The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-15
Precautions Taken Concerning The
Yarmouth and Portland Line.
HEARING OF THE AMERICAN
LEAGUE BEFORE JUDICIARY
CORMITTEE.
Iron Hall-The Grand Trunk Tax-Re-
newed Controversy Concerning Reli-
gious Instruction in the Reform School
-Co-Insurance-The Conspiracy Law
and the Union Label-The Fishery
Hearing-York County Workshop.
Especial to the Press.]

Especial to the Press.J
AUGUSTA, February 14.-There has
been some road building done on the Var
mouth and Portland line today, several
gentlemen having driven spikes in the
construction of the road, so far as the
completion of its charter is concerned.
Mr.. Shaw of Portland called up the
bill. which had been tabled on his mo-
ton. Mr. Shaw moved the adoption of
an amendm ent to the first section
to forbid the use of Congress
street by the company as a part of its
route; also to amend the provision au-
thorizing the company ito go on and over
Martins Point bridge, or such portions
limitations and restrictions as the county
commissioners may approve, if desired"
This provision as amended would read
ito 60 on and over Martin Point bridge,
or on its location, limits, in such place and
undera such limitations and restric-
tions as the county commissioners may
impose if desired"
Mr.. Shaw's amendment was adopted.
The changes are indicated by the itali-
cized words.
Mr.. Sprague of Monson was the next
man to take hand in this road building
operation. He read section 12 which
says: 'sSaid road shall not be taken or
deemed to be a railroad within the mean
ing of that term as used in the Revised
Statutes and Public Laws of this state,
but shall have all the rights and be sub
ject to all the liabilities of street railroads
within this state
Mr.. Sprague said he did not know what
that section meant but thought it might
be dangerous. 1t might, for instance, be
used as a defence in an action brought
by the attorney general to recover for
taxes assessed under the railroad law.
Mr.. Sprague offered an amendment strik-
ing out the section.
Mr.. Lane of Augusta said that the sta
tutes provided for taxing both steam
railroads and street railroads and he re-
garded section II of the bill as simply to
define the nature of this road for pur-
poses of taxation and to meet other re-
quirements of the law.
Mr.. Bird of Portland then drove a
spike or two to help along the building
operations. He moved an amendment to
strike out the words '.if desired at the
end of the clause quoted above as
amended by Mr.. Shaw's motion. In Sec
ton 4, relating to the duties of the cor
poration in keeping in repairs the por-
portions of roads and bridges occupied by
it, Mr. Bird moved the insertion of the
following: provided however that in
no case shall said city of Portland bear,
assume or share any expenditure which
is caused or necessitated by the location,
construction or operation of said road.'
Mr.. Bird also moved the adoption of a
similar provision as to the county of
Cumberland.
Mr.. Woodbury. of Deering added an
other piece to the work by proposing2an
pletion of at least five miles of the road
within two years. The bill now pro-
yides that work shall be begun within
two years.
The bill was then tabled for printing
with the amendments. Only Mr.. Shaw's
amendment was adopted. The others
will be acted upon Friday, to which day
the bill was assigned.
Up the Winding songo.
A settlement has been made of the
differences betwe en- those interested in
the navigation of Sebago Lake and it's
tributaries and the manufacturers whose
establishments on the banks of the Pre-
sumpscot river are dependent upon the
lake for the water power which turns the
busy mill which Hon. Charles E. Gibbs
of Bridgton has been an active worker in
the interest of those to whom the lakes
and ponds have been of value as high
way between the towns nesting be-
tween the green clad hills and deep blue
of the water Mr.. Gibbs is we'll known
to Portland people as the proprietor of
the trim little steamer which up to last
summer, when the water was too low,
carried passengers across Sebago, up the
Songo and through the connecting ponds
to Bridgton. AS already explained in
the PRESS, on the Songo is the old lock
which was once part of the Oxford
and Cumberland Canal system and which
has of late years been under the control
of MI. George P. Wescott, representing
the Canal Company or its successors.
Those engaged in navigating the lakes
have paid tolls to Mr.. Wescott for
the privilege of using the
lock. The matter came before
the legislature in the form of petitions
representing that the water had been SO