Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-02-05
EVENING HEARINGS
second Chapter Of The Candsi St1l9sM


There we're about 800 In the Senate
chsmber last evsnins to lisseu 10 the Can
len hearing. The pe,i;iaNrs for diviston
rested their case with ,hs auderssandiue
that there would b. more evidence int1o-
iuced In rshuttsl
Hon. II. NJ. Heath. one OF The counsel
Cor the remoustrants. opened their eide Oh
he case with statement Of the erouAde
taken vhs division should not b. gPanesd.
He said this question of dividing sowns va
a State matter and was to Be decided
10 the interests Of the State and not In The
interests Of few politicians. There had
been comparatively few to~n divisions Ii
he State. 10 the past rs vears. and those
sherc strong substantial asisvancsa had
been shown. The municipal gotsrn-
ment, that little republic, should
not be divided except Il 10 shown
hat such irjory 10 being done the people
living in IL. Complaint vas made
on The petitioners eide Of bad condition
II the roads and insuf1ciens
appropriation OF money for the
roads and sidewalks for the village of Cam.
isn. Last year 5000 10 cash was raised for
highway expenses more than
was raised in the city Of Augusta, . double
,ownship, 6 miles by II. With more milesse
4 roads and probably twenty Ave
Iimes the amount Of side walks. Pc
titioners complain Of holding town meet.
lngs 10 the little hall at Rockport where
they had 20 stand up and 20 = long die.
tsnce. These things could be obviated
by city charter. Camden was inccs-
porsted 100 years ago. and has steadily pros
percd since. No more reasons for divid.
iog than in numbefs OF other cities
and towns. come having % many
I. Ave post Offices. These occasionai
occasional disputes must arise were mot on
local lines. The business and social In
terests Of Rockport and Camden were
closely interviewer.
II. L. Shepherd has been . resident Of
Rockport 40 years.
Roekport business men were alvays In
favor Of exemptng property from taxation
to encourage manufacturer He gave sev.
eral instances where property had been %
exempted Rockport favored . railroad
from Camden to Rockland; had raised
$4,000 toward 1t, but the railroad company
said she amount Of land damage assessed
ny Rockp prohibited running through
ths, village, 80 the sch. me was to run
round back of IL. After this, Of course,
Rookp,r, could do nothing more, but was
as much in favor Of a railroad a. Camden.
Many Rockport people were members Of
Masonic and other frsterniti, whose lodges
were in Camden villsge. and many people
in each village attended church In the other.
Business and social relations had always
bsen tire hest.
noenpo'. . yns .sra' sslass ssla ., muca :.
.ufii lent appropriation for Camden roads.
No division on local lines - resards
pol,tics--no great faclional lights.
G. y. Richards, resident Of the town Of
Camden lives on Rockport side Of line -
dawn. Treasurer Of Camden Savines
Bank. Bonds Of the town Of Camden
before the question Of division came
up had sold for 8 per cent abeve par, but
since division could not sell them for psr
AMI accrued interest. Useertainty Of fu.
tare Of town WAS reason for depreciation Of
bonds value, ~ he had been assured by
divers parties. Savings bank In Rockpoft
and national bank in Camden had consider
able business relations in common, tending
to show con munity Of business interests
between to villages.
Joseph W. Thorndike, resident Of Cam,
den and one Of Ito road commissioners. tes.
lifed that roads under his charge had been
kept In most satisfactory condition during
the last year, and that he had not xhaast-d
the appropriation allotted him. Camden
village had had = sufficient appropriation II
il had been properly expended. Did not
believe that their roads were more expen-
sive than the Rockport roads.
..,~.
The committee on taxation gave hearing
IN Represe natives Hall isst evening on the
subject OF taxs,ing timber lands and mort
cages. Hon. Edsard Wiegio Of Maysville
WAS the first speaker befor. the committee.
Mr.. Virgin began with the ststement Ia
substance that In . government like ours
there are certain expenses necessary for
Institutions in which ali are interested, and
IL b.ir 3 benefited tbs burden should fall
equally upon ali according to the means Of
zach and thst these burdens should BE- ap-
portioned by taxation. II Discrimination 10
made against the producing class the results
are especially disastrous. He believed that
the agricultural classes are bearing an un-
cue proportion Of the burdea OF taxation.
one reason being that their property 10 all
visible. He didn't claim that farm proper.
perty IL over valued. and he didat
ssk any favors. The farmers OF this State
are lsboring At . disadvantage ard are
placed in competition with the untaxed
lands Of the West, though he did
not believe ths picture OF Maine
agriculture 20 dark ~ painted. We
feel, he said, that money invested III
other ways than agriculture has the sdvan-
tage In the matter Of taxation. We look
for just and equitable valuation OF other
property.
Timber lands are also visible, but they
have not borne their fair share OF the Dur
den. Both BY undefvsiustton and BY ex.
ception they have escaped with . very
low rate. The state once owned them.
~ 1t owned them now the revenue would
70 to the treasury and help pay the ex-
penses OF the state. The state parted with
them 1--WE will not say how and now 10
light thst they shall be included In the
-,stem Of general taxation. They STE
yielding large revenue.
The expense of schools and psupers wss
ibc largest burden. This the timber land
escape Laws should be 90 amended that the
torden OF schools and psupers be piscsd
| upon the State instead OF municipsiities.
Money invested In timber lands IN unin-
corporaied townships should bear the came
burden AZ m tqusl valuation OF farm OF
other property in an unincorporated town.
Mr.. Wiggin vas followed BY MessSs.
Kennedy Of Whitefieid, Vinton and Bur.
high. Hon. J. Manchester Hsines vas
present, but did not speak ss any length
Hon. Orsmsndsi Smith gave some test.