The Portland daily press., 1880-02-27
AUGUSTA.
Debate on the : Bridgton Rail
"a road Bill.
OPPOSITION TO THE REDUC-
TON OF MILEAGE.
Hearings Before the Valuation
Commission
AUGUSTA.
Especial Despatch to the Press.

Especial Despatch to the Press
AUGUSTA, Feb. 26.-Besides performing
large amount of business today, the law-mak-
ers found time to indulge in considerable talk.
In the House when the Bridgton g. Presump-
scot railroad bill was taken up, Verrill and
Strout of Portland wanted the consideration of
the bill postponed until Wednesday of next
week. The former stated that he had not
found time to examine the bill to his satisfac-
ton, and had not even been present at any of
the hearings of the committee when the bill
was before them, He asked the indulgence of
the House for delay. Mr. Strout said that there
were running into the city of Portland two
railroads, the Portland & Ogdensburg and the
Portland & Rochester. In aid of both of these
roads Portland had been induced to loan her
credit to large amount of dollars. In the
Portland & Cgdensburg she had large inter-
est. There is a general law that railroads shall
not be built within ten miles of each other.
Now this bill provides for competing line
with the Portland & Ogdensburg in the face
and eyes of this law. He did not want the
matter rushed through until the bill could be
examined thoroughly so that the facts could
be laid before the legislature 1t was a matter
of great importance to the citizens of Port
land, and he did not consider it unreasonable
to ask for more time so that the features of the
bill could be examined.
Mr.. Bradstreet of Bridgton Thought that suf-
ficient time had already been given, as it had
been known for three weeks that the matter
would come up. He had consented several
times to his own inconvenience to- postpone its
consideration to accommodate those opposed to
the measure, and now he was not disposed to
suffer further delay. The people of the towns
along the route of the proposed road were
anxious that the bill should pass He offered
an amendment that the act should take effect
as soon as it was approved by the Governor.
The House refused to grant the request of the
Portland members and tabled the bill with
the understanding that it should be taken up
tomorrow.
The mileage bill was debated in the House.
This bill reduces the present mileage of mem
bers of the Legislature and of the Executive
Council one-half, giving them 81 for every ten
miles travel from their place of abode instead
OF ~. Mr.. Young of Brunswick hoped the
bill would not be pushed out of the House. 1t
seemed to him that the present law offered a
premium to those VINO lived at remote dis
lance. If the compensation of members was
not enough he would vote for an increase, but
he was not willing to pay man or boy living
at distance more money as mileage as a sim
gle member receives for the whole session.
MIR. Dickey of Fort Kent opposed and said in
his remarks that one year ago he kept an &C
own o,,1 I,
in going home and paid out $45, but tnat was
an uncommonly bad spring. This statement
elected laughter.
Perry of Ca mden opposed and said the bill
was in the interests OF rich men. Poor men
could not afford to come here and lose their
time and pay their board and at the close of
the session have hardly enough in their pock-
cts to pay their fare h ONE. If mileage was
reduced the salary of members should be in
creased $50, and he gave notice that if the bill
was not referred to the next Legislature he
moved to amend so as to make the pay of
members 5000 for the session.
In the Senate the principal debate was on
the resolve appropriating $4,000 to reuniform
the militia. Atwell, who led off in favor of
the resolve, said that eight companies were
uniformed in 1873; uniforms due in 1878, $40
men; three companies were uniformed in
1874 uniforms due in 1879, $50 men; one com.
pany was uniformed in 1875: uniforms due in
1880, 60 men; total, $50 men; probable cost,
$18,750.
Locke of Cumberland, President of the
Senate, took the foo and spoke in favor of
the resolve. 1t was by the strong arm of the
military that great calamity had been avert
ed. When so much is owed the soldier boys,
should we hesitate moment to vote an appro-
priation for decent clothing? This is not in
the interest or service of any party, but for the
general welfare of the State, in which all have
deep concern.
Ellis and Barker were the principal opposers
Of the measure and their talk assumed a po-
litical aspect, Barker declaring in his remarks
that the calling out Of the troops during the
recent trouble was as much of scare as the
womans red petticoat during the Aroostook
war. All of the fusion members present but
one (AtwelD were against the resolve. and one
Republican (Harris of Washington did not
favor il. because he believed his duty was to his
constituents instead of to the militia in such
DA SA POaoiouiO. 4(GdTUUru Ol 1Ork Was 6X-
cused from voting at his own request.
The session of the State Valuation Commits
sion to-day was mainly devoted to hearings in
connection with the examination of the valua-
ton books of the towns represented by parties
heard. Hearings were given to Geo. S. Hill
OF Corinth who represented that town, Alton
and Hudson; Geo. G. Benner of Waldoboro
who represented that town; Geo. A. Lewis of
Springfield, who represented that town and
Lee. Other parties presented themselves but
no time was afforded to give them hearing.
The shipping interests of Waldoboro were
considered at considerable length in the hear
ing given to the representative of that town.
The witnesses thus far who have appeared be.
fore the commission have appeared willing to
give all the information in their power, but in
some cases, have differed materially in their
estimates of values Twelve clerks are now
employed by the commission in tabulating the
valuations. 1t is the purpose of the commits
sion to make more thorough tabulation of all
the taxable property of the State than was
ever attempted before. Most of the towns
have given the commission the data to do this,
but there are some towns which thus far have
been remiss in their duty on account of with
holding their books to close up town affairs tor
the year.
The bribery investigating committee will
give hearing tomorrow Afternoon, when it is
is expected that Wallace R. White will be
present to testify, as he has so far recovered as
to be able to go out. Swan and Hartman will
also testify.