The Portland daily press., 1886-03-25
The Voters Adhere to Their Former
Action.

Action.
At the annual town meeting of Cape Eliza
beth. held in March, 1886, it was voted to
lease the public ferry landing at Ferry Viii
lage to the Peoples Ferry Company for the
term of 10 years at the nominal consideration
of one dollar per year. A year later, at the
annual meeting for 1886, it was voted to ex-
pend $500 in repairing this landing. Oppo-
sition to these measures was developed i'm
mediately after this last meeting which led
to a petition for special town meeting to re-
consider the votes whereby the measures
were passed. The petition was headed by +.
t. Nutter and Reuben Higgins, and the meet
ing was called for yesterday afternoon.
number of matters were deemed worthy OF
reconsideration and found places in the war
rant For some time the contest between
the friends and opponents of the measures IN
dispute has been an exciting one. Botn sldes
have claimed the greater strength, and yes
terday before the meeting, the disaffected
voters of the town claimed that they were
sufficiently numerous to carry thelr point
and resciRd the votes.
Long before the hour of the meeting yes
day afternoon, crowd had gathered around
the town house and was receiving accessions
every minute The people came in private
carriages, express teams and big pleasure
wagons brought loads, and long line Of men
plodded through the mud nearly knee deep,
from their homes to the place of the meeting.
Orange vendors were on hand and did a thriv-
ing trade.
BY the hour for the meeting the hall was
completely filled, and many were standing on
the steps, finding it hard to force way
in among the dense throng. The assemblage
came to order at the call of Mr.. N. B. Knight,
the town clerk, who read the warrant, which
was substantially as follows:
To Thomas B. Haskell, of the tom, of Cape Eliza
BETH IN the County of Cumberland, Greeting
Having been petitioned by Z. T. Nutter, Reuben
Higgins and others, to call meeting of the inhab
itants of Cape Elizabeth, qualified to vote in town
affairs you are hereby in the name of the State of
Maine, required to notify and warn the inhabt-
ants OF said town of Cape Elizabeth qualified to
vote N town affairs to assemble at the town nal
March, at 230 O'Clock IN the afternoon, then and
there to.act upon the following articles, to wit:
ARTICLE Ito choose moderator.
ART 2.-To see if the town will reconsider and
reScind the vote, passed at the annual March
meeting of 1886, whereby it voted to raise the
| ferry slip at Ferry Village
ART. 3-To see if the town will vote to reconsd-
er and reScind the vote of the town passed at the
annual March meeting in 1885, whereby 1t voted
| that the selectmen be authorized aud instructed
to execute lease to the Peoples Ferry Company
when organized in conformity with any charter
that might be granted by the Legislature Of 1885,
of the exclusive right to land al the town landing
| in Ferry Village in the town of Cape Elizabeth for
the term of ten years for the consideration OF one
| dollar per year.
ART 6-To see what action the town will take
| CHI Ixfota m Oncid
| passed at the annual March meeting in 1885, in
| reference TO leasing the ferry landing to the
| Peoples Ferry Company on condition that said
| ferry company shall keep the same in good repair
and safe and convenient for travellers during the
term of said lease at its own expense
ART. 5-T0 see if the town will vote to reScnd
| the vote passed at the annual meeting OF 1885
whereby it voted to reimburse Leonard H. Dy-
er, for the loss of his horse i'll Knightvie to the
| extent of SIS.
ART. ITO see if the town will accept street
| in Knightyle as laid out on Thompson's plan.
ART. $40 see what instruction, II any, the
| town Will give the selectmen as to any balance
that may remain gnexpended Of the approprla-
ton for the rebuilding of the ferry slip at Ferry
| Village voted at the last meeting.
| ART. 80 see what action the town will take
in relation to public ferry landing in the City OF
ART. .10-ro see if the town will raise $50 for
the observance of Memorial Day.
The call was signed by c. A. Tilton, NJ. j.
Peabbles and A. E. Skillin, and notice was
added that Thomas B. Haskell had called
the meeting as directed by posting notices in
conspicuous places at least seven days be-
fore the date Of the meeting
Mr.. Nutter called for the reading of the
names of the signers of the petition fer the
meeting. The clerk said that he couldn't
read them; he didn't have the paper with
! him.
| The meeting then proceeded to ballot for
moderator, but as the voting went rather
slowly and everybody wanted to reach
| Article 2, Mr. E. t. Nutter moved that the
| polls be closed, as the voting he knew to be
all one way. Mr.. Nutters motion prevailed
| and the vote was counted, showing that Mr..
Thomas B. Haskell had 1877 votes and that
he was the only person voted for. The vote
| of John Wilson of Turner's Island was OBJ
! jected to, but his brother upon oath said that
| he was citizen and voter, and the vote
| was allowed.
| Mr.. Haskell succeeded finally in reaching
| the desk, although the room was so crowded
that it looked at one time as if the chairman
could not reach his place and somebody else
would have to be chosen.
The moderator in taking the position
| urged upon the meeting the necessity of
keeping good order, and reminded his hear
ers that they were present to discuss
measures, not men. He then read Article
of the warrant and laid it before the house.
Mr.. F. Fl. Hartford moved that the article
| be dismissed.
Mr.. j. B. Chase thought that the meeting
should have some explanation of the matter
| before taking this action. The vote would
throw things back where they were before
the call was issued; it would be check
mate. If the vote was carried, the opposi-
ton would have to submit, but the speaker
thought that at least an opportunity should
be given to poll the house. The matter must
be settled and it would be to the credit of
| the town to settle it honorably.
Mr.. Harford's motion was stated as the
| question before the house and put to vote,
| causing a cry of "ayes" which was fOrcible
enough almost to make the windows rattle.
The "noes" may not have been so numerous,
| but they made Just about as much noise,
| and the chairman announced that the house
would be polled. Michael j. Peabbles and
Augustus E. Skillin from those in favor of
dismissing, and Nathaniel Dyer and Joseph
| F. Pickett from the ranks of those opposed,
| were appointed tellers. The crowd then adj
| journed to the street, where they were in
structed to form in lines and be counted, the
| affirmative voters on one side, the negative
| on the other. After some delay, the lines
were formed, but before the counting could
be completed the negative side broke ranks
and all again passed into the hall. But the
| moderator was equal to the occasion and
sent them all out again, to be counted once
| more. This time the tellers finished their
work, and when the hall had again filled,
which it did very quickly, reported the re-
suit of the vote as follows:
Affirmative .'.,....................47 Az
| Negative
The announcement of the vote by the mod
orator was greeted with prolonged cheering