor holding public security, and that
city and say that he shall look simply to the
six lower wards, or to some instrument, bond
or other security executed by a new and un-
known corporation. If | were creditor of
that city holding bond that had become
overdue, and was obliged TO sue and collect
my debt, the first piece of property would
levy on would be piece of that quarry prop
erty. Why? Because the value is there for
ever. 1t is indestructible. 1t requires no
insurance. Ii cannot depreciatc in value. 1t
is constantly increasing in value as 1t is
worked. And those are the particular pieces
of property that creditors would levy on if
they knew anything about property there.
But bv the terms of this bill Ward is to be
allowed to slip out from under that obliga-
ton. and the property in the other wards is to
be left if understand the bill, to respond to
the whole indebtedness. In my Judgment as
legal proposition, that cannot be done.
The settlements of all points of difference
between the city and Ward in dividing
these important interests are to be submitted,
as provided in the bill, to the county commits
sioners. Gentlemen know how those boards
are usually made up. 1t is proposed not only
that this shall be submitted to them, but that
their decision shall be final and that the city
of Rockland shall have no appeal, no matter
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