Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-02-19

Of the nxsbls properly. epfy existing
pAuper, and the entire annual panpef
Charge Of The town, amounting to over
$4,000 yearly II 10 shown By their Cd
mission that large majority Of the ex-
penss would Be incurred BY the old town
Or b. he Rockpors side. Having thus
thrown Ill Of the paupsfs on the old tosn.
this division gives 70 the new town two
thifds Of the town farm, which Is located
on the Camden village side. and would
leave the old town 70 support all the pau
pess out Of an undivided third Of . town
farm. which would be located ia another
town" 1t appears to me that they have
signa!ly failed to make cuta case. All the
reason they can advance 10 that there 10
difference. The Law Of divorce used to be
that pefsons could become divorced
simply because Of incompatibility Of tenn
permanent. Later the Law required them to
fix SEINE tangible reason. Nov,
all can End that they allege
~ . reason for divorce 10 incompa-
tibility Of temperament. twill be remem-
bered that two yeafs ago on the hooT Of
this House advocated the division Of the
town Of Bocthbsy. There appeared to
my mind and to the minds of this Legisla-
ture some reasons why they should be d.
vidsd. This is an Absolutely different Gaze.
II has been said that in nearly all cases
where divorces have been granted to towns
that they are all satisfied. I have in mind
one case where the town Of Rocklsnd came
knocking At the doors Of this Legislature,
praying that they might be separated.
The same complaint prevailed there to
which have alladed. Now they are ex-
ceedingiy glad that the Legislature decided
~ it did And that they were refused their
prayer. Now, gentlemen, there appears 10
me but one conclusion. Let us consider
whether the allegations have been sus-
tanned; whether II 10 justice to grant the
prayers Of the petitioners Let u 70 home
and in the future a. in the past live each
for the others good. building up the grand
old town of Camden. Undivided. long may
it stand, monument Of grandeur and Of
strength and of beauty. Gentlemen,
tbsnk you for your attention.
Mr.. Archibald of Houlton-I simply
wish, in very brief manner to allude to
two or three of the positions taken in this
matter and at this time, before voting upon
the acceptance Of this report, wish to
give notice to the House that in case il is
accepted II is my intention TO offer an
amendment to the bill which.
think, will obsiate one OF its difficulties
and will, feel sure, be acceptable to the
friends Of the bill. have, ~ sll MEM
bers Of this House have. two documents
which, as in the case Of the gentleman
from Cape Elizabeth came to my knowl-
edge for the first time last night
One of these circulars claims that this line
~ run through the town Of Camden will
divide il into two single paFts, leaving two
| thirds OF the taxable property on one eide
and one-tbird on the other, and that the
eide receiving the one-tbi-d of the taxable
property a. the same time will assume
nc arly all of the burdens Of the support of
paupers and roads. The testimony of the
chairman Of the board Of assessors under
oath 10 that il ia nearly, il not quite, an
equal division Of the valuation Of the town,
both being over $500. 900 and less than .
81 000 coo 1t hiss been said here that
Camden is an old town with = history and
that it 10 developing and it would be
| shame to cut it in two and make two small,
Insignificant towns. l submit, gentlemen,
that there are counties in this State
where there are not three towns tina, would
have TIE Violation Of either one of these
towns after division. / submit that it is
not proposition TO cut this town 10 two and
make two small Insignificant towns, but
that 1t is proposition to cut it in two in
such manner that il it 10 to be mansged
under town government, they will not be
20 large, that the people Of there respec-
tive towns cannot get together and vote
| upon matters Of interest and do it
in an Intelligent and harmonious manner.
II seems that the village Of Camden, not
withdrawing the maebapinous conduct Of
the villsgs of Rockport. has found it neces-
sary, in order to get the Improvements that
| they needed. to erect village corporation.
II appears, so far NJ l understand it. that
the village Of Rookport has always been
able to get what it needed and has receiv ed
every benefit that it might be fairly en.itle d
to without any such villsgs corporation
Then the proposition 10 to give US city
charter, with your city machinery. your
mayor and board Of aldermen, councillors,
etc. don't know how extensive their
board of officers may be, but submit thst
governments under city charter aust be
more expensive. / submit fg- her than
that, as l understand it, that this
charter is to cover the whole town Of
Camden. Would that in any measure re-
lieve those poor, suffering farmers that
Rockport says viii be excessively indicted
if This division takes placed. They will
still be called upon to pay their proper
tionsl part of the taxes for the mainten-
ance of such improvements. There is an
inconsistency in the position taken by these
gentleman of Rockport in this They say
that they would have been willing for this
division to have taken place provided the
line had been run in smother way, that is
If the village of Rockport and the village
of Camden might have been kept together
10 one town and the rural section of the
town separated. ask you, gentlemen, If
you think it would have been fAire-, more
honorable treatment to those rural inhahi-
ts1ts to shut them out from the benefits
that they receive from the taxation of the
vilisge property and the larger amount Of
school money that they receive for the
maintenance of their common schools,
for highways ard bridges. to be en-
tirely separated from this yillsges / have
been informed that At the last annual town
meeting Of Camden there was . vote for
the separation of the town. The voters o.
the town Of Camden certainly have some
idea OF what they want. Doesn't il Prove
ennc.usively thar there is q division. that
there i. contest in q town. when il votes
almost unanimous y for division?
Mr.. Archibald til en- referred to the mat
ter of supporting paupers and resd the
amendment which he proposed to offer Ia
ter and which will be found further on in
these columns.
Mr.. Noble Of Lewiston-Mr. Speaker
and gentlemen Of the House: have been
asked to champion the cause Of the people
of Rockpnrt In the contest I have been
asked to present the fActs upon which they
before this tribunal today. My friends
have come to me, very solicitous about my
welfare and they said to me, "You better
keep out of this. You had better keep
quiet You have been successful 90 far
with the aid Of your friends Nov you
just keep quiet and let this thing 70 on.
You are bound to be licked, anyway" Yet
want to say TO them snd to every member
Of this House that would rather fight . jas:
cause and receive sound thrashing for II
than to hold up the standard Of an unjust
and unlawful cause snd win, when I beiieye
in my heart Of hearts that ii was against my
best judgment and most honest convictions.
Nov, what is the issaeS Ths whole COM
plant, a. understand il, Is that the torn
Of Rockport and her people hang like
milestone about the neck of Camden. re-
tsr1ing and checking her growth. II that
complaint 10 we'll grounded, IL she is gan
grened with Jealousy and filed with NAL
ice and hate, the town should be divided
and she should be left to rely on her own
wealth and resources. II, on the other
hand, this 10 cry Of wolf when no wolf il
here. IL there il Q mailed hand, invisible on