The Portland daily press., 1891-02-23
Peculiar Series of Condolences Con-
nected with a Land Grant.
Preparations for TonIeht's Cay and
Festive Scenes.
Attempts at Economy on the Bills
for state Printing.
Especial to the Press.l

the Congress of the United States have
waited for justice, have found a parallel in a
case which has beeu before the Maine Legis-
lature at different times, for over half GEN.
fury, although In this case the many years
taken for its settlement has not been be-
cause Of any fault Uf the wise men of Maine
selected by their fellow citizens to make the
laws. Indeed, so willing were the members
of the legislature to do justice that had they
been dealing with human opponents they
would, doubtless, have succeeded at the out
set. But they have been engaged apparent
~ In series Of encounters with Death, and
Death has generally succeeded in frustrating
their good Intentions and acts.
On the 18th OF March, 1885, the legislature
passed resolve, giving 200 acres Of land to
any veteran of the Revolutionary war who
had served three years in the army during
the infant Republics struggle for indepen-
dence, or to the widow of any such soldier.
Now, among the members of the Eleventh
Massachusetts reximent, commanded by
Colonel Upper, had been a colored man,
whose name Newport Rhode Island, would
indicate that he was born slave and be-
came known by the name of his birthplace
OF Newport Rhode Islands deeds of valor
during the war history says nothing, but he
probably served three years and was given
an honorable discharge, for In September,
1885. six months after the passage of the re-
solve, his widow, Phyllis Rhode Island made
application to the Land Office for the 200
acres of land offered by the State. The
Land Office awarded her lot No. 3S, town
ship No. 4, in he Indian Purchase. But the
Land Office delayed, for some cause now for
gotten, the preparation of the deed, and the
trouble began. 1t was then that Death took
hand in the case of Lot 3S, and two
months after making her application Phyllis
Rhode Island entered another world and lost
interest in her little kingdom in the Maine
woods. In March, 1887, the delayed deed
reached the attorney whom Phyllis Rhode
Island had employed In making her applica-
tion; but as Phyllis had then been dead for
more than year the deed was void.
Nothing more was heard of Phyllis Rhode
Islands land, so far as the records of the
land Office are concerned, until in 1856. Phyl-
lis Russell, the only child of the first Phyllis,
made application for the land which over 20
years before had been awarded to her moth
er. The Legislature promptly passed a re-
solve giving her the land, but again death
interfered and, this time also before the deed
was made out. Phyllis Rus-ells life ended.
When the Legislature of 1859 met. the strug-
gle with death began again. Phyllis Russell
had only one child and this child was a
daughter, Abigail Van Meter. She renewed
the claim to the land awarded to her grand
mother, Phyllis Rhode Island, and was given
deed containing the condition that the
Rhode Island should be returned. Years
passed away but the old deed could not be
found, and again death intervened and Abb
gail Van Meter died, as had her mother and
grandmother before her, twithout seeing the
l,ndwhich was to have been the reward Of
her grandfather's military service
Finally to this Sixty First Legislature, in
the year 1891, comes Oliver Van Meter, the
husband of Abigail ano asks that clear
title be given him to the land. This the
committe e on state lands has voted to do.
and if their action does not kill the claimant,
as similar action in the past seems to have
caused the death of the previous claimants,
Oliver will get the land. His little kingdom
Is not worth much, however. 1t Is off in the
woods, remote from towns and its wealth of
timber has been removed by the keen blades
of the lnmbermen's axes, so that it is likely
to prove burden rather than a blessing.
The State Printing.
The committee on state printing will. it is
understood, give the work to Burleigh and
Flynt of this city. the present contractors.
But the committee in the interest of economy,
propose to find out how much of the printing
done for the state goes to waste 1t has been
reported to the committee that of some re-
ports great many more have been printed
than were needed for distribution. In order
to learn more about this matter, Mr.. Porter
"
which was passed, directing the Secretary
of State to report the number of reports and
documents printed in 1887 and 1889 which re-
main undistributed.
The Coming Week.
The coming legislative week will open with
festivity and may end with debates on the
Australian ballot. Carpenters have been
busy today putting up the stand from which
Pullen's orchestra Of % pieces will make
sweet sounds in the rotunda, and by Monday
morning the state house will be gay with
bunting. The reception by the Governor to
the people of Maine promises to be one OF
the most elaborate and social events ever
given in the city of Augusta, where gayety
daring legislative sessions is proverbial. The
Governor will see a large number of his
friends on Monday. All Augusta will be
there, the surrounding towns and cities will
send large numbers and many will come from
along the Maine Central from Portland to
Bangor Among visitors from outside the
state will be some of the officer, of the FAM
Gus Massachusetts Ancient and Honorable
Artillery. The names of those who will as
sist Governor Burleigh in receiving his guests
have been already printed. The evening
promises to be particularly gay. Then there
will be dancing and it will be a session which
will probably not adjourn until the small
hours of Tuesday morning.
But at 10 o'clock Tuesday comes the first
session of the Legislature for the week. The
Camden town fight. What other matters
will be settled this week it is hard to say
with certainty. The Clason bill was to have
been introduced last week and will probably
come in soon now. OF other important SUBJ
jects something may be expected on the tax
alton question at any time now; the valua
tiOn commissioners report Will not come for
q week anyway, and perhaps not for fort
night; up to noon today, the census returns
by towns had not been received and without
them the apportionment committees can d.
little. There Is to be lively controversy
either before the committee or In the LegiS-
lature over the movement to abolish the Su
perior Court in this county. 1t Is openly
stated here that the movement originates iI
the dissatisfaction felt among some member
Of the bar with Judge Hall, and is simply
means to put him out of office. Judge Hall
signed and avoided the controversy had HI
been given any intlmation that dissatlsfac
| tion existed.
Ashort Session.
In the House today the committee on iu
dietary reported in favor of the bill relatin
to the Municipal Court of Lewiston.
| But half dozen papers were presented |,
the House, consisting of five petitions and
bill amending the law relative to Clinton wi
lage CORPORATION.
Mr. Noble had the rules suspended and tn
| resolve relative to the Central Maine Ger
eIal Hospital passed to be engrossed. 1t wa
signed by the speaker.
The committee on education reported 1
favor of Fryeburg Somerset and Lincoil
academies.
A resolve giving Washington academ
$500 annually for 10 years was presented.
Mr. Hersey presented an order that Il,
secretary of state furnish the legislatul
with detailed statement of the expen es {
the labor bureau for the years 1889 and 1S9
In the Senate Mr.. Sherman of Knox, DR.
sented the following resolve, which wf
unanimously adopted:
Whereas The American merchant marine h;
| been in a ltngushing condition for many year
| and Is r- storati0n TO its former footing S a ma
| ter of vital importance to the nation. wheth,
| considered In an economic and industrial punt
view or as bearing on our means of defence
time of danger, ana,
Whereas, Foreign governments have favort
| an increase of their merchant marine by sub,
dies, bounsies and other agencies; and,
whereas, wise system OF postal and tonna,
ness If shipbuilding, which is the parent of shi
owning and would end in restoring our form
supremacy in ocean traffic; therefore,
Resolved, That the Legislature OF Maine hal
with satisfaction the efforts made In the Congre
of the United States to pass the measures know
as the tonnage and postal subsidy bills, and tn
we recognize the valuable services which Il
Hon. William P. Frye has rendered TO the cou
try in bis advocacy of these measures.
Resolved, That copy of these resolutions
transmitted to the Hon. William 7. Frye by Il
Secretary OF State.